CV football finishes tied for fourth, in playoffs

There was nothing magical about Central Valley’s dramatic turnaround football season.

After the frustration of losing their first two Greater Spokane League games, coach Rick Giampietri told the veteran Bears that they wouldn’t win another game if they didn’t get their shoulder pads lower.

“We went back to the fundamentals of blocking and tackling,” Giampietri said. “I think everything kind of came together.”

Another plus was that a veteran team, that last year went 3-7 as juniors, wasn’t about to repeat the experience – of five straight losses, four were by a touchdown or less.

This year started similarly, losing to league champion Mead and second-place East Valley back-to-back.

The Bears haven’t lost since.

CV completed an 8-2 regular season Thursday night beating Rogers 52-0, and finished tied for fourth in the GSL and in the 4A playoffs.

Tuesday the Bears travel to Kennewick and play Big Nine champion Southridge in a State 4A Football preliminary game.

The Bears return to postseason following a two-year absence. It is their seventh such playoff appearance since Giampietri became coach in 1993.

To get there CV reversed last year’s losses to Lewis and Clark, Gonzaga Prep, University, Mt. Spokane and Cheney.

“We got better and better and the players gained more confidence,” said Giampietri. “Against Cheney we had the best first quarter (offensively) we’ve put together in a long time.”

Giampietri took over as offensive coordinator this season and went to more of a power attack behind a sizeable and veteran line. It sprang loose Tyler Demars, a north-south power runner, and Zach Evans, an east-west slasher, for a combined 1,312 yards and 18 touchdowns.

At one point defensively the Bears shutout opponents for 15 consecutive quarters. He credited defensive backs Anthony Bucknam, and free safety Demars.

“The guy who just saved a ton of games for us,” said Giampietri, “is (free safety) Demars.”

Sophomore linebacker Ty Cochran had 110 tackles and Neil Connors had added impact, Giampietri said.

“It looked like maybe we were starting the same scenario,” said Giampietri, “and the kids just kicked it in.”

East Valley (8-2, 8-1) won its eighth straight game 21-0 to finish tied for second with Gonzaga Prep. The Knights host West Valley-Yakima for the second year on Tuesday in a 3A playoff game.

Ryan Campbell completed his season as the GSL rushing leader with 1,301 yard and 25 touchdowns. His 158 points scored is third best for a single season in league history.

West Valley (3-7, 3-6) had its best season as a GSL team and most wins in a season since 2000 with a 39-7 win over North Central. The Eagles will be haunted by its 14-9 loss to Clarkston earlier that kept them from the 3A playoffs.

Junior Camron Bowman rushed for 333 yards and four touchdowns. His yardage total and 33 points (including two running and two kicking extra points plus a field goal) are sixth-best single totals ever in the GSL.

University (4-6, 4-5) ended its season with a 39-6 loss to Gonzaga. Mike Conrad had four catches for 121 yards giving him a league high 683. He finished his career in the GSL’s top 10.

Another NEA title

Freeman’s Chris Davis ran wild bringing the Scotties (7-2, 5-1) their third straight Northeast A League football title.

It was the first for new coach Jim Wood and came in his junior back’s biggest game.

The Scotties host a prelimary round game of the State 1A playoffs, against either Brewster (6-4) or Wahluke (7-3) next Saturday.

Davis rushed for 346 yards and scored five times during Freeman’s 34-6 romp and a two-game NEA cushion. Earlier this year the Scotties had lost in Colfax.

EV soccer plays on

Did East Valley girls soccer coach Jeff Rose know something when his top-seeded Knights lost in last week’s 3A district playoffs?

By so doing EV faced in regional a team many in the Mid-Valley area thought was their league’s third-best, even though top-seeded.

The Knights beat Selah, 1-0 in the first round of regional playoffs to qualify for their second-straight state tournament.

“It makes me look smart, doesn’t it?” laughed Rose, when asked if he planned it that way in order to face an easier opponent. “That’s exactly what we were doing.”

He was being facetious, pointing out the team had an off-game against Cheney in the district final. But things did work out when Morgan Manchester and her sister Breanna connected for the deciding goal at Selah.

The Knights play at West Valley (Yakima) today for state seeding.

He said that improved play by goalkeeper Megan Como has been one aspect of EV’s success this year. Last year’s reserves turned starters have been big contributors.

“Last year we had eight starters who graduated, but I thought we’d be competitive,” said Rose. “Girls on the bench were good players who were frustrated they weren’t getting to play.”

Given her shot, Lyndsey Moles was the team scoring leader with nine goals and eight assists. The difference maker, said Rose, has been sweeper Kaylyn Plumb.

“Without her we wouldn’t be where we’re at,” Rose said.

West Valley’s playoff season ended Tuesday in a rainy 3-1 regional loss in Cheney.

Titans fight through

Untimely injuries to four starters have not made things easy for University’s soccer team. But the Titan girls fought through them to qualify for their fourth-straight State 4A tournament.

The Titans defeated Kamiakin 3-2 in a shootout during loser-out regional play on Tuesday and are at Richland today in the first round of the playoffs.

Biggest loss has been All-GSL defender Kayla Miller. She suffered a stress facture in her foot and played sparingly the last week of the final week of regular season before calling it a year.

“She was the heart of our defense,” said coach Kevin Houston. “She played four years on varsity and we just relied on her speed so much.”

Losing her was blow enough because that speed helped sustain the offensive attack. Forward players didn’t have to get back on defense as quickly, said Houston.

Then second-leading scorer Rachel Lopez sprained an ankle last week and didn’t play Tuesday, although she might be able to go today. Katy Sloyer has been bothered with hamstring and hip injuries, though she saw limited duty and scored during the penalty kick shootout, won by the Titans 4-3. Katie McElroy was at a family wedding and will miss today’s match as well.

“Having to play Kamiakin we were kind of frazzled trying to figure out what to do,” said Houston.

He replaced the losses by committee off the bench.

“I’m proud of the bench players and how they stepped up,” he said.

Four-year veterans Alex Marquard and Tonya Schnibbe scored in regulation at Kamiakin and also during the shootout.

Against Richland, he said, the key is who gets back in transition quicker.

“If we can do that we’ll get them playing our game,” said Houston. “If we do that we have a decent shot to win, even with the injuries.”