ACH, Odessa in semifinal battles

The Northeast 1B League’s two representatives in the State B-8 football semifinals will face similar problems.

Odessa, which hosts Tri-Cities Prep Saturday at Albi Stadium, and Almira/Coulee-Hartline, which plays Lummi in the Tacoma Dome, must deal with prolific passing teams.

“They throw the ball really well,” said Tigers coach Bruce Todd of the Jaguars. “Their quarterback (Will Hoppes) throws a nice football.”

Hoppes has thrown 31 touchdown passes this season and for 340 yards or more in at least two games. He’s also a running threat, having scored a dozen more times by foot.

“Lummi spreads the field a bunch, sort of a run-and-shoot offense which might present some matchup issues,” said ACH coach Brandon Walsh.

Lummi quarterbacks Dustin Tom and Isaac Finkbonner have combined for 3,280 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. Gale Jefferson caught 47 balls for 975 yards and 11 TDs.

This is the first year since 2000 that the NEB has had two semifinalists in the state tournament.

“It’s been kind of a wild ride,” said Walsh, “but yes, it is exciting. We went through a lot of years of 11-man football with no success.”

The change to B-8 was welcomed and last year’s 9-2 season was a break-through for the Warriors. But they had to fill some positional holes at quarterback, fullback and end.

Josh Goodwin ably filled quarterback, passing for 24 touchdowns, mainly to fullback Nate West and ends Ryan Gregson and Kyle Tucker. Goodwin rushed for nine more. He also scored on an interception return. Running back Jordan Hughes topped 1,000 yards and scored a dozen times.

Their blemish was a 56-6 loss to Odessa.

“Our goal has been to get better every week,” said Walsh.

Odessa had big plans last year until the injury bug bit and they lost 92-68 to eventual champion St. John-Endicott in the first round of state.

Nothing has changed. Even though disciplinary action prior to a game against Columbia-Hunters hurt, other players stepped in.

“The only way I believe someone can beat us is if we beat ourselves,” said Todd.

Odessa’s Ryan King has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for 5. Two-way star Travis Todd (9) and Aaron Bruya (5) have been his targets. Jacob Schmidt is over 1,000 yards rushing, scored 22 times and threw for another.