Gonzaga Prep prepares for tough Moses Lake

Gonzaga Prep takes center stage as first-round state football games begin today. The Class 4A Bullpups (9-1) host Moses Lake (7-3) at 7 p.m.

The Friday date and time were chosen because Saturday is the funeral for the school’s former president, John Traynor, who died Nov. 2. He became G-Prep’s principal in 1989 and in 1995 was named the first lay president at the Jesuit school. He retired in 2004.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Bullpups coach Dave Carson. “The kids are kind of excited about playing at night.”

Carson said a week ago that sources in the Columbia Basin considered Moses Lake the league’s best team.

“Moses Lake has a big, physical offensive line and two running backs as good as we’ve played all year,” he said. “We’ve got to make some plays.”

Pullman is at Prosser in Class 2A and 2B Lind-Ritzville is at Asotin in 7 p.m. state games. Other 2B games include Davenport at Kittitas and Reardan home against Liberty Bell at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, 2A Colville is home against Othello and 1A Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) plays Royal at Deer Park, both at 1 p.m.

State 2A girls soccer

When Cheney plays at West Valley in the second round at 2 p.m. today, they are not the first teams from the Great Northern League to have won a playoff game.

But their victories on Tuesday were the first for either school in the girls soccer postseason and today’s winner will become the GNL’s third semifinalist.

Riverside won the first 2A state championship in 1997, finished second in 1999 and had a first-round win two years ago. Pullman was also a first-round winner, in 2003.

Also, a combined team from Riverside and Deer Park won first-round 3A matches three different times.

Incomplete information on the WIAA Web site led to that error in Tuesday’s story about the Blackhawks’ and Eagles’ first-round wins.

“Mead plays at unbeaten, nationally ranked Richland on Saturday for a berth in the 4A semifinals. Match time is 1 p.m.

“St. George’s plays Northwest Christian in a boys 2B/1B playoff at Gonzaga Prep today at noon.