Northeast B-11
Predicted order of finish: 1, Ritzville. 2, Davenport. 3, Reardan. 4, Republic. 5, Wilbur-Creston. 6, Almira/Coulee-Hartline. 7, Springdale. 8, Selkirk.
1998 standings: Bi-County: 1, Davenport (6-0, 8-1). 2, Liberty (5-1, 7-2). 3, Ritzville (4-2, 6-3). 4, Wilbur-Creston (3-3, 5-4). 5, Odessa (2-4, 5-4). 6, Almira/Coulee-Hartline (1-5, 4-5). 7, Sprague-Harrington (0-6, 1-8). Panorama: 1, Republic (4-0, 8-1). 2, Cusick (3-1, 3-5). 3, Springdale (2-2, 3-6). 4, Curlew (1-3, 1-8). 5, Selkirk (0-4, 1-7).
New coach: Brandon Walsh replaces Matt Cox at ACH.
New teams: Reardan is back to B-11 ranks after a season at 1A.
Defections: Liberty moved up to the NEA. With Odessa and Sprague-Harrington of the Bi-County and Cusick and Curlew of the Panorma dropping to B-8 ranks, the two leagues combined for a solid eight-team league.
Returning all-league players: All-BiCounty: Chris Pauls, 6-1, 260, OL-DL, Davenport; Blinn Carstensen, RB-KR, ACH; Craig Winona, OL, ACH; Josh Draper, 6-0, 180, RB-DL, Ritzville; Darin Erickson, DL, W-C; Dustin Breazeale, 5-7, 140, LB-WR, Ritzville. All-Panorama: Kris Krohn, both ways, Republic; Dorian Russell, DB, Republic. Reardan All-Northeast A returner: Keith Anderson, 6-2, 183, DB. (All seniors.)
A look back: Davenport fell to eventual state champion DeSales in the quarterfinals and Liberty lost to the Irish in the semifinals. Republic and Cusick lost in the first round.
Coach’s comments: Springdale coach Kevin Jacka: “We have to stay healthy like all B schools. (Our outlook) depends on the improvement of some young players.”
Outlook: It should be a four-team race. Though Reardan is short on experience, the Indians are big on tradition. … Ritzville and Davenport both return seven starters and 15 lettermen. … Reardan has three starters back. … Ritzville plays at Davenport, Reardan and Republic. … Davenport averages 220 pounds on the line. … Republic, the class of the Panorma, should figure into the mix.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE The teams are battling for two playoff spots. Reardan has been in the playoffs seven times in the 90s, starting with a state title in 1990. Skip Pauls reached 100 wins last year, his 16th at Davenport. Ritzville coach Mike Lynch is 154-85-2 in 25 years, but is in a four-year playoff drought. Davenport has made the playoffs five straight years. ACH, the 1992 8-man champ, has never made 11-man playoffs.