EV, WV football rivalry thriving

The rivalry between East Valley and West Valley football teams is alive and well again, even if there is a disparity in records.

EV (6-2, 6-1) is tied for second in the Greater Spokane League. WV (2-6, 2-5) is part of a four-way tie for ninth.

But you wouldn’t know it from the final score of last week’s game, won by EV 35-21. The Knights broke a 7-7 tie to build a 28-7 lead before the Eagles came back in a game of run-versus-pass.

Knight junior Ryan Campbell rushed for 194 yards and scored three touchdowns. He now leads the GSL with 1,029 total yards and is averaging 9.1 per carry. His 140 points scored this year is fifth-best all-time for a single season.

Eagle sophomore Bryan Peterson was 23-for-54, passing for 307 yards and three touchdowns. It was a single-season record for attempts and he has thrown for more than 650 yards in his last two games. Peterson is second in league with 1,090 passing yards.

The Knights are assured a top GSL seed into the 3A post-season. Despite losing by just two touchdowns, WV needs to win its final two games and get help from Cheney to be the league’s second representative

•After dispatching nemesis Mt. Spokane in football last week, Central Valley can start talking playoffs.

The Bears (6-2, 5-2), after their 28-3 victory, stayed tied for fourth overall (third among 4A schools) and hold the tiebreaker advantage over three other teams vying for two post-season berths.

CV had lost four straight games to the Wildcats, its last win over Mt. Spokane coming in overtime in 2000. And it took to fourth-quarter scores to put away the visitors last week.

Again, it was the running game that produced victory, with the Bears rushing for 289 yards, most of it by Tyler Demars (133 on 18 carries) and Zach Evans (95 on 20 attempts.

But Brad Johnson had a huge hand in the outcome. The tight end caught a pass and turned it into a 42-yard score. On defense he returned a blocked punt 50 yards for the game’s final touchdown.

CV will be favored in their season ending games, at Cheney (4-4, 3-4) and at home against Rogers (0-8, 0-7). Wins in both will assure a top-three finish and road playoff game against either Southridge or Pasco from the Big Nine.

University (3-5, 3-4) led Lewis and Clark 13-7 in the third quarter, but six turnovers ultimately led to the Titans’ demise, 28-13.

•Freeman (5-2, 3-1) remained tied for first in the Northeast A League with a 20-0 win over Newport and needs victory at Kettle Falls Friday to assure a season-ending title showdown at home against Colfax.

Volleyball playoffs begin

University’s sixth-seeded volleyball team is at No. 3 Shadle Park tonight to begin the District 8 4A playoffs.

Four teams will qualify for regionals from the double-elimination tournament, which continues Friday at Mead and Lewis and Clark, then moves to Mt. Spokane Saturday for its conclusion.

A win and the Titans play at league champion Mead. A loss and they play the Mt. Spokane-Gonzaga Prep loser at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Spokane for the chance to move on.

East Valley and West Valley are at North Central Saturday for the District 8 3A playoffs. Three teams qualify for regionals.

Host NC and EV, who play for top seeding at 11 a.m., are in. The Eagles need to beat Clarkston for the third regional berth in the match that follows.

Freeman begins its quest for state with the District 1A playoffs Saturday at Mead.

Regional next in soccer

East Valley and West Valley will play Saturday as the Greater Spokane League’s second and third entrants in Regional 3A soccer playoffs.

The Knights, the top rated GSL 3A team, were upset 1-0 by Cheney in a shootout during Tuesday’s district championship playoff.

WV beat North Central 2-1 for the third berth to regional against teams from the Mid-Valley to determine three state qualifiers.

Nicole Hamlin scored the winner after prolific Lindsey Hood had notched her 14th goal this year.

The Eagles host Mid-Valley No. 4 Prosser in a loser-out match and the Knights are at champion Selah during double-elimination play.

In the 4A district tournament, Central Valley’s season ended in Monday’s 2-0 loss to Ferris.

League champion University played second-place Gonzaga Prep Wednesday night for the district title. If they lost they play Friday for the league’s second berth to regional.

Overland state races

Valley high schools are competing this week for team and individual state berths.

Freeman and Valley Christian race Friday for Class A and B spots. Four Valley GSL schools compete Saturday for 4A and 3A spots.

Both meets are at Deer Park Golf course.