L-W can claim title, tie record streak with victory

All season the number swirled around the LaCrosse-Washtucna football program, but not until now do the Tigercats have a chance to make that 48-game winning streak a reality.

A win over Columbia (Hunters) in the State B-8 championship game today would tie Toledo’s record, set from 1965-70.

“We’re nervous, and it’s not just because of 48,” said L-W head coach Jeff Nelson, who has a 103-19 (.844) record in 12 years coaching the Tigercats.

“It’s because it’s a championship game and we’re playing a quality opponent. Hunters is good, and the more and more we see them, the better they are.”

Another championship would also give L-W four straight championships, joining Bellevue (2001-04) as the only Washington school to do so. It would be the fifth championship since the schools combined and the seventh overall for Washtucna.

That being said, the kids have had to deal all year with the pressure of keeping the streak alive.

“The kids know it’s there, so we might as well discuss it,” Nelson said. “The big thing is they’re playing for that championship and that we don’t have any letdowns and make sure they’re not overconfident.”

Nelson knows that shouldn’t be a problem, as this season’s 10-player senior class is 47-0 as high schoolers. They also understand the importance of winning for the three previous senior classes.

“They’ll take the game over when they need to,” Nelson said. “They’ve always come up big in big games.”