Football Playoff Previews

1A

No. 5 Colfax (11-0) vs. No. 2 Royal City (11-0), at Albi Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.: Royal City is the 1A team of the 90’s, having made the playoffs every year from 1990 on, except 1993, when the Knights moved up from B-11 to A. Royal lost the 1994 title game to Montesano but set a record with a 70-0 win over Toledo in the 1996 championship… . The Knights are all about defense, having allowed just 73 points in 11 games - and 20 of those came last weekend when they knocked off Okanogan, the defending state champion, 33-20. Offensively, the Knights pile it up, with 599 points, but spread it out. Chris Murphy averages 100 yards a game on the ground and lefty Will Sutor, 6-3, 195, has passed for more than 1,300 yards with 21 touchdowns and just four interceptions in the regular season. Jeremy Scroggins and Nate Debar combined for 50 catches and almost 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. … Colfax has also been in two title games, losing a heart-breaker to Lynden Christian 22-20 in 1997 and beating Montesano 6-0 in 1982. The Bulldogs pile up 47.9 points on offense while giving up just 12.3.

B-11

No. 3 Wahkiakum (10-0) vs. No. 2 Ritzville (11-0), at Lampson Stadium, Kennewick, Saturday, 4 p.m.: The Mules pack a kick, averaging 41.2 points on offense while allowing 8.3 on defense. Most of the damage comes on the ground, with Devin Wolf and Tyler Cothren combining for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns… . Ritzville has scored 351 points but the blue-collar Broncos’ longest scoring run is 34 yards and their longest scoring pass play is 43. Defensively, Ritzville is the best, giving up seven points a game. The Broncos won the 1980 championship but lost in the finale the next year. They lost in the semifinals in 1994 and then missed the playoffs four straight years… . The Mules lost in the semifinals last year and lost to Liberty in the 1992 championship.

Waitsburg (7-4) vs. No. 5 Davenport (10-1), at Lampson Stadium, Kennewick, Saturday, 7 p.m.: The Cardinals are the surprise team in the playoffs, highlighted by last weekend’s 15-7 win over three-time champion DeSales, ending a 33-game Irish winning streak. This is just the Cardinals’ second trip to the semifinals. In reaching the 1997 semis, Waitsburg whipped Davenport 34-8. Waitsburg enters the game with just a 197-152 scoring advantage over its opponents… . Davenport has scored 561 points and allowed 127. The Gorillas are in the playoffs for the seventh straight year but they haven’t made the semifinals since winning the 1995 championship.

B-8

No. 1 Neah Bay ( 10-0) vs. No. 3 Inchelium (8-1), at Albi Stadium, Saturday, 1 p.m.: Neah Bay hides a track team in football uniforms. The Bruins average 47.2 points while allowing 6.8 after losing to Touchet in last year’s title game 42-36. NB has played for the title twice. Inchelium won championships in 1983 and 1991… . The pass sets up the run for Neah Bay. Sterling Brown passed for 1,239 yards in the regular season with 24 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Aaron and D.J. Taber combined for 55 catches, 800 yards and 18 touchdowns. RB Chuck Halttunen is a threat with more than 600 yards and 10 touchdowns… . Inchelium is dangerous with David Tonasket rushing for more than 1,400 yards and Jacolby Simpson passing for 1,000. The Hornets average 50.8 points and give up 20… . Inchelium pounded Lake Quinault last weekend 54-6, Neah Bay beat the Elks 60-28 in the regular season.

Cusick (8-2) vs. No. 4 Odessa (9-1), at Albi Stadium, Saturday, 4 p.m.: The Tigers won the first meeting 28-8, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter when Cusick’s 260-pound nose guard Cody Donais went out with cramps… . Odessa averages 49 points on offense 17.8 on defense to Cusick’s 40.7 and 23.1 on defense. … Both teams have similar running backs. Jake Kirk of Cusick is beyond 1,500 yards and Odessa’s Paul Dart is near 1,400. The Tigers have the better No.2 threat in Shawn Smith who rushed for over 800 yards. However, Cusick’s passing game has been more prolific with Dusty Person surpassing 1,000 yards. Odessa’s Heath Voise has thrown for about 900 yards… . Cusick has never reached a state title game and lost to Odessa in the 1996 semifinals. Odessa has been to the final four twice, winning twice, the latest in 1993.