Columbia looking to advance to first B-8 title game

Columbia has never played in a B-8 championship football game.

Back in 1987 and 1988, the Lions were the state’s best B-11 team, winning back-to-back state titles, but, since moving to the B-8 ranks in the 1990s, they have yet to reach the final weekend.

That could change this afternoon, if Columbia can hand Pe Ell (9-0) its first loss in a 4 p.m. semifinal at the Tacoma Dome.

On the other side of the bracket, LaCrosse-Washtucna (10-0 and top-ranked) will try to earn its third consecutive trip to the finals when the Tigercats face undefeated (and second-ranked) Clallam Bay (9-0) at Lampson Stadium in Kennewick on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Clallam Bay is the only team to defeat Columbia (9-1) this season, winning 40-36 in early September. Since then the Lions have rumbled through the Northeast B-8 and the first round of the playoffs, rallying to defeat Jubilee Christian 42-26 last Friday.

Miles St. John, who has run for more than 1,000 yards this season, and Nick Kegel sparked the win, with St. John rushing for 251 yards and three touchdowns while Kegel returned the second-half kickoff 79 yards for a score.

But Pe Ell, looking to return to the finals for the first time since 1975, went through the South Division of the Pacific Coast League untested. In their playoff opener, the Trojans pounded Colton-Pullman Christian 56-8, with Mike Elliott scoring four times. Three Pe Ell rushers have run for more than 500 yards this season, headed by quarterback Phil Compton (616 yards and 15 touchdowns).

Clallam Bay was the North Division champs of the Pacific Coast League, and the Bruins are looking to do something no one has done in 33 consecutive games: defeat LaCrosse-Washtucna.

The Tigercats rolled over Sprague-Harrington 52-8 last weekend, with Josh Chastain running for 168 yards (including four touchdowns), and Justin McKenzie passing for another 160 yards. Clallam Bay, which lost in the semifinals to Jubilee Christian 30-6 last season, have played in five B-8 title games, winning it all in 1980.

B-11

Two Northeast B-11 squads are still alive, one expected (second-ranked Lind-Ritzville) and the other a surprise (7-4 Republic).

Lind-Ritzville (11-0) will travel to the Tacoma Dome for a 7 p.m. showdown with third-ranked Wahkiakum (11-0), in a battle of two long-time B-11 powers.

The Broncos and the Mules have matched up three times since 2000, with Lind-Ritzville winning all three, including semifinal games in 2000 and 2002. Last year the Mules, who have made it to one title game (losing 27-0 to Liberty in 1992), lost in the semifinals to DeSales.

That’s who Republic will take on Saturday in Joe Albi Stadium starting at noon. The Irish (11-1, losing only to Baker, Ore.) have been to six finals since 1996, winning three consecutive titles from 1997 to 1999. But they have lost the championship game two of the past three seasons.

Republic entered the playoffs as the third seed from the Northeast B-11, but traveled to Wenatchee and defeated previously unbeaten Waterville 19-14, then got back on the bus to Yakima last weekend and ran over La Salle, 40-28.

Republic, which includes many players from last year’s State B basketball title team, was led on the ground against La Salle by junior Jesse Eich, who rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

But the Tigers yielded 291 passing yards to Lightning sophomore quarterback Chase Marquis. DeSales’ quarterback Jack Dixon, a junior who was first-team All Southeast B-11, poses even more of a challenge running the Irish’s potent passing attack. Most of his connections are with senior Nick Conley, who has moved into the top-five statewide in career receptions, touchdown catches and receiving yards.

1A

The Freeman Scotties are undefeated (11-0), have yielded only 52 points all season and are ranked second in the state. All that success did was earn them a trip to the Tacoma Dome for a 1 p.m. matchup Saturday with Napavine, also 11-0 and ranked third.

All four 1A semifinalists are undefeated, with top-ranked Royal (12-0) meeting fourth-ranked Friday Harbor (11-0) on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Lampson.

The Scotties’ stifling defense will try to shut down Tiger quarterback Loren Bluhm, who has passed for more than 1,900 yards and 22 touchdowns. The three-time all-league selection has also rushed for 500 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Tigers defense has yielded just 51 points all season, but may not have faced as balance an offense as Freeman’s, thanks to the return of senior running back Kevin Hatch.

Hatch, who has broken his collarbone four different times in his career, showed his mettle last weekend, rushing for 223 yards in Freeman’s 26-14 win over Zillah. The NEA’s Most Valuable Player has rushed for 1,444 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.

Sophomore quarterback Andrew Dresback provides the air part of the attack, having completed 52 percent of his passes for 1,286 yards and 14 touchdowns.