Republic Makes State Debut In 1993, Coach Don Beazizo Formulated Three-Year Plan

Don Beazizo arrived in Republic in 1993 and put his faith in the Tigers’ freshman class.

The three-year plan has paid off, as Republic (7-2) qualified for the first state football playoff in school history by stomping Ritzville 46-14 last week.

The Tigers open B-11 playoffs at 7:30 Friday night in Colfax against Southeast champion Tekoa-Oakesdale (8-1).

“In the first year I kind of noticed that the freshmen had a big class,” said the former Eastern Washington University assistant. “I set goals that when they became juniors they’d be able to compete. And that’s where most of the leadership comes from.”

The junior class includes quarterback Jason Baldwin and wide receiver Mark Rickard.

Baldwin has completed 53 percent of his passes and has tossed 20 touchdowns, 11 to Rickard. Baldwin is 16 of 19 for 450 yards his last two games.

Rickard has more than 800 receiving yards and reached 19 career interceptions with four pickoffs this year. Until this season, when an Oroville athlete notched his 28th, the state interception record belonged to Beazizo from his days at Concrete.

Republic felt like its feet were in concrete after an early-season loss to Springdale. The Tigers responded by winning five of their final six.

“I used (the Springdale loss) as a coaching tool,” Beazizo said. “I told them they were a better team than that, but that you can’t show up at a game expecting to win.”

In Friday’s other B-11 playoffs, Davenport (8-1) drew a rematch of last year’s state opener won by Waterville (7-1). Part II is at 7:30 in Wenatchee. Garfield-Palouse (4-4) travels to Central Washington champ Oroville (9-0) at 6. Manson (6-2) plays at Northeast champ Reardan (9-0) at 7:30.

Class A

Lakeside’s second appearance in the state playoffs doesn’t appear as intimidating as its first.

The Eagles (6-3) play at Yakima Valley League Western Division champion Zillah (6-3) at 7:30 Friday night. Last year, Lakeside’s first trip to state, the opponent was eventual state finalist Royal.”We think we’re right there,” said Lakeside coach Glen Payne. “I like our chances this year better than last year.”

Zillah uses a wishbone that relies on one of the state’s leading rushers, 200-pound fullback Jeromy Schuoler. Lakeside counters with junior quarterback George Petticrew, junior tailback Tai Saito, senior kicker Ryan Chicoine and junior linebacker/offensive guard Randy Brownell.

Northeast A champion Chewelah (9-0), which has outscored rivals 395-118, opens the playoffs at home at 1:30 Saturday afternoon against YVL Western runner-up Cle Elum (6-3).

Class B-8

State playoffs begin Nov. 17-18, with quarterfinals that include LaCrosse-Washtucna against Northeast champion Pateros, St. John-Endicott against Inchelium and Odessa against Southeast champion Touchet.

Quick kicks

Eastside Catholic, ranked fourth in Class AA football, was expected to be the team to finally challenge No. 1 O’Dea.

The Irish had run the table going into the Metro League championship game, shutting out all eight of their opponents, but the Crusaders were a completely different kind of foe.

Eastside Catholic averaged 359 yards. However, the Irish held EC to 93 yards and didn’t allow the Crusaders past the O’Dea 33-yard line in a 35-0 victory.

Look for O’Dea, the defending state champion to make it 10 shutouts in a row when they play Bainbridge. Meanwhile, the loss put Eastside Catholic on Cheney’s side of the playoff bracket.

Speaking of shutouts, Tom Hunton called us to report Gonzaga Prep had a string of 18 straight shutouts. The Bullpups, coached by Tom’s dad Puggy Hunton, went 8-0 in 1930, outscoring their foes 159-0, and 10-0 in 1931 with a 249-0 edge.

The shutout streak ended the first game of 1932 but not because the defense let down. The Bullpups beat Mullan 26-2.

Drew Miller, the junior quarterback for Lakes of Tacoma, capped the season with a 445-yard passing game. Miller finished with 3,366 yards and 41 TDs.

Miller’s favorite receiver, Mike Rigell, ended with 82 catches for 1,301 yards and 17 TDs. The 82 catches are the third best in state history.

Justin Johnson, a junior for Bellevue, rushed for 291 yards on 35 carries for the playoff-bound Wolverines. He finished the regular season with 170 points (28 TDs, one two-point PAT) and 1,548 yards on 188 carries (8.2 average).

Giorgio Usai, Central Valley’s standout running back, enters the playoffs with 1,571 yards (7.7 average) and 170 points.

Adna had a Tuesday game to make the State A playoffs and that allowed Mike Brown to become the state’s all-time leading rusher. He went for 167 yards, giving him 5,974 in his career, passing the mark of 5,910 Brandon Jumper rolled up for Eatonville from 1984-87.

Brown has rushed for 1,959 yards on 198 carries and scored 27 TDs, pushing his state TD record to 83.

, DataTimes