Week 3 of the prep football season brings with it the first round of league games for the CBBN schools.
Southridge and Sunnyside got a jump on the rest of the 3A division with a Thursday night game at Lampson Stadium. The Suns beat the Grizzlies 20-19.
Tonight, there are two 3A games in the Tri-Cities. Defending league champion and state runner-up Kamiakin visits Pasco at Edgar Brown. Kennewick will get its first taste of Washington football this season, taking on Eastmont at Lampson after opening with two victories over Pendleton and Hermiston.
Both games start at 7:30 p.m. The area's other 3A club, Hanford, is at West Valley.
The CBBN 4A also opens league play -- with the exception of Richland, which entertains Evergreen of Vancouver at Fran Rish to finish up a home-and-home that the Bombers won 34-14 last season.
Chiawana travels to Eisenhower, Walla Walla entertains Wenatchee and Davis treks to Moses Lake. All games start at 7:30.
KAMIAKIN (2-0) AT PASCO (0-2)
The Braves are coming off big wins over Prosser (29-point margin) and Moses Lake (16 after the Chiefs scored late).
Quarterback Jason Hutchison had an incredible efficiency rating of 218.4, more than 73 points higher than any other QB with 20 or more pass attempts. He has completed 64 percent of his passes for 435 yards, seven touchdowns and two picks.
Running back Zach Umemoto already has 328 yards rushing with two TDs.
The Bulldogs are searching for their offense after scoring 10 points against Richland and 14 against Chiawana, one of those a defensive score.
In particular, Pasco has rushed for just 55 yards in two games, though quarterback T.J. Avery has been sacked for 21 yards in losses that count against the rushing total.
EASTMONT (0-2) AT KENNEWICK (2-0)
It has been a rough start for the Wildcats, who returned just three players from last year's playoff team.
QB Lucas McGill is fifth in the league in rushing (188 yards, 3 TDs) but has completed just 48 percent of his throws for 183 yards, three TDs and two interceptions.
Eastmont has had success running the ball (212 ypg) but is third from the bottom in scoring (22.5 ppg).
Kennewick has the league's top defense, giving up just six points and 284 total yards in two games. However, the competition level is rising.
The Lions are middle of the pack in offense and have spread the yardage around. Grant Woods leads in rushing (171 yards) but is averaging 9.5 a carry and is second in the league in scoring with 30 points (5 TDs).
QB Bryce Leavitt is second in the league in efficiency, going 11-for-17 (65 percent) for 184 yards, two TDs and one pick.
Hanford (0-2) at West Valley (1-1)
After opening with Chiawana and Richland, the Falcons take on a Rams team that's seventh in the league in offense (222.5 ypg, 17 ppg) but has given up 72 yards rushing a game. WV has been susceptible to the pass, something Hanford has yet to show it can do consistently.
Jalen DeVine (270 yards, 5.9 avg., 1 TD) is third in the league in rushing for the Falcons. The Rams also struggle with throwing. Cody LaRiviere is fourth in the CBBN in rushing (198, 8.2, 1) but already has punted 14 times.
CHIAWANA (2-0) AT EISENHOWER (2-0)
Ike will find out how solid its undefeated start is with its first real test after beating up on Rainier Beach (54-12) and West Valley (44-13).
Cadets QB Kolney Cassel is second in the CBBN 4A in passing with 571 yards. He has completed 30 of 54 throws (56 percent) for five TDs and two INTs. His favorite target has been Denzel Jones, who has league highs in catches (14), yards (292) and TDs (3), and is averaging 20.9 yards per catch. Ridge Harmon also has caught three TDs and is averaging 23.5 yards per catch.
Chiawana has worked hard to get sophomore Joey Zamora up to varsity speed. His 51 throws are fourth in the league, but he's completing a shade under 50 percent.
Still, when the Riverhawks need yards, they always have returning league MVP Jordan Downing (338 yards, 5.8 avg., 3 TDs), coming off a 37-carry, 244-yard effort against Pasco.
Evergreen (0-2) at Richland (2-0)
This isn't your older brother's Bombers, who grounded the offense in recent years.
Second-year starter Colter Quick is flourishing with a league-high six TD passes and 336 yards. B.K. Robinson is third in rushing (181 yards, 7.0 avg.).
The Plainsmen have trailed 35-0 in the first half and first quarter of their two losses and have yet to top 100 yards of total offense in a game.
WENATCHEE (2-0) AT WALLA WALLA (0-2)
The Blue Devils' 28-21 loss to Hermiston in Week 1 doesn't look so good after Kennewick demolished Hermiston 34-0 last week.
Wa-Hi is second from last in offense, last in defense, and has been way too reliant on league-leading RB Jonah Hoe (360 yards, 6.8 avg., 2 TDs).
The Panthers have thrived with the big play. Spencer Smith is fourth in the league in rushing (147 yards) on just eight attempts for a whopping 18.4 yards per carry. Connor Black has 14 catches for 229 yards and a TD.
DAVIS (2-0) AT MOSES LAKE (0-2)
The Pirates sail into ML having pillaged defenses for 474 yards and 40 points a game. Four-year starting QB Deion Wright leads in passing (578 yards) and completion percentage (58 percent). Receiver Cooper Kupp leads the league in scoring (30 points) and is averaging 25 yards on four runs.
The Chiefs are last in offense and second from last in defense, giving up almost 200 yards a game in passing. QB Justin Simmons is carrying his load and then some, with 134 yards on 18 carries and 251 yards passing.
* Kevin Anthony: 509-582-1403; kanthony@tricityherald.com
