Greg Lee’s football follow: GSL’s best set for play-in games with MCC

Thanks to a big assist from University, a mini playoff wasn’t needed to decide the Greater Spokane League’s second 4A play-in seed for next week.

Lewis and Clark’s 10-0 win over Mead on Friday coupled with the Titans’ victory over Central Valley later that night vaulted the Tigers into the postseason. The Tigers’ last-minute win over Ferris earlier was the head-to-head tiebreaker for the second seed.

Now the GSL’s 4A and 3A postseason qualifiers will see if a competitive league schedule, along with similarly challenging nonleague games, has prepared them for further play.

• In 4A matchups Friday, LC (5-4) visits defending state champ Chiawana (8-1) at 7 while GSL champion Gonzaga Prep (8-1) entertains Walla Walla (5-4) at 6.

Chiawana’s lone loss, 16-14, came in a season-opening road game at Camas in a rematch of last year’s state title game.

After the opener, Chiawana plowed through Mid-Columbia Conference teams. The RiverHawks’ closest game was against Walla Walla (28-19) two weeks ago.

LC coach Dave Hughes knows his team will be the underdog.

“We’ll match up our big guys against their big guys,” Hughes said. “We’re excited to be in the postseason. Our kids have earned it, and we’ll be ready to play a competitive game.”

The Tigers will be without starting quarterback Jordan Summers, who broke a wrist two weeks ago against Gonzaga Prep and didn’t play Friday. Sophomore backup Cameron Duncan started against Mead.

“He managed what we needed him to do,” Hughes said of Duncan.

That was handing off frequently to his brother, senior running back Taylor Duncan.

“Taylor is the heart and soul of our offense,” Hughes said.

G-Prep coach Dave McKenna traveled to Walla Walla on Friday to scout the Blue Devils’ league finale against Kamiakin, which won 35-13.

McKenna’s initial thoughts about the Bullpups’ matchup are more about what his team must do this week.

“We have things we need to shore up,” McKenna said. “We had the ball inside the 20 four times against Ferris (on Thursday) and didn’t score.”

• In 3A matchups Friday, Shadle Park faces a rematch against Kamiakin (7-2) at Lampson Stadium at 7 while Mt. Spokane (7-2) takes on Kennewick (4-5) at Albi Stadium at 5:30.

The Highlanders beat the Braves 34-16 in the state quarterfinals last year.

Kamiakin’s lone league loss this fall was to Chiawana. The Braves also lost to Hermiston (29-8), which fell to Coeur d’Alene in a back-and-forth game.

The teams share a common opponent. Shadle won a big road game at Richland (34-24) the second week of the season. Kamiakin pulled out a 21-14 win over Richland.

Kennewick lost to Richland 44-7 but played Chiawana tough in a 21-7 loss two weeks ago.

• In Idaho, Lake City and Lakeland join first-round winners Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene in the quarterfinals next week.

In 5A matchups Friday, second-ranked Lake City (8-1) entertains Capital (8-1) at 7 and Coeur d’Alene (7-3), which snapped a two-game losing streak Friday, travels to Rocky Mountain (7-2) at 7 MST.

In 4A, Sandpoint (6-4) treks to No. 1-ranked Blackfoot (8-0). Kickoff is at 6.

On Saturday, Lakeland (7-2) is home against District 5-6 runner-up Rigby (5-4). Kickoff is at 1.