Area has 7 teams alive in state football playoffs
As the state playoffs head into the quarterfinal round Friday and Saturday — with just eight teams in each classification still playing — the Mid-Columbia has seven teams still on the road to the Tacoma Dome.
The Class 4A Richland Bombers and 3A Kennewick Lions give the Mid-Columbia Conference a pair of contenders, and both are on the road Saturday. In the 2A ranks, the Prosser Mustangs face a familiar foe in CWAC rival Ellensburg.
SCAC powers Connell (Saturday vs. Zillah) and Royal (Friday vs. Colville) may be headed for a semifinal showdown. Likewise for 1B standouts Liberty Christian (Saturday vs. Republic) and Touchet (Saturday vs. Almira/Coulee-Hartline).
Class 4A
Richland (10-1) vs. Moses Lake (9-2)
Where, when: Lions Field, Moses Lake, 1 p.m. Saturday
Weather: 43 degrees, partly cloudy, 20 percent chance of rain.
Last state appearance: Richland 2013 (lost to Federal Way 41-34 in Class 4A quarterfinals); Moses Lake 2013 (lost to Chiawana 52-13 in Class 4A first round)
State playoff history (before 2015): Richland 22-14 in 16 appearances (best finish: 1981 AAA champions, beat Kentridge 7-6; 1999 Class 4A champions, beat Kentwood 21-18); Moses Lake 5-6 in six appearances (best finish: 1997 Class 3A semifinals, lost 33-30 to Lakes; 1998 Class 3A semifinals, lost 49-28 to Capital).
Top players: Richland — QB Paxton Stevens (141-257-10-1,788, 13 TDs); RB/LB Lakota Wills (67-552, 12 TDs); WR/DB Griffey March (43 catches, 537 yards, 4 TDs); WR/DB Alex Chapman (24-443, 8 TDs, 5 INTs); WR Rhett Levin (30-360, TD); DE John Hardy; LB Brecken Galliher. Moses Lake — QB Wes Harrington (69-127-3-1,107, 11 TDs); RB Draven Nevarez (104-567, 10 TDs); WR Isaiah Thomas (38-542, 7 TDs; 28.3 yd/avg kickoff return; 26.6 yd/avg punt return; 3 INT); DL Derick Close; LB Brandon Pankratz.
Quick fact: Richland has a record of 37-6-1 against Moses Lake since 1964. .... Since the Mid-Columbia Conference and Columbia Basin-Big Nine split up in 2012, the MCC has gone 24-9 against CBBN teams, including 3-0 in the state playoffs.
Up next: Winner will play host to Gonzaga Prep/Woodinville winner.
Class 3A
Kennewick (6-5) vs. Lakes (9-2)
Where, when: Harry Lang Stadium, Lakewood, 1 p.m. Saturday
Weather: 50 degrees, mostly cloudy, 20 percent chance of rain
Last state appearance: Kennewick 2012 (lost to North Thurston 35-23 in Class 3A first round); Lakes 2013 (lost to Meadowdale 24-0 in Class 3A first round).
State playoff history (before 2015): Kennewick 16-16 (best finish: 1983 AAA championship, lost to Bellevue 17-14); Lakes 24-21 in 22 appearances (best finish: 1997 Class 3A championship, beat Ferndale 21-17).
Top players: Kennewick — QB Dillon Plew (117-208-4-1,375, 15 TDs); RB Ronny Loomis (113-572, 7 TDs); RB Isaac Ruiz (105-539, 4 TDs); WR Blake Loftus (42-460, 3 TDs); DB Jared Gray (4 INTs); OL/DL D.J. Dyer; DL Brendon Villasenior. Lakes — QB Jaiave Magalei (133-204-7-2,310, 21 TDs); RB Andrew Bostic (158-1,171, 9 TDs); RB Yisrael Stephens (69-619, 7 TDs); WR/LB Christopher Hunter (43-874, 6 TDs); WR Dedrian Milligan (25-439, 3 TDs); LB Elijah McMillon 11 TFL.
Quick fact: This will be the first recorded meeting between the two schools.
Up next: Winner will play host to Eastside Catholic/Bonney Lake winner.
