Northeast A

Tue., Sept. 7, 1999

Predicted order of finish: 1, Kettle Falls. 2, Liberty. 3, Freeman. 4, Colfax.

1998 standings: 1, Freeman (5-1, 7-3). 2, Reardan (5-1, 8-1). 3, Kettle Falls (2-4, 5-4). 4, Colfax (0-6, 1-8).

New coach: Jeff Smith is in at Freeman, replacing John Custer.

New team: Liberty moves up from the Bi-County, renewing its rivalry with neighbor Freeman.

Defections: Reardan dropped back to B-11, joining the Northeast B-11 League.

Returning all-league players: Lance Rasmussen, 6-5, 250, OL, Freeman; Chris McCoy, 6-2, 199, OL-DL, Freeman; Bill DePell, 6-1, 185, WR-CB, Freeman; John Payne, 6-1, 190, RB-DB, Kettle Falls; Jeremy Roche, 5-10, 152, DB, Freeman; Matt Gylling, 5-10, 150, QB-DB, Colfax; John Holmes, 6-0, 230, DL, Kettle Falls; Jason Armes, 5-11, 200, DL-OL, Kettle Falls; Rob Ridlington, 6-3, 230, DL-OL, Kettle Falls. (All seniors.) Jake Holling, WR-S, and Reed Wiman, OL, of Liberty were All-Bi-County.

Look back: Freeman won the tiebreaker with Reardan but lost to Royal in the first round of the playoffs.

Coach’s comments: Rod Fletcher, Liberty coach: “We have to show up every week … or we’re going to get beat. (In the Bi-County) there were some teams we knew we would probably beat.”

Outlook: Kettle Falls coach Tracy Flugel started nine freshmen three years ago and is about ready to reap the rewards. … Liberty steps up in competition but Fletcher should help ease the transition. … Fletcher is in his 19th year as head coach, the other three coaches combined total seven. … Freeman has a new coach and he only has four returning starters from the league championship team. … A young Colfax team took its lumps last year, which should help make the Bulldogs competitive this fall. … Liberty went 12-0 to win 1992 state title, Freeman’s last year in B-11.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE Officially, the league gets a half berth in the playoffs. By combining berths with the Caribou Trail League, two teams may play. Kettle Falls has never made the playoffs. Teams play a double round-robin final six weeks of the season. Best non-league game, highly-regarded Okanogan, with hotly-recruited Tyler Neely, at Kettle Falls Oct. 24. Kelly Neely, Tyler’s uncle, is a Freeman assistant. Kelly’s brother is Okanogan head coach.

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Northeast A

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