12 Mid-Columbia teams begin title quest in WA football playoffs

Watching the Mid-Columbia Conference football teams go after each other all fall, one might believe that this is one tough conference.

And they would be right.

But you never know until you see who qualifies for the state football playoffs.

For the MCC — a mixed 3A and 4A league — the proof is there. Half of the MCC’s teams are in the main dance.

That’s five of 10 teams, at 50%.

No one else in Class 3A or 4A could come so close to that percentage.

There were some questions from around the state after Sageview in Pasco joined the group. That eliminated any non-league contests for MCC schools, and people weren’t sure if perhaps the MCC was good.

But, with half of the MCC in the postseason dance, that percentage comes as no surprise to any of the MCC coaches.

“I keep talking to people all year that the MCC is super competitive,” said Kennewick coach Randy Affholter. “The bottom half of the conference has gotten better every year. Everybody does a good job, and that helps us in the tournament. This is just a physical league.”

Richland coach Josh Jelinek agrees.

“This is just a true testament to what we’re doing in the Basin here,” said Jelinek. “We have a lot of respect with each other. For 10 weeks, we’re enemies. But then we turn it into camaraderie.”

But now, there are no easy marks, said Southridge coach Matt Johnson.

“Everybody is really good at this stage,” said Johnson. “We’ll do lots of film work, lots of walk-through stuff. I told our guys, just keep doing what you’re doing.”

A total of 12 area teams, regardless of classification, will compete for a state title.

Here’s a look at each MCC team still alive:

Chiawana (4A)

Last week: The Riverhawks, leading 14-7 at halftime, blew the game open in the second half to beat the Panthers. … Gage Williams rushed for four touchdowns and had 74 total yards. … Jairo Martinez had a pick-6 to score another Chiawana TD. … Anthony Godino rushed 22 times for 141 yards. … The Riverhawks D forced four turnovers. Williams had 5 tackles (3 for loss) and a quarterback sack; Cooper Cissne had 9 tackles; Tayten Cissne added 8 tackles (1 for loss); and Morgan Dodson had 3 tackles (2 for loss), a QB sack, and two fumble recoveries.

This week: Chiawana earned the No. 4 seed from the state committee on Sunday. The Riverhawks will play host to Glacier Peak at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Edgar Brown Stadium.

Kamiakin (4A)

Last week: After shutting out Lewis & Clark 28-0 last Tuesday, Nov. 4, in a Round of 32 play-in game, the Braves beat Bethel in Spanaway 34-20 to qualify for 4A state. … The win completed three games over 12 days for Scott Biglin’s team. … Using a tough running game, led by Korbyn Hopwood, the Braves pounded the football against Bethel. In turn, that opened up Kamiakin’s passing game. Leading 21-17 at halftime, Kamiakin used a 2-yard TD run by Hopwood in the third quarter; and then a 67-yard TD pass from Jagger McEwen to Micheal Kori in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

This week: After the state seeding committee met Sunday morning, Kamiakin is ranked No. 15, and it will visit No. 2 Lake Stevens at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Richland (4A)

Last week: The Bombers rolled over visiting Mount Si 41-0 on Friday. … Jackson Woodard was 20 for 27 for 235 yards and three TD passes. He also ran for another. … Brody Bocek caught 10 passes for 128 yards; Kiyen Williams added 7 catches for 98 yards and two scores. … Richland’s defense forced four Mount Si turnovers. Junior middle linebacker Joel Arreguin led the Bombers with 9 tackles and an interception.

This week: Bombers earned a 12 seed, sending them on the road to visit Sumner, a 5 seed and the defending state champions. Kickoff will be 2 p.m., Saturday.

Kennewick (3A)

Last week: Affholter’s Lions used ball control to keep the ball out of West Seattle’s offensive hands, beating the visitors 35-7 in a Round of 32 game. … Senior Rivion Brooks — who scored six touchdowns in a game two weeks ago against Hermiston — scored four more times in this game. Brooks carried the ball 25 times for 146 yards and three scores. He also caught 2 passes for 23 yards and a TD. “I think Brooks is playing well,” said Affholter. “We haven’t used him that much this year. But I think his inside zone back reads are great.”

This week: The Lions are a No. 6 seed, which means they get a first-round home playoff game. They’ll take on Enumclaw at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at Lampson Stadium.

Southridge (3A)

Last week: The Suns beat host Mt. Spokane 29-28 in overtime last week at Union Stadium in Mead. … Taking the ball second in the OT, Coppin Hunkapillar scored on a 1-yard run. Then Johnson and offensive coordinator Tyler Hogg elected to go for 2 on the PAT attempt. Jacob Korotkov rushed into the end zone, and the celebration was on. … Gabe Borisch rushed for 164 yards on 29 carries; Tayton Jackman rushed 21 times for 100 yards, and caught 3 passes for another 48 yards. … Johnson beat his twin brother, Zach Johnson, who is an assistant coach for Mt. Spokane.

