Week 1 high school football schedule. Which smaller schools have a shot at title runs?

As the smaller schools in the Mid-Columbia region begin their season this weekend, it’s good to note that we should have some schools battling for state titles.

Prosser is loaded once again in Class 2A, but so is the Mustangs’ 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference rival, Othello.

In 1A, defending state champion Royal lost a lot of talent to graduation. But head coach Wiley Allred also has some talent back. So does Wayne Riner at Connell.

In 2B, keep an eye on Trevor Curtis’ Columbia-Burbank Coyotes; while in 1B, Craig Lukins’ Liberty Christian Patriots could do some damage in 8-man football.

Here are 11 area players from our region’s smaller schools to keep an eye on this season:

▪ Dylan Allred, sr., Royal: Was a first-team All-SCAC East pick at linebacker last season. He’ll return to linebacker, but he’ll also be the Knights’ quarterback.

▪ Sonny Asu, sr., Othello: Speedy running back made Huskies offense go last year. Was a first-team All-CWAC player.

▪ Keegan Bishop, sr., Liberty Christian: This quarterback suffered a season-ending injury last year, but he’s ready to go in the 8-man ranks, where everyone will need a computer to calculate his passing yardage.

▪ Cade Clyde, sr., Connell: A big two-way threat at tight end and defensive end, this 6-foot-3, 250-pounder has already received college offers — among them Eastern Washington and Idaho.

▪ Terrill Freeman, sr., Othello: The heart of the Huskies defense last year, Freeman was first-team All-CWAC.

▪ Detton Jenks, sr., Royal: Was a first-team, All-SCAC East selection at both offensive line and defensive line last fall.

▪ Isaac Kernan, sr., Prosser: A deep threat at wide receiver, he’ll be new starting QB Kory McClure’s top target.

▪ Elijah Kinsey, jr., Columbia-Burbank: First-team EWAC last season at running back, Kinsey is a viable option for the Coyotes in QB Lenke doesn’t pass or run the ball himself.

▪ Michael Lenke, sr., Columbia-Burbank: First-team at QB and LB last season in the 2B EWAC. He was also the league’s Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year.

▪ Neo Medrano, sr., Prosser: He was the CWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year last season. Watch out, he’ll also get some touches on offense this season.

▪ Mason Perez, sophomore, Othello: Did enough damage on the defensive line last season as a freshman, CWAC coaches voted him first-team all-league.

Week 1 games

All games are 7 p.m. kickoffs, unless otherwise noted

Thursday

Royal at Toppenish: Defending 1A state champions take to the road, face talented Wildcats in the opener.

Friday

Chiawana at Kamiakin, Lampson Stadium, 8 p.m.: Heat moves MCC opener start back an hour. … Scott Bond’s visiting Riverhawks start the DJ Duran Era at quarterback, while Scott Biglin’s Braves ready to show off sensation Gabe Tahir.

Columbia-Burbank at Okanogan, 6 p.m.: Rematch of last year’s first round of the 2B state playoffs. … Visiting Coyotes are led by All-Everything Michael Lenke.

Grandview at Wahluke: The 2A Greyhounds open on the road against the 1A Warriors.

Granger at Dayton-Waitsburg: Visiting Spartans head to Waitsburg in a 1A SCAC crossover game.

Hanford at Hermiston, 8 p.m.: This MCC opener moved back an hour because of heat. … Nick Baker’s Falcons hoping to get off to a good start against David Faaeteete’s host Bulldogs. … Hermiston finished last season on a three-game win streak.

Kennewick at Pasco, Edgar Brown Stadium, 8 p.m.: Leon Wright-Jackson hopes his host Bulldogs have enough to stop Randy Affholter’s visiting Lions in an MCC opener, moved back an hour because of the heat. … Kennewick advanced all the way to the state 3A final last year, falling to Bellevue in the title game.

Liberty Christian at Yakama Nation Tribal, 4 p.m.: Visiting Patriots fans hopeful senior QB Keegan Bishop gets a full schedule this year, with no game cancellations. Although both teams are in the District 9 1B league, this is a non-league contest.

Mac-Hi at College Place: The host Hawks open against their neighbors from Oregon. CP senior Nick Josifek expects to have a big year at both quarterback and DB.

Prosser at Sunnyside: Another neighborhood rivalry to start the season, as Class 2A Mustangs take on a tough 4A Grizzlies team. Game is also on SWX Television.

River View at Kiona-Benton: Visiting 2B Panthers lost a lot to graduation; 2A host Bears have a new head coach in Joe Powers.

Sunnyside Christian at Tekoa-Rosalia, 6 p.m.: Visiting Knights went 8-2 last year. … First of two games between these two teams, this one considered a non-leaguer.

Umatilla at Tri-Cities Prep, Chiawana High School, 8 p.m.: Vikings from Oregon visit 2B Jaguars as the post-Dan Whitsett Era begins.

Walla Walla at West Valley-Yakima: Greg Lupfer’s Blue Devils open their season on the road in a non-league in Yakima. … Wa-Hi defense must find a way to contain Rams QB Skyler Cassel.

White Swan at Warden: Host Cougars play host to Cougars in another non-league crossover game involving 2B EWAC teams.

Saturday

Othello at Connell: Moved from Friday night when there weren’t enough officials to go around. It’s become a tradition for these two neighborhood rivals to open the season against each other.

Sound Christian at DeSales, 1 p.m.: Host Irish, expected to be good in the state 8-man ranks, opens with a non-league contest against the Tacoma school.

Southridge vs. Richland, 4 p.m.: Game was rescheduled due to lack of football officials, then moved to Pasco because the Bombers’ remodeled Fran Rish Stadium wasn’t quite ready for play. Now, Richland athletic director Mike Edwards got the clearance on Thursday morning to have the game at Rish Stadium. … Matt Johnson’s Suns boast Lucien Cone, James Rush and Max Martin. Mike Neidhold’s Bombers counter with Landon Charlton, Tanner Schuster and Seth Shook. Plenty of offensive fireworks.

This story was originally published September 1, 2022 at 3:45 PM.