Knights poised for playoff position
The Greater Spokane League football season reached its midpoint and two things are clear. There will be a scramble for the fourth available 4A playoff spot, and East Valley last weekend positioned itself for its first playoff appearance since 1996.
The Knights (3-1 in league, 3-2 overall) complete a run of three games against 3A opponents tonight against North Central at Joe Albi Stadium. A win would put them in control.
EV leads the GSL in total defense having allowed a mere 599 yards in four games, nearly 250 yards fewer than the next best teams, Ferris and Mead, and is allowing a league best 9.8 points per game.
The team’s stunning 46-0 win over Clarkston was its second straight over the 3A portion of the league meaning a win tonight would put the Knights in an enviable situation.
Clarkston had fewer than 100 yards of offense while EV rushed for 264 and finished with 365 total yards.
The score was 36-0 at halftime, with receiver Grant Bruscoe catching one touchdown pass and throwing for another. Quarterback Jye Lanphere threw another touchdown and wide receiver George Hamilton was on the receiving end of two scores.
Brady Brunelle‘s 121 rushing yards moved him up to 11th in league rushing, three spots behind University’s Kris O’Connor and two behind teammate Ryan Campbell.
O’Connor’s 8.5 yards per rush is second in the league; Brunelle’s 7.4 is fourth.
While East Valley has a one-game lead over Clarkston and a two-game lead over the rest of the 3A teams, Central Valley and the Titans are currently part of a three-team 4A tie with Mead for the fourth playoff berth.
The Titans play at West Valley Friday, seeking their third straight win. J.D. Peterson continues to lead the league in passing with 652 yards. Alex Yerges and Matt Hanna stand third and fourth among leading receivers with a combined 39 catches for 454 yards.
After last week’s tough 27-20 loss to Lewis and Clark, the Bears host league unbeaten Gonzaga Prep, its fifth straight game against teams predicted to finish among the top five in preseason.
Freeman remained unbeaten with a 27-12 victory over Newport in its Northeast A League opener and this week faces a challenge in Kettle Falls against a team that overran Colfax after beginning the season with four successive losses.
Crossover Classic next
Valley gymnasiums will be humming this weekend with the annual Crossover Classic Volleyball tournament.
The tournament has grown from 16 to more than 50 teams and is entering its 11th year. The top 16 advance to championship play and the Titans will be among the favorites.
U-Hi entered the week ranked No. 1 in state and No. 26 nationally after its wins in the Kentlake Invitational and over Mead.
All four Valley GSL teams and Freeman are entered in the tournament.
Richland Invite where it’s at
For some local cross country teams, avoiding last weekend’s SunFair Invitational in Yakima was calculated.
Instead, this weekend they’ll be at the Richland Invitational. The reason? This year’s regional meet that qualifies teams from the GSL and Big Nine to state, will be on the same Richland layout on Oct. 30. This weekend is a chance to familiarize runners with the layout.
Some, like Central Valley’s boys and Freeman, will remain in town at the Gonzaga Bullpup Invitational at Finch Arboretum.
Last weekend the Bears finished second in the Mt. Baker Invitational, with Sean Coyle winning the race in 16:06 and Alex Blackburn seventh in 16:25. The Bears had four other finishers between 29th and 40th, Daulton Vaughan, the only senior among them, Nathan Damiano, Matt Simpson and Tyler Sturman.