Running Games Face Roadblocks

Skip Pauls and Mike Lynch can hardly contain their excitement.

“This is what high school football is all about,” Pauls, the Davenport coach, said.

“This is what you work for. This is what you play for. This is what makes high school athletics,” Lynch, the Ritzville coach, said.

It’s No. 3 Davenport at No. 2 Ritzville, Friday night at 7 in a battle of unbeatens with the Northeast B-11 title on the line.

That’s a lot of enthusiasm for coaches who have coached their share of big games, Lynch at Ritzville for his 27th year and Pauls at Davenport for his 17th.

“This is our first playoff game,” said Lynch.

(Note to Ritzville athletic director: promise Davenport a cut, triple ticket prices and balance the budgets at both schools.)

Both coaches expect a battle of lines since the strength of both teams is their running games. This is Nebraska-Oklahoma before the Sooners went aerial.

Lynch, of course, had the most vivid explanation.

“We’ll have to slow down their running game,” he said. “In all honesty, I’m not sure how to do it other than to let our kids carry billy clubs in their pants.”

Davenport’s Justin Holderby is already over 1,000 yards, Andy Schreck is close and Ryan Buchman has another 400 to go.

“(That trio is) faster than anyone we have, just flat foot-speed,” Lynch said. “When you add that they’re big and experienced up front, that creates real problems.” Ritzville’s leader is Nick Portrey with 872 yards.

“I think it boils down to both teams will have to pass more than they have all year because both teams do a good job stopping the run,” Pauls ventured. “We feel pretty good about what our quarterback and receivers can do.”

Lynch added, “I agree with Skip. How much confidence (in the pass)? We can throw it and catch it.”

Still, there won’t be any surprises, unless these veteran coaches are losing their memory.

“Both of us have been doing the same things we’ve done the last 17 years,” Paul said. “Maybe we can throw out something that hopefully they don’t remember.”

The winner gets the league’s No.1 seed and will open the playoffs in two weeks against the No. 4 team out of the Central Washington League. The path to state would be through the West Side. The loser gets the No. 3 team out of the Southeast B-11 and would be in the same bracket as two-time defending state champion DeSales.

“It’s a game both of us need to play,” Lynch said. “When you get into the playoffs, you’re going to play a lot of games at this level and both teams haven’t had many (big games) this year.”

Big games

It might not mean much - yeah, right - but GSL co-leader Mead plays Border League champion Lake City tonight at 6:30 at Riverside… . The key GSL games are North Central-Gonzaga Prep at 7:15 tonight and University at Central Valley on Friday.

Cheney can clinch the Washington side of the Border League with a win over visiting West Valley on Friday and Colfax can clinch in the Northeast A by beating visiting Kettle Falls on Friday… . The Great Northern League title and top seed is on the line when Pullman visits Deer Park… . Sprague-Harrington at Inchelium Friday afternoon is huge in the Northeast B-8. In the SEB-8 it’s unbeaten LaCrosse-Washtucna at defending state champ Touchet.

Footnote

West Valley and Colville aren’t the only two schools to deal a blow to the Border League by deciding not to play the Idaho schools.

Clarkston has quietly dropped Coeur d’Alene and added Pullman.

That, ultimately, might signal the demise of the Border League. If the league’s only purpose is to provide scheduling convenience, why would anyone choose to go to Clarkston?

News and notes

Ryan Simpson of Gonzaga Prep was selected as the offensive Player of the Week by Washington Prep Football Report. Simpson, who set the GSL rushing record with 362 yards against Mt. Spokane, shared the honor with Ryan Cole of South Kitsap, who rushed for 352 yards against North Kitsap. Each scored five touchdowns.

Clark Pauls of Davenport was picked on defense for his 20 tackles and a pass interception returned for a touchdown in a win over Selkirk.

Ingraham ended the longest losing streak in the state - 33 games - with a 14-6 win over Cleveland in overtime.

The WIAA has announced a three-year partnership with Pacific Northwest Bank, which will be the presenting sponsor of all WIAA state championship events.