Southeast B-11

Predicted order of finish:

1, DeSales. 2, Waitsburg. 3, St. John-Endicott. 4, Garfield-Palouse. 5, Tekoa-Oakesdale. 6, Pomeroy. 7, Asotin.

1998 standings: 1, DeSales (6-0, 11-1). 2, Waitsburg (5-1, 7-3). 3, Pomeroy (3-3, 5-4). 4, Tekoa-Oakesdale (2-4, 3-5) 5, St. John-Endicott (2-4, 4-4). 6, Asotin (2-4, 2-6). 7, Garfield-Palouse (1-5, 2-7).

New coaches: Ken Cox is back at DeSale after two years as assistant; Jeff Bartlow replaces Jim Sharkey at Waitsburg.

Changes: Technically, the only league in the area with no changes of members. That may be short-lived. Asotin is nearing 1A size.

Returning all-league players: Dusty Appleford, RB, Asotin; Scott Zuercher, RB, Waitsburg; Marshall Donnelly, jr., WR, DeSales; John Conway, jr., DL, DeSales; Andy Gumm, DL, Tekoa-Oakesdale; Jason Siler, DL, St. John-Endicott. (Seniors unless noted.)

Coach’s comments: Marc Maiuri, Gar-Pal: “Life after (QB) Brian Lindgren will be different for (DeSales).”

Outlook: DeSales, which won the last two state titles, is the team to beat. However, without record-setting QB Lindgren, the Irish may not dominate as they have in recent years. … J.C. Biagi is the new DeSales QB. The Irish return three offensive linemen and two receivers. … Gar-Pal returns 15 starters. … St. John-Endicott has seven freshmen on 25-man roster.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE Two state titles in two years landed DeSales coach Pat Graham, 25, a 4A coaching job at Redmond. Two teams will make the playoffs; Waitsburg and DeSales have filled them the last two years. Gar-Pal, Tekoa-Oakesdale and St. John-Endicott have two playoff appearances between them as 11-man schools. Pomeroy’s only playoff appearances were in ‘82 and ‘83.