Tri-Cities high school football kicks off tonight. Here’s how to watch

It’s time.

After almost 10 months of delay — of missing spring practice, missing summer camps, missing fall practices and games — the majority of Mid-Columbia region high school football teams kick off their short but much needed season Friday night.

The Friday opening-night Mid-Columbia Conference schedule (all games start at 7 p.m.) is as follows:

Click on the links for live streaming and other viewing options: Chiawana at Hanford, Fran Rish Stadium; Kennewick at Pasco, Edgar Brown Stadium; Richland at Kamiakin, Lampson Stadium; Walla Walla at Southridge, Southridge High School. Hermiston has a bye.

As one can imagine, there is excitement and anticipation in the air, and not just by the players.

“I think during this pandemic we all learned to not take things for granted,” said Pasco High coach Leon Wright-Jackson. “It has been trials of ups and downs. I’m happy our boys can play some football!”

Kamiakin head coach Scott Biglin agrees.

“Honestly, just seeing these young men get back to some type of normalcy will be great to see,” Biglin said. “Every time they open up something for us, the kids’ eyes and spirits light up. It’s so great to see the kids get some life back into them.”

Sports are returning as the region entered Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan under the guidelines for sporting activities.

No more than 200 people are allowed at competitions — including players, trainers and coaches. Be sure to check with each school to determine if fans will be able to attend. Many are issuing players just two tickets per home game for family members.

Here’s a brief rundown for each MCC team, alphabetically:

Chiawana High

First-year head coach Scott Bond takes over for the retired Steve Graff. But Bond is no stranger to the team, being an assistant coach for over 20 years at Pasco and then when Chiawana opened.

The defending MCC champs have a lot of talent returning, starting with RB/LB Cameron Breier, who has signed with the Air Force Academy.

Breier should be the featured back on offense, which will be run by junior quarterback JP Zamora (verbally committed to Utah). Zamora will look to receiving targets Kaden Davis, Aiden Mason (Carroll College signee), and Kobe Young — who has Division I offers in both football and basketball.

Breier and fellow linebacker Gerardo Alonso will be the heart of the defense — if running backs and receivers can get by junior defensive lineman Isaiah Anderson, who has verbally committed to wrestling for Oregon State University.

The secondary will be anchored by Mason and Jalen Webber.

Bond says another player to watch out for: two-way lineman JT Munoz.

Hanford High

The other new head coach in the MCC is Nick Baker, who was an assistant at O’Dea last year.

Baker estimates that by the time the Falcons play Chiawana on Friday, “We’ll have had eight full practices.”

But he has talent to work with, starting with returning QB Easton Wise-Hyde, who last season led the MCC in passing with 2,692 yards and a 29-to-8 TD passes-to-interceptions rate.

Jaxon Farrah (33 catches for 680 yards) and Deshawn Samples will be two of his favorite targets.

Phillip Djang will help anchor both sides of the line, and Mason Gilmour will be the heart of the defense at linebacker.

Keep an eye on Kevin Hester, a sophomore running back, and senior WR Zach Harrison.

“I think Kevin Hester will open some eyes,” Baker said

Hermiston High

The Bulldogs will miss the first week, as they’re finishing up a two-week quarantine after having a small COVID outbreak.

But head coach David Faaeteete Likes what he has from a team coming off a 2-8 season in 2019.

“(Quarterback) Chase Elliott will be returning off of injury from last season,” Faaeteete said. “He’s got a live arm and speed, making him a dual threat. He got to play (just) a single quarter of football last season, so we’re really excited about that.”

His top targets may be Trevor Wagner (59 catches for 622 yards last season) and Spencer Juul. RB Daniel Faaeteete rushed for 363 yards last season.

Wagner, at linebacker, averaged 6.5 tackles a game in 2019; while two-way lineman Sam Cadenas had 5.9 tackles. Tyson Stocker will be another two-way lineman.

Faaeteete says RB/OLB/S Thomas Reagan, also returning from injury, will be a key player.

“He is the fastest male athlete at the school, an explosive player, who runs the ball with physicality and has the ability to go yard in the open field,” Faaeteete said.

Kamiakin High

Braves head coach Scott Biglin has a lot of talent coming back, including three seniors — RB-DB Tuna Altahir, WR-DE Woodley Downard, and WR-DE Messiah Jones — who have all signed to play at Eastern Washington University next year.

Altahir led the MCC in rushing last season with 1,406 yards.

But it’s more than just those three that makes Kamiakin one of the top teams in the state.

Junior Henry Mercado (2,169 yards passing, 22 TD passes to just 11 picks) is the guy that makes it all go at quarterback.

WR Luis Salgado and OL Aaron Tano also will be key on offense.

