4 Mid-Columbia teams alive in WA high school football championship fight

Sometimes coaches of high school football teams involved in the state semifinals have a bit of a problem: how to get their teams ready for the big game while at the same time celebrating Thanksgiving, with all of the family, food and scheduling of practice?

But those players, coaches and fans will put up with the inconveniences for a chance to earn a berth in the state championship game.

For four Mid-Columbia teams, those chances still have life.

In Class 1A, Royal has that chance.

So does Tri-Cities Prep in Class 2B, as well as Richland’s Liberty Christian and Walla Walla’s DeSales in the 1B state playoffs.

All four of those teams won their state quarterfinal games last weekend to advance.

Only Kennewick was eliminated in the 3A quarterfinals.

The Lions, who have reached at least the 3A state quarterfinals or better under head coach Randy Affholter in the last six years, just could never get untracked against Eastside Catholic on Saturday, losing 41-0 in Sammamish.

Kennewick finished the season with a 9-3 record.

Here’s a look at the other area teams still alive in the playoffs:

Class 1A

Royal Knights (11-0)

Last week: Senior Shea Stevenson had a big game as Royal beat visiting Seton Catholic 48-10 in the quarterfinals.

Stevenson scored three touchdowns — a 36-yard reception, a 29-yard interception return, and a 30-yard catch. He finished with 8 receptions for 135 yards. On defense, he had 2 tackles and two interceptions.

Meanwhile, junior quarterback Grant Wardenaar was 19 for 25 for 221 yards passing and those two TD strikes to Stevenson. Wardenaar also rushed 9 times for 57 yards and another score.

Finally, junior Dax Jenks rushed 9 times for 135 yards and two scores.

This week: On Saturday (Nov. 29), the Knights play host to Lynden Christian (10-1) at 3 p.m. at Royal High School.

Royal head coach Wiley Allred has led his team to eight of the last nine 1A state championships (only failing in 2018; no game was played in 2020 because of covid).

This Knights team could be as strong as the others. Royal’s average score over its 11 games is 56-3.

Class 2B

Tri-Cities Prep (12-0)

The Jaguars have reached new heights by making the state semifinals as an 11-man team for the first time after they beat Liberty Bell 55-12 last Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco.

Prep won the 8-man state title back in 2008.

Against the Mountain Lions, Prep rolled up 389 offensive yards, with Jake Sherfey scoring three touchdowns on the ground.

But it was the Jaguars defense that really shined, sacking Liberty Bell quarterbacks eight times, and shutting out the Mountain Lions 33-0 in the second half.

“We wanted to keep their quarterback from scrambling too much,” said Sherfey, who played at linebacker. “We studied film on them, and at halftime (leading 22-12) we said to just keep doing the same thing we were doing.”

Prep head coach Kyle Cairns said they did entice Mountain Lions quarterbacks to try to get outside, using the sidelines to cut down on the Liberty Bell pass routes.

“(Their offense) didn’t really change our base defense,” said Cairns. “Ultimately on defense, we needed to be disciplined and focused.”

Defensive lineman Kasen Clements led Prep with 5 tackles, all for loss, and four quarterback sacks. Teammate Karter Gadish added 7 tackles (one for loss), a pressure, a pass breakup, a quarterback sack, a nod an interception.

Sherfey led the Jaguars with 92 yards rushing on 14 carries, with those three touchdowns.

Quarterback Jarrett Garza was 11 for 17 for 144 yards passing.

This week: Prep (seeded No. 3) will basically get to host the semifinal, set for 3 p.m., Saturday (Nov. 29), at Fran Rish Stadium, against No. 7 Adna (10-2).

That’s because the Pirates — who have won nine consecutive games after a 1-2 start — upset No. 2 Newport last week 42-32 in the quarterfinals.

In that game, Beau Miller carried the football 37 times for 212 yards rushing. He also scored three touchdowns, two of them in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Class 1B

Liberty Christian (11-1) and DeSales (12-0)

Last week: No. 2 seed Liberty Christian routed No. 7 Darrington 56-14 in the quarterfinals.

LC’s Trenten Ralston was 10 for 13 passing for 112 yards and 4 TD passes. He also rushed 5 times for 65 yards and two more touchdowns.

Teammate Adam Siever added two carries for 72 yards rushing and one score.

Defensively, linebacker Silas Bjur led the Patriots with 8 tackles (3 for loss), 2 quarterback sacks and a forced fumble.

Meanwhile, No. 1 seed DeSales outgunned No. 9 Neah Bay 58-24 last Saturday, outscoring the Red Devils 28-0 in the fourth quarter.

Cohen Wood, the junior quarterback for the Irish, was 26 for 43 for 359 yards passing and five TD passes. He also rushed 9 times for 63 yards and two TDs.

Maddox Filan caught 13 passes for 212 yards and three scores, while Jason Guest added 9 catches for 99 yards and two TDs.

Guest was also in on 16 tackles.

This week: Both teams are in the state semifinals.

LC will play host to No. 3 Wahkiakum at 12 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 29) at Fran Rish Stadium in Richland. It will be the first game of a doubleheader, with Prep playing Adna in a 2B semifinal at Rish at 3 p.m.

DeSales takes on No. 4 Almira Coulee Hartline at 3 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 29) at Walla Walla High School’s new field.

State semifinal schedule

All games on Saturday, Nov. 29

Class 4A

(6) Graham-Kapowsin (11-1) vs. (2) Lake Stevens (12-0), Lake Stevens High School, 4 p.m.

(5) Sumner (9-3) vs. (1) Puyallup (12-0), Sparks Stadium, Puyallup, 1 p.m.

Class 3A

(3) Eastside Catholic (9-1) vs. (2) Mount Tahoma (12-0), Mount Tahoma High School, 1 p.m.

(4) Bellevue (10-2) vs. (1) O’Dea (10-1), Renton Memorial Stadium, 1 p.m.

Class 3A

(3) East Valley-Yakima (12-0) vs. (2) Tumwater (11-1), Tumwater District Stadium, 3 p.m.

(5) Anacortes (10-2) vs. (1) Archbishop Murphy (11-0), Goddard Stadium, Everett, 2 p.m.

Class 1A

(3) Mount Baker (10-1) vs. (2) Cashmere (10-1), Apple Bowl, Wenatchee, 3 p.m.

(4) Lynden Christian (10-1) vs. (1) Royal (11-0), Royal High School, 3 p.m.

Class 2B

(7) Adna (10-2) vs. (3) Tri-Cities Prep (12-0), Fran Rish Stadium, Richland, 3 p.m.

(5) Okanogan (10-2) vs. (1) Toledo (11-0), Tumwater District Stadium, 12 p.m.

Class 1B

(3) Wahkiakum (11-0) vs. (2) Liberty Christian (10-1), Fran Rish Stadium, Richland, 12 p.m.

(4) Almira Coulee Hartline (10-1) vs. (1) DeSales (12-0), Walla Walla High School, 3 p.m.

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