4-1 record last week in the GSL. 38-7 record for regular GSL season.
Big 9 vs. GSL
(Last year the GSL defeated the Big 9 = 7-3 in cross over games)
Thursday ~ # 8 NC at #8 Pasco = This game should be an interesting coaching match-up from a motivation aspect. Both teams have fallen on hard times the last 3 weeks and it will be interesting to see who has a bit more in the tank. A year ago, Rogers was able to go down and surprise the Bulldogs at home. I don’t see the Indians able to pull that off two years-in-a-row. Pasco 27 NC 14.
Friday ~ #7 Walla Walla vs. #9 Rogers @ G-Prep = Both teams have struggled all year defending both the run and pass. Each give up more then 430 yards of offense a game and both are led by their talented running backs, who each were dominate in their respected leagues. Jonah Hoe has rushed for 1,247 yards for the Blue Devils and the Pirates’ Luke Rogers has been equally impressive with 1,187. I will give the edge to the Blue Devils due to their overall body of work slightly more impressive then the Pirates. WW 35 Rogers 20
#4 Lewis & Clark at #4 Richland = Both teams missed out on the playoffs by a game. Now it’s playing for pride time. LC brings in the leagues 2nd ranked offense led by their senior QB Jeff Livingston, who became only the 3rd GSL player all time to top 2,000 passing yards in a season. Richland hasn’t been a star laced team this year, just a lot of good athletes who play smart and make plays. I will give LC the advantage due to the air attack and teams have passed for over 1,600 yards vs. the Bomber defense this year. LC 28 Richland 21
#5 Gonzaga Prep at #5 Wenatchee = For the 2nd time in 3yrs, the Bullpups will take their ground attack to Apple Country and take on the Panthers. The good news for the Panthers is that Prep isn’t a throwing team, so the trend of giving up large amounts of passing yards this season should end Friday. The bad news is, the Panthers haven’t had any success with GSL teams over the last 5 yrs when they started this cross-over. That trend continues in this one. GP’s option too hard to learn in 3 days. GPrep 31 Wenatchee 14
3A Play-ins
#3 Southridge at #1 U-Hi = If you like the ball in the air, I recommend you travel out to U-Hi and take in this match-up of two air attacking teams. Uhi’s Conner Johnson finished 2nd all time in the GSL for single season passing yards 2,215. The Sun’s Matt Mendenhall has been just as impressive as he has tossed it for 1,964 yards. Each also bring to the field a pair of WR’s who put up #’s as well (Titans ~ Hundeby 40-672 & Flynn 31-546) & (Suns ~ Hamada 46-551 & Richards 38-800). Due to Southridge ranking next to last in total defense and getting beat badly by the top two teams, I will take U-Hi at home finding a way to win. U-Hi 38 Southridge 31
#2 Mt. Spokane at #2 Kennewick = Don’t expect the up-and-down track meet we got to see last year at Albi. Both teams lost a lot of fire power and have just a few parts remaining from that high scoring contest. Unlike last year, I think it’s going to be a difficult task for the Wilcats to keep up with the Lion scoring. The Lions bring in the #1 defense in the Big 9 3A and the Wildcats have struggled with consistent offensive output. The Lions don’t wow’ya on offenses either, but their ‘D’ puts them in position to be successful. Give me the Lions at home 28-14 over Mt. Spokane.
4A Play-ins
#3 Davis vs. #1 Mead @ Albi = The same match-up of last years crossover game meet again at Albi this time for a spot in the 4A state playoffs. Davis needed OT in a Kansas Tiebreaker and a muffed snap to advance to this game in Spokane. The good news for the Panthers is that they have been able to play pass happy teams in the GSL this year, so they should be ready for the Pirate air attack. Davis brings in a QB that has tossed it for an eye opening 2,848 yards. They also bring in a great athlete in Cooper Kupp (54-972) who has snagged a lot of those passes. Good battle should develop between the GSL’s best pass defense vs. the Big 9’s #1 pass offense. Due to Davis having to play in a Kansas Tiebreaker late Tuesday night, it doesn’t give time for the Pirates to learn the tid-bits about stopping the Mead fly ground attack. Mead’s offense isn’t built to come from behind and a team like Davis, who can score quickly and in bunches is a ground team’s worst nightmare. I will take the Panthers in this one, just because 3 days is not a lot of time to learn to defend this tricky Panther offense. Mead 34, Davis 28.
#3 Central Valley at #1 Chiawana = Another rematch of last years game down in Pasco. Unlike last year, the Bears are a year older and Chiawana is without their senior RB/LB Jordan Downing. Downing was lost a few weeks back to a season ending knee injury. But, Chiawana was able to stay the course and finish off the Big 9 season unbeaten yet again. Again, the Bears will have to try to move the ball vs. the #1 ranked Big 9 4A defense. A year ago, that was too much of a challenge as Chiawana shut down the Bears’ offense early and often. I will take Chiawana at home to find a way to knock off the Bears 28-24.
#2 Eisenhower at #2 Ferris = Wow, talk about another bad match-up for a GSL team. Ike rolls into Albi with Kolney Cassel and his 2,438 passing yards. Along with the Ike QB is Mr. Denzel Jones who has caught 69 balls for 1,350 yards and 17 TD’s. A year ago, this would have been a great chess match with Ike’s passing skills vs. a Saxon D that was one of the all time greats in the GSL. But gone are those Saxon DB’s and gone is the ability to score consistency/quickly on offense. I think this is a bad match-up for the Saxons due to the quick strike ability of Ike and the fact that the Saxon offense takes time to work. Gimme Ike 35 Ferris 21.
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