Kettle Falls settles score
The second game of this football season, Kettle Falls was shut out by Lakeside 26-0. But in the Northeast A League there’s always the chance for a do-over and last weekend, in game six, the Bulldogs made good.
By turning the tables with a 15-13 victory over the previously unbeaten Eagles, Kettle (5-1) has forged a first-place tie.
“That was a real big win for us,” said Don Fox, who is in the final year of his second go-around as the Bulldogs coach. “They took us out a few weeks ago, but we got better.”
The Kettle Falls’ young offensive line especially has made a big improvement, he said. And the team made defensive adjustments, switching from a 4-3 to a 5-2 defense and shuffling personnel in order to contain Lakeside’s offense.
Though the Bulldogs have been able to diversify offensively, Fox said they did hand the ball off to his grandson, Lucas Fox, 34 times.
“We had to control the football because they are such a quick-strike impact team,” Don Fox explained. “I’m glad we upset them.”
It wasn’t the only upset in the NEA last week. Chewelah, winless until Friday, stunned Colfax 38-8, giving Kettle Falls and Lakeside a two-game lead with three games remaining.
“That helped us,” said Fox, “but it surprised us. We still have both of them left.”
Every team plays all but one opponent twice in league and that is keeping every coach on pins and needles.
First year, first win
It took a leap of faith when Valley Christian embarked on a football journey this year.
But a school that had earned its chops in Bi-County League basketball and track and field, came away a winner in just the fourth grid game of its inaugural season.
Playing an independent schedule, the Panthers defeated Selkirk 49-42 last Friday, scoring twice in the fourth quarter. Will Hattamer scored his third touchdown of the game for the winner.
“He had never played football before (this year),” said coach Jim Puryear of the senior who also ran back kickoffs of 82 and 75 yards for scores. “He is pretty amazing to watch.”
In fact, said Puryear, only four Valley Christian athletes on the 16-player team had previous football experience and one is freshman center Casey Zettle, whose dad, Shane, played at East Valley.
Puryear said he had planned to follow his 10-year-old son through football before considering starting football at Valley Christian.
“But all the high school guys said they wanted to play,” he said of his decision to begin this year. “You’ve got to have a year one sometime, so let’s go for it.”
The Panthers had lost to Soap Lake 45-7, Liberty 44-0 and Bridgeport 34-20 before its breakout victory. They cancelled one game because of injury concerns.
“I guess I can say now that we’ve won one, that I honestly didn’t expect to win any games,” Puyear said. “This is really huge and not bad for a team with 16 guys, one of them a freshman. I’m totally blown away.”
Valley Christian still has remaining on its schedule Republic, this week for homecoming, Manson and Springdale.
Three-team race
Just two weeks remain in Greater Spokane League girls soccer, but there are several important matches remaining to be played before the district tournament Oct. 22.
Mead (6-1), Gonzaga Prep (5-1) and Shadle Park (5-1) are the top three and the Highlanders must yet face the Panthers on Friday and the Bullpups to end the season on Oct. 19.
Lewis and Clark (4-2) is a match back following Friday’s loss to Mt. Spokane (4-2) and still has Shadle and Mead left on its schedule.
The Wildcats (4-2) are at East Valley (3-3) today in a contest between the top 3A schools.
Tough pool
When 64 volleyball teams gather for the annual Crossover Tournament here this weekend, Pool F at Ferris will be an eye-opener. The four teams scheduled to play each other are Class 4A No. 1 Mead, 3A No. 2 Kamiakin and No. 3 Auburn Riverside, and 2A No. 8 Pullman as ranked in the latest coaches poll.