Deer Park, WV enjoy 3-0 starts

When was the last time West Valley and Deer Park started a football season 3-0?

For the Stags, it was back in 2000; for the Eagles, you’d have to go back even further.

But both schools are perfect three weeks into the season. And while both coaches, the Eagles’ Craig Whitney and the Stags’ Keith Stamps, caution against assigning too much significance to their starts, both are obviously delighted.

“I don’t know if we’ve ‘turned the corner,’ that’s a pretty strong term,” Stamps said. “But we’re definitely better than we’ve been.”

All three Deer Park wins have been against Northeast A League schools. Ryan Jorgensen, incredibly just two months removed from ACL knee ligament surgery, is back at quarterback and already has three rushing touchdowns and “five or six” passing, Stamps said, mainly to favorite target Tanner Knutson. Alex Wolf is averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game and has scored three times.

“With Ryan, Tanner and Alex,” Stamps said, “we’re not bad off right now. I like where we’re headed.”

West Valley is averaging 45 points per game after opening Great Northern League play with a 45-0 win over Riverside. The Eagles’ other victories were over Ephrata and Lakeside. WV has allowed just 24 points total.

The dominance is stunning considering WV graduated a highly regarded group of seniors, many of whom started for three years.

“Last year we had great individual talent,” Whitney said. “We took thousands of yards and a lot of points away due to graduation.”

But, he said, the program is developing from middle school on up as players get an early and better understanding of the system. This year’s young group – with junior quarterback Drew Clausen, joined by sophomore Tyler Poldervart and freshman Dylan Ellsworth in the backfield – committed to improving team speed.

“They worked tremendously hard over the summer,” Whitney said. “And I think there’s a bond between them. Their best attribute is team chemistry.”

Clausen has run for four touchdowns and passed for six. The scoring wealth has so far been spread among among nine players. Ellsworth, a 195-pounder, has rushed for five TDs.

“I’ve watched two games and people will have trouble matching up with them speed-wise,” Stamps said.

The coaches are enjoying their quick starts, but are under no illusions.

The GNL has been pretty much a Pullman-Colville- Clarkston triangle. The Greyhounds, Indians and Cheney are all 2-1, the latter sharp early in its shotgun look while winning Thursday over Rogers.

Only two teams qualify for state and there will be no cross-over play-in games with the CWAC league this year. WV will be tested at winless Clarkston this week, as will Deer Park, which plays Riverside for homecoming, a rival it hasn’t beaten for a while.

“We’re still really, really young,” Stamps said when asked how good they can be. “So I don’t know.”

Said Whitney: “I think it’s a really good league. We have to concentrate on each opponent at hand.”

Mixed B weekend

Northeast 2B football had its up and down moments last weekend.

In matchups of traditional powers from opposing leagues, Colfax gave the NEB (and itself) a huge boost with a 20-10 win over defending state champion DeSales. But Asotin – state champ two years ago – upheld the Southeast B honors 41-7 over Lind-Ritzville. Both wins came on the road.

Overland rivals race

Mead and Mt. Spokane’s boys and girls began the cross country season with three wins apiece last week.

Wednesday at Mead, the rival Panthers and Wildcats race for district bragging rights and Greater Spokane League positioning.

Mead’s boys were separated by just 38 seconds during the Highlander Invitational and had a significant edge on their rivals. Mead’s girls were a distant second to Davis, while Mt. Spokane was competing at the Bob Firman Invitational in Boise, where they placed 11th.

•North Central’s boys did nothing to diminish their national No. 1 ranking at the Firman, on the course where the Nike Nationals qualifying regional race will be held in November.

The Indians placed four runners among the top 14 to score 51 points and win by 64 points over the first of four Utah schools that finished second through fourth.

Andy Kimpel and Jeff Howard were second and third individually, Leon Dean was sixth and Ben Johnston was 14th.

•Last glance at the Highlander: Senior race winner Andrew Gonzales of Southridge became the fifth-fastest individual all-time in his age group, running 12 minutes, 29 seconds for 2.5 miles. Ferris’ Adam Thorne became the seventh-fastest junior in 12:42.

And the distance future looks bright. The three fastest freshman times were run Saturday, two by Kamiakin runners Anthony Armstrong in 13:01 and Austin Richards in 13:13. Shadle Park’s Nathan Weitz finished second in 13:05. Mead varsity girls winner Baylee Mires became the sixth-fastest in 14:33.

Games of note

Lewis and Clark, one of the pre-season Greater Spokane League volleyball favorites, tests the 3A waters this week, when it entertains last year’s state qualifier Mt. Spokane tonight and currently unbeaten East Valley on Friday. It is the first full week of league competition.

•In soccer, Mt. Spokane has a pair of key matches against 4A teams when Gonzaga Prep (Wednesday) and Lewis Clark (Friday) come to visit.