Future of football at EV built on ‘solid foundation’
East Valley wide receiver Grant Bruscoe was distraught following East Valley’s season-ending State 4A quarterfinal loss, 41-32 to visiting Kelso.
Bruscoe, a senior who snagged 16 passes for 297 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season, had completed another remarkable game, with seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s just over,” the tearful Bruscoe said. “I wanted one more game.”
An appearance in the semifinals was not to be. The Knights couldn’t overcome a lost fumble, blocked punt and kickoff return for touchdowns. It was a tough ending to EV’s 9-4 season. But it was also an indication that the program is going in the right direction.
“You know going in that only one team will win the state title out of 71 in our classification,” said coach Adam Fisher. “Like anyone you think you’re that one team, and rightly so. So it’s tough to have it end.
“But I think we’ve built a solid foundation.”
Fisher could have been speaking on behalf of the entire Valley football coaching fraternity. Football in the GSL, witness Gonzaga Prep’s and EV’s postseason success, appears on the rise.
The Knights have compiled a 16-7 record the last two years. This year’s team was tied for the second-best GSL record and reached the playoffs for the first time in eight years. The last time it went this deep into them was 1988.
All-GSL defender and quarterback Jye Lanphere, All-GSL linemen Austin Wardsworth and Tyler Jolley are just three of the dozen regulars, including Brady Brunelle and Ryan Campbell, who will form the nucleus of next year’s team.
University (6-4) reached the playoffs with a team that brings back a starting lineup’s-worth of players as well, including Mike Conrad, who missed much of his junior season with injury, Blake Kenworthy and linemen Nate Thompson and Clint Moquist.
Although Central Valley’s 3-7 record appears bad, the Bears lost to state semifinalist Gonzaga Prep by three points, and three other solid teams, including the Titans, by a touchdown apiece. And the Bears were young.
Quarterback Camren Ebat and running backs Tyler Demars, Zach Evans and Dane Knudson are juniors. They, too, are among a wealth of players who gained experience, including All-GSL lineman C.E. Kaiser, who will be back.
West Valley, though winless, had only a handful of seniors on its roster. Quarterback Cam Wieber, tight end Tyler Hobbs, running backs Phillip Gannon and Camron Bowman are among the returners.
And the Eagles will be bolstered by strong junior and sophomore classes.
It’s always tough to say goodbye to seniors and every team had a number of leaders and impact guys like Bruscoe, CV All-GSL linebacker Tommy Kadoya, and Kris O’Connor, who made it all happen for the Titans.
But this year’s GSL freshman league was probably as strong and talent-laden as it’s ever been. University tied for the league title, losing just once, and the Eagles were among half a dozen teams that exhibited size and potential.
Potential and 80 cents, say coaches, will buy you a cup of coffee. But in their freshman classes, several have a right to be excited for football’s future.
Freeman gets Tacoma date
The Freeman Scotties have a Saturday football date in the Tacoma Dome. They’re hoping it’s not a one-Saturday thing.
Freeman ran its record to 11-0 for the second straight season and a spot in the State 1A semifinals in Tacoma against Napavine. Winner gets a return trip to the Dome and shot at the state title.
Last weekend Freeman rallied to defeat Zillah 26-14, and this weekend at 1 p.m. plays one of the four remaining unbeaten 1A teams in state vying for the title of No. 1.
The Scotties trailed 14-7 at halftime, but took control in the second half to pull away.
They rushed for 162 of their 358 total yards in the second half, most of it by Kevin Hatch, and limited the Leopards to 50 yards of second-half offense.
Hatch had been doubtful for Freeman’s first playoff game two weeks ago but has been a major factor in both wins.
“When he was released I was planning on point after touchdowns only,” said coach Jeff Smith after Freeman’s prior to the Zillah game. “But when the young man and his parents tell you they have confidence in a doctor’s decision, could I stand in the way of a senior playing perhaps his last football game? You’ll see more of No. 11 this game. He’s back to his old self.”
So Zillah did and so Hatch was, running for 223 yards and two second-half touchdowns for the right to play on.
“We didn’t want to go home and have to put our pads away,” said Andrew Wilkerson, who scored Freeman’s final touchdown and also had an interception and fumble recovery in the second half. “We had to come back and play Scotty football—hard-nosed stick-it-to-them defense, and finesse, stick-it-in-the-end zone offense.”
Holy basketball! Rivals meet
Valley rivals face each other early when the basketball begins.
Saturday is the annual Valley Jamboree among the GSL boys and girls teams. But it will be a watered-down version of the real thing when Valley rivals square off in season openers three nights later.
Two 4A state-seasoned girls teams, University and Central Valley, will test the waters Tuesday in the featured nonleague game at U-Hi.
Both longtime district rivals, the state seventh-place Bears and non-placing Titans, return a wealth of experience from their trips to Tacoma last March.
The game will mark the official head coaching debut of CV’s Judy Walters, the longtime assistant, and will be a chance for fans to watch two teams with college-bound players.
Both boys’ teams were district qualifiers last year and CV reached regionals. But the Bears are without the GSL’s highest-returning scorer. Kris Henderson, who averaged 15.4 points per game last year, did not turn out.
While the Central Valley district rivals go at it, longtime 3A rivals West Valley and East Valley will be holding court at EV. Both have considerable returning experience.
It will be the first games for new Eagles girls coach Jamie Pancho and Knights boys coach Steve Henderson.