Five teams vie for state grid playoffs

Throw everything that has transpired out the window. It’s a new season for five Greater Spokane League football teams, all of them with a common goal.

With one victory tonight, four of them will qualify for state playoffs.

Ferris hosts Pasco and Central Valley travels to Richland for games that determine two of three State 4A berths. East Valley is home against Shadle Park for one 3A spot, and Mt. Spokane takes on Hanford for the other at Fran Rish Stadium in Richland.

Talk with coaches about their prospects and, unlike last year, all are unsure about what to expect.

“It’s real hard to compare leagues,” Ferris coach Jim Sharkey said. “It’s pretty even this year. (Pasco has) better size and strength.”

“I think their whole league is a little better than a year ago,” CV coach Rick Giampietri said of the Columbia Basin Big Nine League. “I think they’ll be really tight games.”

Big plays, untimely turnovers and injuries all factored in this year’s Greater Spokane League and could affect the playoffs.

“If you win the turnover battle, I think it’s going to come down to that,” Giampietri said.

“We can’t turn it over,” Sharkey said. “When we haven’t, we’ve been good.”

4A

The Ferris Saxons face a young team on the rise in Pasco, one that relies heavily on its quarterback, 6-foot-3, 200-pound Carlin Andrew. Pasco’s defense has been tough.

“He had 36 carries for 189 yards last week,” Sharkey said of Andrew. “Pasco is a big physical team.”

Sharkey said Ferris QB Connor Halliday improves weekly, and the running game was better last week.

“I think we are all on edge and excited about (the game),” Sharkey said. “If we get out of this one, I think we have a chance.”

•CV and Richland are mirror images, both relying more on skill than size with heavy emphasis on their quarterbacks.

“The lines are about even,” Giampietri said. “Richland has good team speed and probably one of the best skill athletes we’ve played against in Jamison Rowe. They are kind of a big-play team, but what we can’t do is have them run on us.”

CV’s Jeff Danielson broke his leg and is out at linebacker. Taylor Price, who had 14 tackles last week, takes his place. Linebacker Cody Stratton, who was injured last week, will play, but tight end Evander Cobbs is questionable.

3A

It will be Mt. Spokane’s defense against the run, versus a team that rushed for more than 2,700 yards this year.

“They are very similar to Ferris and Rogers,” coach Mike McLaughlin said, comparing Hanford’s Travis Chalk to Rogers’ Jake Partridge, although a better passer. “We’ve been good against the run and have allowed only six points in the first quarter all year. We’re banking on that.”

It has been a roller-coaster ride for Mt. Spokane this year, with upward of 11 players gone through injury, academics or attrition. McLaughlin said things have stabilized over the final three weeks.

McLaughlin said Connor Haley is getting healthier, Colten Williams “has been a special player for us,” and quarterback Travis Ward, “has been getting better and better and better.”

•The GSL is assured at least one state qualifier, either the EV’s Knights or Shadle’s Highlanders.

“They did what they needed to,” EV coach Adam Fisher said of Shadle’s win in the previous game. “They kind of took it to us.”

EV’s running game was stifled by Shadle’s physical line, Jason Khadzi in particular, Fisher said. The Knights must block better to get GSL rushing leader Nick Bellomy into the open and tackle better in the open field.

“Nick might be one of the best (backs) we’ve had,” Fisher said. “He has really good vision and the last few weeks has run exceptionally well.”

Since the win, the Highlanders have struggled with injuries, with as many as 18 players missing games. Tight end/defensive end Jake Rodgers and rushing leader Ryan Lemery are gone for this one.

“(EV has played) better and we struggled in the middle of the season,” Shadle Park coach Mark Hester said.

But the Highlanders are aware of the game’s importance.

“Our kids played hard that (first game) and have to come out with the same intensity – have to come out harder,” Hester said.