Bombers ‘D’ ready for next test

Richland football coach Mike Neidhold wasn’t too pleased with his defense in 2014 after watching the Bombers give up over 23 points and 330 yards a game.

Still, he recognized potential greatness within. And with players like Lakota Wills, Brecken Galliher, Griffey March, Alex Chapman and John Hardy returning in 2015, he sought advice from a rival coach but a close friend to help form a plan for 2015.

“We knew the pieces we had. I knew if we could get them in the right places and just let them play and not overcomplicate things, that would be good for us. So I talked with (Chiawana coach) Steve Graff and told him I needed some help,” Neidhold said. “Steve had success at Pasco running a simple defense, and that’s a moment of clarity that I had. We simplified everything and told (the players) to just go play football and act like a high school kid. But with that comes great responsibility.”

It’s a responsibility that Bombers defensive players took to heart and put into action. So far, Richland is giving up just 214.7 yards and 8.4 points a game, the smallest points-allowed ratio in the four-year history of the Mid-Columbia Conference. Richland (8-1) will play host to Lewis and Clark (5-4) at 7 p.m. today at Fran Rish Stadium.

Neidhold, a 1977 Richland graduate, will let history judge just where they rank among the program’s top defensive teams, but he believes they aren’t quite done yet.

“They are a special group and they love to play defense,” he said. “They’re pretty good. We’ll just wait and see.”

But Neidhold is just as proud of the offense, which has emerged as one of the most consistent and explosive in the MCC. Quarterback Paxton Stevens got off to a slow start after healing from a back injury that kept him out of spring practice and offseason camps. But he is now the top-ranked passer in the league, leading the MCC in completions (120) and passing yards (1,552) while ranking second in completion percentage (54.1).

“His first day of practice was August 20. Fourteen practices later, he’s lining up against Gonzaga Prep,” Neidhold said. “It’s been baby steps with the offense. (Quarterbacks) coach (Tom) Moore gives him a little bit more to look at each week. Pax has done a good job getting us in the right play and throwing to the right guy most of the time.”

Against Lewis and Clark, the sixth-ranked Bombers will face a team that plays strong against the run and features a balanced offense that could break big plays at any time.

“I’m interested to see what our front seven can do. If we do what we’ve been able to do throughout the season and keep putting pressure on them, that will be to our advantage,” Neidhold said. “If that happens, they’ll have to throw the ball around a bit.”

CHIAWANA (6-3) AT CENTRAL VALLEY (7-2), 6 P.M.: This game could be the best matchup among the Greater Spokane League/MCC crossovers, featuring a stout Bears defense against the top ground attack in the MCC. CV is looking for its first trip to the Class 4A tournament since 2011, while the Riverhawks are coming off back-to-back appearances in the state title game.

Chiawana RB Andrew Vargas, who led the MCC with 1,852 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, will pace the Riverhawks offense, but QB Troy Simpkins (981 passing yards, 11 TDs) and WR Roman Ruiz (27 catches, 6 TDs) have improved their communication each week and provide a legitimate threat to opposing defenses.

Bears RB Gage Connole was one of the GSL’s top scoring leaders and QB Tanner Sloan provides a good balance between the running and passing game.

“They’re pretty good at getting the ball moved around to different guys,” Graff said. “For us, it’s going to be whether we can cover the pass. We’ve got to slow them down, either by pressuring the quarterback or doing a better job in the secondary.”

WALLA WALLA (3-6) AT GONZAGA PREP (9-0), 6 P.M.: The Blue Devils will have their hands full against the fourth-ranked Bullpups, the only team to beat Richland this year. Wa-Hi QB Mitch Lesmeister is a dual threat to run (489 yards, 5 TDs) or pass (104-198-1,250 yards, 14 TDs), and RBs Sam Hoe (372 yards, 4 TDs) and Noah Porter (414 yards, 1 TD) provide ground support. But the Prep defense has the talent and ability to neutralize just about any threat.

ROGERS (4-5) AT KAMIAKIN (7-2), 7 P.M., LAMPSON STADIUM: The Braves’ two losses have given them perspective and humility, two perfect complements to the vast talent they have on both sides of the ball. Kamiakin led the MCC in offense, averaging 385 yards a game behind a strong offensive line and QB Zach Borisch (88-159, 1,394, 20 TDs), RB Jethro Questad (1,062 yards, 11 TDs) and WR/RB Gavin Crow (283 rush yards, 6 TDs; 20 catches, 398 yards, 6 TDs). But the Braves defense is aggressive, opportunistic and angry.

KENNEWICK (4-5) VS. MT. SPOKANE (8-1), 7 P.M., JOE ALBI STADIUM: Wildcats QB Mitchell Speer has some quality weapons, including RB Dalton Dixon. The Lions will counter with a balanced offense led by RBs Ronnie Loomis (572 yards, 7 TDs) and Isaac Ruiz (540, 4 TDs), WR Blake Loftus (37 catches to lead MCC) and QB Dillon Plew (1,106 yards, 10 TDs).

CONNELL (8-1) VS. LA SALLE (7-1), 7 P.M., MARQUETTE STADIUM: A battle of No. 2 seeds, the second-ranked Eagles are coming off a confidence-building road win over then-No. 2 Zillah, who beat the Lightning 35-0 in early October.

WAHLUKE (4-5) AT ZILLAH (8-1), 7 P.M.: The run-first Warriors are seeking their first state berth since 2003, but they’ll have to do it against a ticked-off Leopards squad coming off their first loss of the year.

GOLDENDALE (6-3) AT ROYAL (9-0), 7 P.M.: The Timberwolves suffered a head-scratching loss to Columbia-Burbank in their season opener but are 6-2 since then. Except for a 27-20 Week 3 win over Connell, the Knights have scarcely been tested, outscoring teams 499-47.

DAVENPORT (6-3) AT WAITSBURG (4-4), 7 P.M.: The Cardinals are fortunate to draw a home game against the Gorillas, the No. 4 seed out of the Northeast 2B. Waitsburg has reached the Class 2B state tourament in each of the last six seasons.

DESALES (2-6) AT LIBERTY (6-3), 7 P.M.: An uncharacteristic down year for the Irish, who missed going to state in 2014 for the first time in 13 seasons last year.

WILBUR-CRESTON (1-7) AT TRI-CITIES PREP (0-8), 6 P.M., EDGAR BROWN STADIUM: The Jaguars had some high points this season but are still looking for their first win. They just might get it against the Wildcats.

WILSONVILLE (8-1) AT HERMISTON (4-5), 7 P.M., KENNISON FIELD: If the seventh-ranked Wildcats are grumbling about having to face a sub-.500 team on the road, let them remember that the Bulldogs are still the defending Class 5A champions and have reeled off four wins in a row.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 8:23 PM with the headline "Bombers ‘D’ ready for next test."