Great Northern takes on challenge

Before they could concentrate on football, Great Northern League coaches faced a dilemma. Do you agree to possibly sacrifice this year’s guaranteed third State 2A playoff berth for the potential opportunity for a fourth?

“I think it is a great idea,” said Pullman coach Bill Peterson. “Anytime you’re giving four teams a chance to play for an extra game in a crossover situation, I think it is a great thing.”

Riverside’s Allen Martin concurred, saying, “I’ve always thought that if the best teams should play in state, we need to do that.”

And so, the Great Northern League, after years of trying, is doing what local contemporaries from the Greater Spokane and Northeast A leagues have done – form a Class 2A postseason league alliance and pool state berths.

Four teams each from the GNL and CWAC in Washington’s central basin, will face off in a modified state-qualifying format, pooling six state berths. League champions and runners-up will advance automatically, with the Nos. 3 and 4 teams playing each other for the other two spots.

“It does make it a little more exciting,” said Colville coach Randy Cornwell, who initially was against it because of the prospect of playing a physically punishing three games in 10 days. “You play the last regular-season game on Thursday, play Tuesday if you’re third or fourth and then again Saturday if you win.”

But Martin remembers his state championship season when the Rams beat White Swan 42-0 after finishing in a three-way first-place league tie with two other teams. One deserving GNL team stayed home.

“Maybe the (four) teams are from their league and not ours,” he said. “That’s OK, it’s still the best teams (in the state playoffs).”

When assessing the GNL this year, the decision to risk that third state spot for the chance at a fourth appears to be a no-brainer. No fewer than six teams in the eight-team league realistically harbor playoff, maybe even league-title, aspirations.

There is no clear-cut favorite. Last year’s playoff teams, Colville and Pullman, graduated impact athletes who got them there. Cheney, Clarkston and Riverside return a wealth of experience.

West Valley is gifted, but as coach Craig Whitney said, “We’re still figuring out how to win.”

Last year was an eye-opener for a trio of former Greater Spokane League schools that dropped into the league but settled for third through fifth places behind the incumbent Indians and Greyhounds.

Both playoff coaches, Cornwell and Peterson, think that this year the pendulum may swing.

“For some reason, my gut is telling me that WV and Cheney are going to be tough to beat this year,” said Cornwell. “Everyone assumed last year they’d waltz into the GNL and kick butt and I think that may be more true to form this year.”

Peterson said that the three – WV, Cheney and Clarkston – have the numbers advantage and added that sometimes moving from play in a higher league isn’t always good.

“When you move down it creeps into people’s minds that it is not as tough,” he said. “I guarantee you that won’t be a factor this year.”

Still, neither school is giving in, banking on tradition to sustain them. Both have had successful systems that plug new bodies into vacated positions and roll along.

Pullman’s option game is hard to defend, said Peterson.

Cornwell said people will pick the Indians low because of the graduates.

“On paper, it looks like we are decimated,” he said. “Between you and me, we’ve got kids coming back who can play. I think it’s going to be a dandy league.”