This week: Southridge was tagged with the No. 14 seed, and the Suns will travel to No. 3 Eastside Catholic for a 2 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.

Non-leaguers: Sione Nuku rushed for 130 yards, while Asa Perkes scored on a 20-yard TD catch, and 68-yard interception return, as Hanford beat Ellensburg 36-7. … Brayden Medelez had 184 yards passing — including an 80-yard TD pass to Hunter Hansell — but Hermiston lost 50-19 to visiting Ridgeline.

MCC FOOTBALL STANDINGS

Chiawana (4A) 9-0 MCC, 10-0 overall

Kamiakin (4A) 7-2, 9-2

Kennewick (3A) 7-2, 8-2

Richland (4A) 7-2, 8-2

Southridge (3A) 5-4, 6-4

Pasco (4A) 3-6, 4-6

Walla Walla (3A) 3-6, 3-7

Hanford (4A) 2-7, 3-7

Hermiston (3A) 2-7, 2-8

Sageview (3A) 0-9, 0-9

Nov. 7 — 4A Round of 32 games: Chiawana 35, Wenatchee 14; Richland 41, Mount Si 0.

Nov. 7 — 3A Round of 32 game: Southridge at Mt. Spokane, 7 p.m.

Nov. 7 — Non-league: Hanford 36, Ellensburg 7; Pasco 28, Eisenhower 24; Ridgeline 50, Hermiston 19; Sageview idle

Nov. 8 — 4A Round of 32 game: Kamiakin 34, Bethel 20

Nov. 8 — 3A Round of 32 game: Kennewick 35, West Seattle 7

Nov. 15 — 4A state playoffs, first round: Glacier Peak at Chiawana, 1 p.m., Edgar Briown Stadium; Kamiakin at Lake Stevens, 3 p.m.; Richland at Sumner, 2 p.m.; 3A state playoffs, first round: Enumclaw at Kennewick, 2 p.m., Lampson Stadium; Southridge at Eastside Catholic, 2 p.m.

Class 2A

OTHELLO

Last week: The Huskies rolled over visiting Renton 48-6 on Saturday to win their Round of 32 game.

This week: Othello gets an 8 seed, but that still means a home game. The Huskies meet No. 9 Sehome on Saturday, with a 4 p.m. kickoff.

PROSSER

Last week: The Mustangs stopped visiting North Mason 42-14 in the Round of 32 playoffs. … Sophomore Autrey Hoefer rushed 16 times for 176 yards, scoring four touchdowns in the win. … Daniel Diaz was 15 for 21 for 163 yards passing; Brody Buxton caught 8 passes for 77 yards.

This week: Prosser is seeded 13th, and the Mustangs will visit No. 4 Orting at 6 p.m. on Friday night.

Class 1A

ROYAL

Last week: The Knights took down King’s Way Christian 69-0 in the Round of 32. … It was 28-0 after the first quarter; 62-0 at intermission. … Brody Bishop scored four touchdowns (three of them rushing, the fourth as a Pick-6). … Dax Jenks rushed 3 times for 106 yards; QB Grant Wardenaar was 6-for-6 for 143 yards passing and two TDs. … The Knights outgained their opponents 444-69 in yardage.

This week: The 1A state tournament is set up for 12 teams, with the top four seeds earning first-round byes. With Royal as the No. 1 seed, it will have the weekend to rest up for next week’s quarterfinals.

Class 2B

COLUMBIA-BURBANK

Last week: The Coyotes hung on to beat Brewster 29-21 to win a regional crossover game.

This week: Burbank’s reward? A 16 seed, and the team will travel to Kelso on Friday night to play No. 1 Toledo. … Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

TRI-CITIES PREP

Last week: Kyle Cairn’s Jaguars stayed unbeaten by taking down visiting Granger 53-0 in the regional crossovers.

This week: Prep earned the No. 3 seed in the 2B tournament, and it will host No. 14 Pe Ell/Willapa Valley at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at Chiawana High School.

Class 1B

DESALES

Last week: The Irish rolled over Wellpinit 64-16 in the regional crossover playoffs last week.

This week: DeSales, which beat Liberty Christian a few weeks ago, was the state committee’s No. 1 seed heading into the tournament. The Irish will take on No. 16 Ocosta at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, at the DeSales High School field.

LIBERTY CHRISTIAN

Last week: Beat Curlew 70-6 in the regional crossovers. … Trenton Ralston passed for 131 yards and three TDs. He also rushed for another score. … Dax Mercure caught 3 passes for 61 yards and two TDs. … Ryan Powell led the defense with 9 tackles (3 for loss).

This week: No. 15 Quilcene visits No. 2 Patriots. Game is set for Saturday, Nov. 15, at Fran Rish Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m. … This will be a first-round state playoff game.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.

This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM.