We’re down to one – the final week of the second year of Pick 6.
And just like a year ago it comes down to the final week.
We went 4-2 last week, bringing our season records to 48-18 and a highly respectable .727 batting average. We’re not picking potentially lopsided games each week. We choose games we think will be competitive and, therefore, difficult to pick correctly.
We missed last week on Lake City/Mountain View and Freeman/Zillah. Tough to pick against our area teams – especially considering how well Lake City had been playing and the fact that Freeman was the defending state champ.
So here we go with these quarterfinal playoffs.
Davenport vs. Okanogan, Friday, Moses Lake, 7
Lee: I’m not going to say this isn’t a winnable game. Shoot in high school football any game is winnable when you include intangibles such as turnovers. The Gorillas have ridden the capable shoulders of running back Tom Wilkie, who piled up 279 yards and four touchdowns in a win at White Swan last week. Okanogan’s defense is stout. Case in point was a 26-0 shutout of Reardan last week. Davenport will give great effort but fall short. Okanogan 32, Davenport 12.
Adams: What’s not to love about the Gorillas’ rushing game. Tommy Wilkie and Cruz Plasencia are both beasts, and Davenport comes out of perhaps the toughest 2B league in the state. Seriously, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, Reardan and Davenport all spend the better half of the season beating up on each other, and it’s paying off now. All that being said, they take on an Okanogan squad that is in the playoffs for the first time in back-to-back seasons since winning a state title in 1999. I smell a heartbreaker for the Gorillas. Okanogan 41, Davenport 33.
Cusick vs. Republic, Friday, Gonzaga Prep, 6
Lee: This is a rematch. Back on Halloween, Republic edged Cusick 33-30. It took a 92-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter for Cusick to tighten the final margin. Cusick has been a frequent playoff qualifier in recent years. To advance, though, Cusick must stop the combo of Angelo and Alex Rivera. They combined for four TDs in the first meeting. Is revenge a big enough factor to carry Cusick? I think so. We’ll just reverse the score. Cusick 33, Republic 30.
Adams: It’s easy to look at the head-to-head and see that Republic beat Cusick the first time. While Cusick has had some close calls over the last month, Republic has largely rolled right along. Expect a big game from quarterback Aaron Fritts and the Rivera brothers, Angelo and Alex. Republic 55, Cusick 48.
Lind-Ritzville/Sprague vs. Waitsburg-Prescott, Friday, Pasco, 7
Lee: The Broncos aren’t the Broncos of 2013 or 2012. But that’s OK. The 2014 LRS model is plenty good enough to keep advancing through the playoff bracket. I saw first hand last Friday the Broncos beat Brewster in a first-round game. I came away impressed with do-everything back Cort Ruzicka, who at 6-foot-4 can’t be missed on the field. The Broncos should have their leading rusher, Hugh Hennings, back this week. He had to sit out last week with a concussion. The combination of Ruzicka, Hennings and Jacob Saetre, along with the Broncos’ best asset, defense, will be too much for Waitsburg-Prescott to contain. LRS 36, W-P 18.
Adams: With all due respect to Waitsburg-Prescott, I’m putting a ‘W’ next to the Broncos’ name – no matter who they play from here on out. True, four of LRS’s last six games have been decided 14 points or less (two of which were decided by two points or less), but the Broncos can lean on playoff experience. They navigated the postseason with ease during last year’s championship run, and I believe they’ll be hoisting the 2B title in a few weeks. LRS 21, W-P 7.
Colville vs. Royal, Saturday, Moses Lake, 1
Lee: This should be the Indians’ most difficult game to date. That became obvious after what the Knights did to Lakeside last week (49-7). Remember Colville defeated Lakeside 46-14. What I see with the Indians is a might determined bunch. Both teams will take turns stopping each other, and it’s going to take a play by an unheralded player to provide the difference. That player will step up for Colville. Colville 26, Royal 20.
Adams: Having not seen Colville or Royal in person this season, I can only draw upon schedules and common opponents. Royal dismantled Lakeside in last week’s game 49-7 while Colville defeated the Eagles by a comparable score (46-14). Surprisingly, Royal’s lone loss this season came to a Cashmere team that has lost to Okanogan, Cascade, Chelan and, you guessed it, Lakeside. In the end, I’m going to factor in the busses. Royal has a short 35-minute drive to Moses Lake. Colville? Over three hours. I’ve seen too many teams come out cold off the bus in playoff games. I’m going to guess that’s the deciding factor. Royal 35, Colville 21.
Gonzaga Prep vs. Chiawana, Saturday, Pasco, 1
Lee: Right out of the gate it must be said. If the Bulldogs defeat the defending state champs it will be an upset. This will be a low-scoring game. Both defenses will play well, and I see the RiverHawks stopping the Bullpups more than the other way around. G-Prep’s offense has sputtered at times, and the Bullpups haven’t played a team as good as Chiawana. For G-Prep to win, first it must play its best game of the year. Second, the Bullpups must find a way to score a TD on defense and probably special teams, too, to help an offense that will likely struggle. It’s a tall task. This game may be over in an hour. Chiawana likes to grind with running back Austin Urlacher. And we know what G-Prep’s penchant is, too. So prove me wrong Bullpups. Chiawana 21, G-Prep 7.
Adams: Fun fact – Gonzaga Prep led Todd Beamer 23-0 at halftime last week. Not-so-fun fact: Chiawana led by that same score at halftime in G-Prep’s playoff loss last year. Now here’s the low down: G-Prep is better than it was last season. Chiawana is worse (if only slightly). I love how the Bullpups answered the call defensively against Beamer, but I have reservations about how many points they can score against a RiverHawk defense that has allowed a total of 21 points over its last four games. I’m afraid G-Prep’s great run is about to end. Prove me wrong (again), Bullpups. Chiawana 28, G-Prep 21.
Shadle Park vs. Mt. Spokane, Saturday, Albi, 1
Lee: The Wildcats had a great defensive scheme in the game that decided the GSL’s first 3A championship. Every time Shadle QB Brett Rypien checked off to a new play to counter the Wildcats’ defensive alignment, Mt. Spokane checked into a different scheme. It caused Shadle’s move-the-sticks-one-or-two-passes-at-a-time attack to sputter to a halt. So the rematch sets up as a potentially fabulous chess match. Mt. Spokane is playing as well as it has all season, and Shadle has found its groove again. Shadle 35, Mt. Spokane 28.
Adams: Talk about your coin-flip game. Mt. Spokane outscored Shadle 14-0 after halftime to rally to a 28-21 victory in the regular season. The Highlanders, though, have improved significantly since then. So have the Wildcats, evidenced by a 52-6 playoff demolition of Wilson, Turnovers could be the deciding factor. Is Brett Rypien going to continue to dissect defenses that sit back in coverage or will he force a bad throw or two? He’s thrown just one interception in his last 212 attempts. But where Shadle relies almost exclusively on its passing game, Mt. Spokane is able to do so many things well on offense, and the Wildcats have one of the best defenses you’re going to find on this side of the state. Expect more hip bumps on the Wildcats sideline on Saturday. Mt. Spokane 28, Shadle 24.