Class 2A
Ellensburg (11-0) vs. Prosser (10-1)
Where, when: Zaepfel Stadium, Yakima, 1 p.m. Saturday
Weather: 44 degrees, partly cloudy, 0 percent chance of rain.
Last state appearance: Ellensburg 2014 (lost to Lynden 33-6 in Class 2A semifinals); Prosser 2014 (lost to Ellensburg 34-20 in Class 2A quarterfinals).
State playoff history (before 2015): Ellensburg 12-8 in 9 appearances (best finish: 1973 AA championship, beat Stanwood 13-0); Prosser 46-23 in 27 appearances (best finish: 1992 AA championship, beat O’Dea 26-0; 1993 AA championship, beat Gig Harbor 22-20; 1999 Class 3A championship, beat Sammamish 42-38; 2007 Class 3A championship, beat Burlington-Edison 42-7).
Top players: Ellensburg — QB Donny Ellersick (146-227-6-2,015, 28 TDs passing; 79-541, 7 TDs rush); RB Nathan Sherwood (124-779, 6 TDs); RB Luke Rinehart (72-489, 6 TDs); WR Bryce Helgeson (53-915, 11 TDs); WR Xander Orejudos (27-451, 6 TDs); OL/DL Tait Stevenson; DB Nate Andraya; TE/LB Seth Walker. Prosser — QB Tanner Bolt (148-239-7-2,417, 34 TDs); RB Michael Kernan (59-498, 10 TDs); RB J.R. Coleman (46-290, 6 TDs); WR Kason Blair (30-630, 9 TDs); WR/K Javier Diaz (26-438, 6 TDs rec; 51 XP); LB Thomas Neimeyer, OL/DL Riley Lusk.
Quick fact: This matchup has provided some of the most entertaining games over the last few seasons — including the Bulldogs’ 27-26 double overtime thriller earlier this year — although Ellensburg has taken the last four matchups since Prosser last won in 2012.
Up next: Winner will play host to Hockinson/Sedro-Woolley winner.
Class 1A
Connell (10-1) vs. Zillah (10-1)
Where, when: Lampson Stadium, 3 p.m. Saturday
Weather: 45 degrees, partly cloudy, 10 percent chance of rain.
Last state appearance: Connell 2014 (lost to Cascade Leavenworth 33-21 in Class 1A first round; Zillah 2014 (lost to Cascade Leavenworth 21-7 in Class 1A quarterfinals).
State playoff history (before 2015): Connell 31-20 in 23 appearances (best finish: 2002 Class 2A championship, beat Elma 41-14; 2009 Class 1A championship, beat Cascade Christian 28-7; 2011 Class 1A championship, beat Cascade Christian 28-7); Zillah 14-17 in 17 appearances (best finish: 1992 Class A championship, lost 26-23 to Eatonville; 2003 Class 1A championship, lost 20-0 to Archbishop Murphy).
Top players: Connell — QB Brian Hawkins (96-161-3-1,410, 16 TDs passing; 40-257, 8 TDs rush); RB/LB Parker McCary (93-650, 14 TDs); RB/DB Jaxs Whitby (84-575, 6 TDs); TE/DL Steven Kroontje (27-509, 4 TDs); WR/LB Dallas Rodriguez (25-287, 7 TDs); OL/DL Matt Davidson; OL Justin Schultz. Zillah — QB Trey Delp; RB Zach Crossley; WR Jacob Cleveringa; OL/LB Kodie Hathaway; OL/DL Andres Ponce; TE/LB Blaine Ross; DB Israel Suarez.
Quick fact: These two teams met up just two weeks ago, and Connell — then ranked No. 3 — took down then-No. 2 Zillah 31-28.
Up next: Winner will visit the Royal/Colville winner.
Colville (9-1) vs. Royal (11-0)
Where, when: Gonzaga Prep High School, Spokane, 6 p.m. Friday. Note: Game time may be changed because of power outages in Spokane
Weather: 38 degrees, partly cloudy, 0 percent chance of rain.
Last state appearance: Colville 2014 (lost Class 1A championship to Cascade Christian 27-26); Royal 2014 (lost to Colville 28-10 in Class 1A quarterfinals).
