East Valley starts GSL’s playoff hopes

East Valley gets a head start when Greater Spokane League football teams play for state berths this weekend.

The Knights host Columbia Basin League No. 3 finisher Southridge tonight while seeking their third State 3A football appearance in the past four years.

On Saturday, North Central makes its first playoff appearance in 30 years when the 3A Indians travel to Kennewick. The last time the Indians made the postseason, Hall of Fame baseball player Ryne Sandberg was quarterback.

“I feel if we protect the football, we have a chance,” said EV coach Adam Fisher of tonight’s 3A game against the Suns that will pit two passing teams against each other.

When he watched the last Southridge game, the Suns’ fifth consecutive win, Fisher was impressed by their two tall receivers Devin Jones and Clayton Homme. In that game, starting quarterback Andrew Mendenhall re-injured an ankle, but senior backup Raef Pedersen completed 12 of 18 passes for two touchdowns and 193 yards.

Turnovers, in a word, have been the bane of the Knights’ season.

“We’ve never, the entire year, been in a plus turnover margin situation,” he said.

The closest was in the team’s near miss against Lewis and Clark when EV had two turnovers and the Tigers none.

“We’re throwing the ball the best ever in my eight years here,” said Fisher. “We’re spreading people out and done a lot more one-back and created more running lanes that way.”

How EV fares in the trenches will determine the outcome.

“This was the best GSL I’ve been in of our eight years,” said Fisher. “It will be interesting to see if we can run the football.”

Class 1A: Comparative records give the Caribou Trail League the edge tonight, but last year lone Northeast A League winner Lakeside was the fourth seed. All four winners advance to state.