Pick 6 with Greg Lee and Sam Adams

Sam Adams picked an appropriate time to have his first 6-0 week.

He cut two games off my six-game lead.

We lost a few teams last week but have enough still playing to do another edition of Pick 6. Sam hasn’t thrown in the towel yet and he has a chance to whittle away at the lead. Or so he hopes.

The scoreboard now reads: Lee 47-19 (.712), Adams 43-23 (.652).

Okanogan vs. Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, at Moses Lake, Friday, 7

Lee: This is not only a rematch from an earlier regular-season game but a playoff rematch from a year ago. LRS topped the defending state champs 28-21 in September after the Bulldogs shut out the Broncos 34-0 in the semifinals last year. Okanogan isn’t as good as last year. But the Bulldogs find themselves wanting to do what LRS did a couple of years ago – win back-to-back state titles. I see Friday’s winner winning next week to get back to the state final. This game could go down to the final possession. The final score worked in September so I’ll stick with it. LRS 28-21.

Adams: LRS has had this game circled on its calendar since last year’s 34-0 loss to the eventual state champs, but the Broncos got a small measure of revenge in September when LRS won by a touchdown. This game should also be decided by a touchdown. LRS has a slight edge with a shorter trip, but it will be tough for the Broncos to beat Okanogan twice in the same season. Okanogan 28-21.

Asotin vs. Northwest Christian, at West Valley, Friday, 7

Lee: The Crusaders lost a close game on the road to open the season against one of the top-ranked 1B teams, Neah Bay. NWC’s lone league setback was to LRS, 32-29. The Crusaders have proven they belong here. Behind David Olds, Nathan Sander and placekicker Joey Biel (he had two field goals last week), NWC will live to play one more week. NWC 28-16.

Adams: It’s amazing to think NWC’s fledgling program is in just its third year. Those kids who were there from the start – including a one-win inaugural season and a three-win campaign last year – are now enjoying an incredible state championship run. The team has leaned on a high-powered offense to get this far, but points may be hard to come by against an Asotin team that won 7-6 in its playoff opener. All of that being said, I’m banking on the Crusaders to muster enough offense to get a win and advance to the semifinals. NWC 21-13.

Touchet vs. Almira/Coulee-Hartline, at Moses Lake, Saturday, 5

Lee: Touchet gave No. 1-ranked Liberty Christian all it could handle two weeks ago before falling 58-50. ACH’s lone loss early in the season was 66-42 to Liberty Christian. So do the math. For ACH to prevail, it will need to have another stellar game from Dallas Isaak, who has given opponents fits all season. This game will be close but Touchet will pull it out. Touchet 58-50.

Adams: The winner of this game will ultimately play in the 1B state title game. Admittedly, I’m much more familiar with ACH than I am with Touchet, and I’m very familiar with the exploits of Dallas Isaak. The Warriors will win yet another high-scoring affair in earning their 11th straight win, vaulting them into the semifinals. ACH 56-42.

Royal vs. Colville, at Gonzaga Prep, Friday, 6

Lee: The No. 1-ranked Knights are for real. This team is better than Zillah, which put a 69-31 spanking on Lakeside last week. Last year, Colville defeated Royal 28-10 on its way to Tacoma. The 2015 Indians aren’t as good as 2014 but they’ve proven to be good in their own right. All good things, someone once said, must come to an end. Royal 26-18.

Adams: Both of these teams made quick work of last weekend’s opponents, winning their openers by a combined score of 98-0. The Indians were able to churn out 220 yards in rainy conditions, but the rain shouldn’t be a factor on the turf at Gonzaga Prep. That may be the deciding factor, allowing Royal to open up its offense a little bit more in a game that figures to go down to the final whistle. Royal 27-21.

Sandpoint vs. Bishop Kelly, at Kibbie Dome, Saturday, 1

Lee: Sandpoint has developed into the team we thought could get to the State 4A championship game. Standing in the Bulldogs’ way is Bishop Kelly, a team going for a threepeat. These teams are mirror images of each other. Both like to run north and south, leaving would-be tacklers in their wake. Sandpoint quarterback Davan Norris and receiver Wyatt McCormick-Cox have hooked up quite a bit, especially in the postseason. Sandpoint’s skill players must play well, and the Bulldogs must find a way to slow down BK. Sandpoint captured a state title in coach Satini Puailoa’s first tour, in 1997. In his fourth year in his second time around, the Bulldogs will find a way to give Puailoa a second title. Sandpoint 36-34.

Adams: It’s nice to be right every once in a while, isn’t it? Greg and I both boldly predicted that the Bulldogs would reach their first state title game since 2009, and here they are at the Kibbie Dome on Saturday. Credit Sandpoint for bouncing back from an early three-game losing streak to win its last seven in a row. Sadly, I believe the Bulldogs’ run will come to an end against the No. 1 team in the state. If me losing the Pick 6 title to Greg means Sandpoint winning a state title, I will gladly take it. BK 21-17.

Woodinville at Gonzaga Prep, Saturday, 1

Lee: Perhaps as a way to keep his team focused all season, Bullpups coach Dave McKenna from week to week has talked about how much his team needs to correct mistakes. And in his defense, he’s been right most of the time. Last Saturday, G-Prep should have won by a bigger margin, especially after the Bullpups got out to a 21-0 lead. The Bullpups will play better this week. All four of the Falcons’ losses have been to teams that qualified for the postseason. Add a fifth to their ledger. G-Prep 38-14.

Adams: I don’t know if you can call a 42-14 playoff victory a low-point in the season, but the Bullpups were plagued by penalties and turnovers last week. The turnovers – all on fumbles – are correctable. So are the penalties, which were by and large personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct calls. If Woodinville is smart, the players will try to use that to their advantage and bait the Bullpups into getting whistled. But if G-Prep is smart, the players will rise above it. Let’s hope they do. G-Prep 35-21.