Rogers football relishes postseason accomplishment

You wouldn’t have thought this was the first time the Rogers football team earned a postseason berth Friday.

The Pirates and their fans knew how to celebrate.

First, more than 50 students stormed the turf at Joe Albi Stadium, surrounding the Pirates in a huddle of celebration.

Then a couple of Pirates dumped the icy water bucket on coach Ben Cochran.

What happened Friday was 39 years in the making. It was the first time since the Greater Spokane League was established in 1976 that a Rogers team earned a postseason berth.

Cochran tried to sum up how special things were Friday.

He said the Pirates’ feat came on the back of many coaches and players before them.

“It’s kind of weird right now,” Cochran said. “I’m sure it’ll hit us later about what we accomplished. We stand on the backs of a lot of guys in this program. We had (former head coach Dave) Pomante come talk to at our team dinner two weeks ago. (Former head coach Matt) Miethe is in the building and we talk to him all the time. I get messages from guys in Germany who are watching our games on SWX. There are a lot of guys who built this for us to be here.”

Rogers suited up 22 seniors from a class that was heralded as freshmen as the ones who would put the Pirates over the top at some point.

Senior running back Patrick Pullins, who rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns, looked back on the journey.

“Ever since I got here, the freshmen knew we were going to come around and change this,” Pullins said. “We started as young kids and we’ve been playing together forever. We were just waiting for our time.”

Pullins doesn’t think the fun has to stop now. But the Pirates do have a tall task. They travel to Kennewick to take on Mid-Columbia Conference top seed Kamiakin (7-2) on Friday.

“We have to have a good week of practice,” Pullins said “There’s no messing around. We’ve got to hustle and work hard. And I think we can take out (Kamiakin) if we play like we can play.”

Why not? The Pirates stopped the postseason drought. Now they want to play giant killers.

A short time ago

Lewis and Clark coach Dave Hughes talked a little history after his team knocked off Mead to earn the GSL 4A third postseason berth.

The Tigers travel to Richland to take on the 8-1 Bombers, the MCC’s top seed.

The year LC won a state championship in 2007, the Tigers’ road to Tacoma started with a win at Richland.

The Tigers like their chances. Gonzaga Prep traveled to Richland for a season opener and left with a 13-10 win.

In other play-in games Friday, GSL 4A champ G-Prep (9-0) stays at home to take on MCC No. 3 Walla Walla (3-6) while MCC No. 2 and defending state champ Chiawana (6-3) visits GSL No. 2 Central Valley (7-2).

GSL 3A No. 1 Mt. Spokane (8-1) meets MCC No. 2 Kennewick (4-5) at Albi Stadium.