Quick hits
State football gets under way
Local schools begin their drive for state football championships this weekend as the first round of the 2A and B-11 state tournaments get under way.
Second-ranked Pullman (10-0) starts at home Friday night against defending state champion Othello (5-5), the third first-round meeting between the two teams since the 2A classification was created in 1997. Pullman beat the Huskies in 1999 and 2003, and rolls into the game outscoring teams 429-112 this season. The Great Northern League’s second seed, Colville (6-3), makes its second consecutive playoff appearance, traveling Saturday afternoon to Grandview (6-4), the third seed out of the CWAC.
Davenport (9-0), ranked second in B-11, hosts 6-2 Waterville on Friday night. The Gorillas’ swarming defense has allowed only seven points in its last four games. Fourth-ranked Reardan (7-1), which received its only loss 29-22 at home to Davenport, plays at home against Kittitas (5-4) on Friday night.
Two B-11 teams play on the road Friday night, as sixth-ranked Liberty (7-2) heads to Kennewick to play top-ranked DeSales (9-1) for the second straight year. Last year, Liberty lost to the Irish 38-14 in the first round. DeSales’ only loss this season came because of a struggling offense, as it fell 6-0 to 1A Colfax. In Liberty’s seven wins, the Lancers have allowed only 58 points.
Lind-Ritzville (6-3), the defending State B-11 champion and this year’s fourth seed out of the Northeast B-11, plays at Yakima against La Salle (7-3), upset by Republic in the first round last year. La Salle limps in, having lost 31-14 at 4-6 Manson on Friday night.
Tenth-ranked Asotin (7-2), part of the Southeast B-11, plays at fifth-ranked Mabton (10-0).
Two 1A schools have play-in games, as the State 1A tournament only has an eight-team state bracket. Fifth-ranked Freeman (7-2) hosts 7-4 Brewster on Saturday afternoon. The Scotties have allowed less than eight points a game. Colfax (6-4), coming off a 22-17 win at Granger on Tuesday, travels to ninth-ranked Zillah (7-3). The good news for the Bulldogs is that Granger beat Zillah 22-14 on Sept. 2.
The State B-8 tournament begins the weekend of Nov. 18-19.
Academic awards
The WIAA announced the winners of its fall scholastic awards program, which honors schools with the highest grade-point average by sport and classification, and four local high schools earned awards.
Ferris, which had the highest GPA in 4A football (3.501) and girls soccer (3.733), was one of only two schools to win in two sports.
Sprague-Harrington (3.820) was honored in volleyball, Pullman’s girls soccer team (3.820) and Northwest Christian’s boys soccer squad (3.54) also were honored.
The Greater Spokane League, in conjunction with the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, honors two athletes from each member school who balance academics, athletics and community involvement.
The winners are, from Central Valley, Jennifer McKinsey (volleyball) and Tyler Demars (football); Cheney, Yvette Strampe (volleyball) and Jonathan Miller (football); Clarkston, Stephanie Ogden (volleyball) and Eric Entel (football); East Valley, Rachel Bonertz (volleyball) and Nick Atwood (cross country); Ferris, Kara Caparoso (volleyball) and Ryan Murphy (football); Gonzaga Prep, Molly Cronin (soccer) and Jacques Lenoue (football); Lewis and Clark, Hannah Rothstrom (soccer) and Colten Yeigh (football); Mead, Mara Ryan (volleyball) and Emilio Sulpizio (football); Mt. Spokane, Megan O’Reilly (cross country) and Brendon Townshend (cross country); North Central, Jessica Nebergall (volleyball) and Shane Thomas (football); Rogers, Athena Graicer (softball) and Dorian Vaughn (football); Shadle Park, Cami Nelson (volleyball) and Mike Guske (football); University, Kara Crisp (volleyball) and Mike Pierce (cross country); and West Valley, Melody Dossey (volleyball) and Tyler Hobbs (football).