Defensively, the linebacking crew is outstanding with Gilbert Marquez, Kale Crawford, EJ Hawkins OL and Salgado. Kyler Bacon shores up the secondary.

Biglin has even more talent in the pipeline.

Sophomore DB Gabe Tahir has “tremendous cover skills. (He) will play on Saturdays soon,” Biglin said.

Junior QB/DB Payton Graham, says Biglin, has a great nose for the ball and is a tough competitor; while sophomore WR Fabian Hernandez has a “great feel for the game and (is) super athletic.”

Finally, junior OL Jaxin McCallum should make his mark on the line.

Kennewick High

Last year’s Class 3A state semifinal team lost a lot of players to graduation, but head coach Randy Affholter still has some good talent.

“We got a full extra month of practices going to the semifinals,” Affholter said. “Any time you can get on the field that much, it’s valuable.”

Junior RB Myles Mayovsky (1,173 yards rushing in 2019) will be a huge key for the Lions, as will QB Elijah Tanner.

Max Mayer (41 catches) and Simeon Howard (28) will be Tanner’s top targets.

And Alex Fouts, Aiden Knapik (6-foot-7), Kannon Ness and Ashton Tripp (6-6) will anchor both sides of the line.

Pasco High

Wright-Jackson, whose team went 3-5 in MCC play in 2019, may have the conference’s most exciting player in all-everything Des Licon.

He was first-team All-MCC in 2019 in three different spots — at wide receiver, defensive back and as a kick returner, and he’ll play Saturdays starting this fall at EWU.

Licon will have some help this spring at Pasco. Wright-Jackson names Isaiah Arline TE/DL (second-team All-MCC at DL), LB Nathaniel Torres (also second team), OL/DL Angel Perez, WR/DB Nico Garcia, and WR/DB Alex DeLeon as key players to watch.

He says to also watch out for RB/DB Jamie Townsend II, WR/DB Traeton Mitchell, and WR/DB Alex Ramirez.

Richland High

Head coach Mike Neidhold isn’t going to let recent back surgery spoil this season for him, his coaching staff and kids.

He’s excited to see what he has this season. He knows he has WR Ben Fewel (89 catches, 1236 yards, 13 TDs), who will play for Georgetown, returning.

QB Harrison Westover (1,873 passing yards) also is back. “He’s not the same quarterback from last year. He’s in unbelievable shape,” said Neidhold.

Mason Williamson, who signed with Rocky Mountain College, will anchor both sides of the line.

Neidhold also is high on senior Carson Craig, who is a baseball standout but is playing football for the first time and could be another receiving target at WR.

Others to watch, says Neidhold, are RB/DB Eric Strasser (who missed 2019 with an ACL injury), RB/LB Elijah Rodriguez (second-team All-MCC at DB in 2019), LB Ryan Johnson, and C/LB Jacob Kump.

Southridge High

Head coach Aaron Sonnichsen is extremely excited about playing home games on the school’s campus.

“I will say that playing at Southridge has been something I have been pushing for a long time and now that we have turf, I am so excited to see our guys play at our house,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the sun setting as kickoff is taking place.”

On the field, he’ll expect two three-year starters, QB Trenton Slatter and OL/DL Lucas Martin, to lead the team.

He also expects WR/LB Lagrand Benedict, WR/DB Edy Centeno, WR/LB Landon Gallasch, WR/DB Austin Gideon, and WR/DB Ryker Stevens to be key players.

And RB/DL Albersh Kuwa is a cousin of Kamiakin’s Tuna Altahir, so there “could be a little family rivalry this year,” Sonnichsen said.

Walla Walla High

Head coach Greg Lupfer has some talent back, starting with RB Jacob Humphrey (1,035 rushing yards in 2019) and QB Ryan Martuscelli (1,509 passing yards), who has committed to the University of Puget Sound.

Kicker-punter Seamus Hall will kick for the University of Sioux Falls.

Others Lupfer is depending on to lead the team are MLB/TE Joe Terry, athlete and strong safety Dash Sirmon, and linemen Ian Kopf and Aden Van Dyke.

Notes

Class 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference games scheduled Friday (all games at 7 p.m. Unless otherwise noted) will include Prosser at East Valley of Yakima, and La Salle at Grandview.

• In 1A South Central Athletic Conference play, Connell visits Kiona-Benton, while Wapato visits College Place.
• In 2B Eastern Washington Athletic Conference play, Tri-Cities Prep will visit Columbia-Burbank at 6 p.m. Saturday. The game originally was a home game for Prep at Chiawana High, but school officials at Chiawana asked that it be moved out of COVID concerns.
• Also, at 4 p.m. Saturday, River View plays host to Mabton.
• Finally, Liberty Christian visits DeSales at 7 p.m. Friday in a Southeast 1B contest.

This story was originally published February 25, 2021 at 5:06 PM.