Kamiakin's White catches his break

Two years ago, Tim White was a mere afterthought in the Kamiakin Braves' offensive plans.

A third-string receiver on the freshman team, White got enough touches to score a couple touchdowns, but his potential was a long way from being recognized, muchless fulfilled.

"I got in every once in a while, but A.J. Griffiths started over me," said White, now a 5-foot-10 junior. "It kind of motivated me to work harder, because I didn't always want to be second- or third-string."

This year, after dedicating himself to a summer of hard conditioning, White found himself in the right place at the right time.

After longtime Kamiakin coach Craig Beverlin resigned and took his power-run game to Vermillion Catholic High School in Abbeville, La., the Braves tabbed former Whitworth quarterback Scott Biglin to replace him.

And Biglin offered the chance of a lifetime for White -- a spread offense that could showcase his sprinter's speed and a chance to make some big plays as the team's go-to guy.

"They've always had athletes here at Kamiakin. They just haven't utilized them like they should have," said Biglin, a Pasco graduate who spent the last two seasons as Kiona-Benton's head coach. "(White is) a guy who hasn't been the lead dog, but when I first got here I saw a phenomenal kid who was running some of the best routes I'd ever seen."

White's been making plenty of catches, too. He leads the CBBN in receptions (30), receiving yards (504) and is second in yards per reception (16.8) and touchdown catches (3). His 4.6 speed gives him at least a step on just about any defensive back in the league, but he's also got a pair of soft hands and a strong conviction to catch the ball.

"He can sure catch. Anything that hits his hand, he's going to come down with the ball," said Braves quarterback Corey Hutchison, who leads the CBBN with 886 passing yards. "It's his or no one's. I can basically throw it up and if he can't get to it, he'll make sure nobody else does."

White, who is also a returning all-CBBN honorable mention defensive back, has also made his mark as a kick-return man. He returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown in a 31-10 win over Hanford two weeks ago and has come close to breaking several others.

"(Kick returns are) exciting because you don't hear anything else around you except the crowd and yourself," White said. "When you break it, the crowd just starts going wild."

White and Hutchison spent much of the offseason conditioning together and working on timing routes. They even took a camping trip together after summer camp broke to help build up their rapport. But White has also come to appreciate the value of the team concept this season.

"I think of it as, if I'm catching it, Corey's throwing it. If Corey's throwing it, that means the line is blocking," said White, who qualified for the 4A Eastern Regional meet in the 100 meters and was a member of Kamiakin's 4x100 relay team that was .03 seconds from qualifying for state.

Biglin admits that White is far and away the fastest player on the team but playfully suggests that he may not be able to take his coach in a footrace. But a showdown has not yet been arranged.

"Not yet. My knees are still a little bad," Biglin said, smiling. "Give me until next year."