KENNEWICK -- Here is a preview of today's state 2A semifinal of the Prosser Mustangs vs. the Archbishop Murphy Wildcats
Time, date, place: noon Saturday, Lampson Stadium
Head coaches: Archbishop Murphy, Dave Ward; Prosser, Benji Sonnichsen.
Leagues: Archbishop Murphy, Cascade Conference; Prosser, Central Washington Athletic Conference.
Records: Archbishop Murphy, 11-1; Prosser, 11-1.
Next opponent: Lynden-W.F. West winner.
Last week: Archbishop Murphy 34, Othello 0; Prosser 21, Ellensburg 14.
Playoff appearances: Archbishop Murphy 8, Prosser 24.
Last playoff appearance: Archbishop Murphy 2010 (lost title game); Prosser 2010 (lost in quarterfinals).
Deepest advancement: Archbishop Murphy, title game (2002, def. Royal 35-14, 2003, def. Zillah 20-0; 2005, lost to Pullman 28-24; 2010, lost to Tumwater 34-14); Prosser, title game (1991, lost to O'Dea 21-14; 1992, def. O'Dea 26-0; 1993, def. Gig Harbor 22-20; 1995, lost to O'Dea, 35-14; 1999, def. Sammamish, 42-38; 2005, lost to Ferndale, 47-12; 2007, def. Burlington-Edison 42-7; 2008, lost to Lynden 35-34 2OT).
Previous playoff meetings: 2006, quarterfinals, Prosser 14-7.
Archbishop Murphy leaders: QB Hans VanderWel, junior (19-32-0--272 yards passing and 4 TDs; 79-488 rushing, 5 TDs; 10-109 receiving, 2 TDs), QB Conner Kruse, senior (35-69-5--591 yards passing and 7 TDs; 43-291 rushing, 5 TDs); RB Alex Galgano, junior (114-1,069 rushing, 12 TDs); RB Ricky Gordon, junior (28-381 rushing, 6 TDs; 10-206 receiving, 3 TDs).
Prosser leaders: RB/CB Isaac Anderson, senior (133-1,263, 21 TDs rushing); QB Ryan Fassler, junior (161-236-9--2,327, 27 TDs); WR Danny Raap, junior (47-810, 13 TDs); WR/DB Wyatt Baker, senior (34-471, 3 TDs); LB/RB Joey Hurtado, senior (10 rushing TDs).
Notes: In a rematch of a wild 2006 quarterfinal, the Mustangs and Wildcats return to Kennewick with a state championship game berth on the line. ... Prosser ground out a win in a snow bowl against Ellensburg in the quarterfinals last week and with better conditions expected today and getting to play on turf, the Mustangs figure to be able to throw the ball more consistently. ... Prosser is on an 11-game winning streak since losing the season opener to Class 3A semifinalist Kamiakin. ... Kruse started the first five games under center before the Wildcats switched to the run-oriented VanderWel at quarterback, allowing Kruse to concentrate on his considerable defensive back skills. Against Othello last week, though, Kruse came on after VanderWel was shaken up by some big hits. Kruse showed little rust in leading the Wildcats to the victory. ... The Wildcats do not pass often, relying mainly on shuffle passes and the option. ... ATM isn't flashy, but it does have a lot of team speed and figures to be one of the better teams the Mustangs have faced this season.
