Storied coaches will be on both sidelines

When East Valley and Kelso square off this afternoon in today’s State 3A quarterfinal football game at EV a couple of interested observers will renew a longtime acquaintance.

Actually, Ed Laulainen and Ed Fisher are more than casual observers. Laulainen, Kelso’s coach for 26 years is still helping his former longtime assistant, now head coach, Pat Hymes with the program.

Fisher, for 23 years the coach at South Kitsap who retired last year as the activities vice principal at North Central, has been an offensive consultant this year for his son, Adam, at EV.

Both had storied coaching careers. Kelso made 11 state appearances under Laulainen, winning the equivalent of today’s State 3A title in 1983 and losing here in the 1986 4A semifinals to Gonzaga Prep. Fisher had 17 straight state playoff appearances at South Kitsap, making three finals and winning in 1994. Kelso won two of three playoff matchups when both were still coaching.

“My dad and him had many a battle, both in non-league and playoff games in the 1980s,” Adam Fisher said. “They were knock-down, drag-outs.”

It’s safe to assume, then, that neither the Knights nor Hilanders have any secrets. Hymes runs the same offense as his predecessor and Adam Fisher’s offense is basically his dad’s. And both run nearly similar defenses.

Their philosophies are identical. Pound the football on the ground, minimize mistakes and may the best team at ball control win.

“They try to get the ball to their fullback and run downhill as quickly as possible,” said Adam Fisher of Kelso. “They have a good offensive line and big backs who try to get 4 yards. Anything beyond that is a bonus.”

Said Hymes, “Adam has changed some things, but what we remember from South Kitsap is they run similar counters and isolation plays. I’m impressed with their athletes. A number of kids on both sides of the ball really play the game and have good motors.”

Hymes added that neither team can afford to turn the ball over or commit penalties and put defenses in a position where they are clawing out of their end of the field.

“If you can be productive on first down you can dictate the pace of the game,” he said. “It should be a great game.”

Though Kelso has played here before, this will be its first meeting against the Knights. This is Kelso’s first state appearance since 1999 and 13th overall.

EV is back in the playoffs for the first time since 1996 and is making its seventh appearance.

The Knights, under coach Bob Shill, won state in 1981.

Said Adam Fisher, “I suspect it will be a low-scoring ball game. They have a little more size on us, but we are quicker. We want to use that to our advantage.”