State playoff history (before 2015): Colville 4-10 in 10 appearances (best finish: 2014, lost to Cascade Christian 27-26 in 1A state title game); Royal 39-20 in 25 appearances (best finish: 1996, Class 1A championship, beat Toledo 70-0; 2000, Class 1A championship, beat Tacoma Baptist 49-17; 2004, Class 1A championship, beat Freeman 29-7; 2005, Class 1A championship, beat Tonasket 34-14; 2008, Class 1A championship, beat Connell 28-16).
Top players: Colville — QB Jack Hinds; RB/DB William Burton; TE Skyler Lindquist; OL/DL Ridge Walston; OL/DL Tele Seemann; K Mark Kharchenko. Royal — QB Kaden Jenks (112-175-2-2,161, 40 TDs pass; 46-232, 6 TDs rush); RB/DB Joe Lang (101-879, 16 TDs rush; 21-347, 6 TDs rec); RB Danny Cuevas (58-459, 10 TDs); WR/DB Sam Christensen (28-509, 11 TDs); WR/K Jose Ponce (25-630, 10 TDs, 67 XP); OL Valente Cortez; OL Hunter Follett; DL Sawyer Stakkeland; DL Juan Hernandez.
Quick fact: Royal has made state in each of the last 16 seasons.
Up next: Winner will play host to Connell/Zillah winner.
Class 1B
Liberty Christian (11-0) vs. Republic (9-2)
Where, when: Edgar Brown Stadium, Pasco, 1 p.m. Saturday
Weather: 44 degrees, partly cloudy, 10% chance of rain.
Last state appearance: Liberty Christian 2014 (lost 1B championship to Neah Bay 56-38). Republic 2014 (lost to Liberty Christian 46-20 in the 1B semifinals).
State playoff history (before 2015): Liberty Christian 6-1 in two appearances (won state title in 2012). Republic 5-3 in three appearances (lost state semifinal games in 1996, 2004 and 2014).
Top players: Liberty Christian — QB John Lesser (3,146 yads rushing; 1,517 yards passing; 43 TDs scored; 43 2-point conversions scored; 28 TD passes); RB Nico Shupe (811 yards rushing, 17 TDs); Mitch Godwin (25 catches, 702 yards, 12 TDs, team leader in tackles with 92), Cameron Godwin (15 catches, 304 yards, 8 TDs). Republic — Aaron Fritts (169 yards rushing, 241 yards passing, 3 TD passes, 2 TDs scored in 50-42 win over Garfield-Palouse last week); Adrian McCarthey (144 yards receiving and 3 TD catches last week).
Up next: Winner plays at Touchet-ACH winner in semifinals.
Almira-Coulee-Hartline (10-1) vs. Touchet (9-1)
Where, when: Lions Field, Moses Lake, 5 p.m. Saturday
Weather: 43 degrees, partly cloudy, 20 percent chance of rain.
Last state appearance: ACH 2011 (lost 1B championship to Neah Bay 36-28). Touchet 2014 (lost to Cusick 34-28 in the first round).
State playoff history (before 2015): ACH 10-5 in 10 appearances (won state titles in 2007, beating Odessa 38-14; and in 1990, beating Colton 48-36); Touchet 22-15 in 19 appearances (won state titles in 1999, beating Neah Bay 42-36; in 1998, beating Clallam Bay 71-48; in 1994, beating Pateros 38-24; in 1979, beating Joyce 56-42).
Top players: ACH — QB-DB Dallas Isaak (1,986 yards rushing, 34 TDs, 957 yards passing, 19 TD passes, 47 tackles); RB-LB Charles Hunt (651 yards rushing, 27 catches, 561 yards receiving, leading tackler with 48). Touchet — RB Leo Garcia (1,375 yards rushing, 18 TDs); RB James Kates (455 yards rushing, 9 TDs); QB Andrew Flagstead (316 yards passing); WR-DB Carlos Rincon (9 catches, 272 yards, 76 tackles); LB Lot Butler (87 tackles).
Up next: Winner plays host to Liberty Christian-Republic winner in semifinal.
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Area has 7 teams alive in state football playoffs."