Call this a prep playoff primer. Or, everything else I couldn’t get into our postseason information box today. And a few other things. Pictured above is Coeur d'Alene running back/linebacker Reece Mahaffy two weeks ago against Lake City.

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And as always, feel free to comment. What are your predictions for the games this week?

Remember, I'll be tweeting scores Friday. My Twitter address is: @srpreps

 

 

RECORDS, RECORDS, RECORDS

 

Proud Rogers graduate Mike Schock has been the compiler of all the weekly Greater Spokane League regular-season football statistics and the auditor of the league records.

 

He reports that out of 22 different all-time statistical categories, only THREE had zero movement this year.

 

Thirty names were added to the all-time top 10 lists (not 30 different players, some are the same kids).

 

Eight different No. 1 records were broken and one other was tied.

 

Also, Central Valley’s defense gave up the most passing yards ever (577 against Shadle Park) and most likely the must rushing yards ever (626 last week against Gonzaga Prep) and still WON both games.

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

So I had to ask Gonzaga Prep coach Dave McKenna how his team managed to gain 626 yards rushing and lose to CV.

 

“Turnovers,” McKenna said. “Four turnovers and a punt that didn’t get off. I didn’t have them ready to play.”

 

McKenna said that not wanting to diminish CV’s win in any part. The Bears were a hot team the second half of the season. One has to wonder if the Bears would have qualified for the playoffs had they had junior quarterback Adam Chamberlain all season.

 

“We kept giving them short fields,” McKenna added. “It was 21-7 before we knew what hit us. We didn’t come out with great energy. We were going through the motions.”

 

McKenna believes it taught himself and his players a valuable lesson.

 

“We can’t take things for granted,” McKenna said.

 

So the Bullpups have focused on themselves in preparation for their play-in opener at home Friday against Chiawana.

 

“It’s about us and what we do,” McKenna said. “And we have to hang on to the football.”

 

PANTHERS READY TO ROLL?

 

Mead might be as healthy as it’s been since midseason. The Panthers got running backs Davian Barlow and Luke Hilmes back last week.

 

The Panthers must clean up a propensity for mistakes – big penalties and turnovers – if they want to advance far into the state playoffs.

 

MATCHUPS NEXT WEEK?

 

Those hoping for a Mead/G-Prep rematch will have to wait a few weeks. They would face each other again if they get to the semifinals.

 

If Mead wins Friday, it will play host next week to the Newport (Bellevue)/Skyview (Vancouver) winner. If G-Prep wins Friday, it will play host to the Union/Graham-Kapowsin win.

 

G-Prep would stay at home throughout the playoffs until the semifinals.

 

In 3A, if University and Shadle Park both win, they’d stay in Spokane for games next week.

 

U-Hi would play the Lakes/O’Dea winner and Shadle would play the Rainier Beach/North Thurston winner.

 

If U-Hi and Shadle won those games, they’d meet in the quarterfinals.

 

GSL VS. BIG NINE/MCC

 

Schock provides another interesting note. Since 1975 in crossover games with the Big Nine/Mid-Columbia Conference, the B9/MCC holds series edge, 92-86.

 

In the last five years, the GSL leads 38-17.

 

COEUR D’ALENE, LAKE CITY READY

 

CdA would like to be the first 5A team to capture three straight state titles.

 

It’s possible, too. There’s not one dominant team in the eight-team field this year like the Vikings of a year ago.

 

“I think we’re all about the same,” CdA coach Shawn Amos said.

 

Lake City coach Van Troxel agreed.

 

“It’s about who gets hot,” Troxel said. “The team that does the little things right will be the team that wins. Any one of the eight teams can win it. Coeur d’Alene has to be the favorite. They’ve played the most difficult schedule.”

 

CdA goes into its opener banged up along the offensive line. Two linemen suffered high ankle sprains last week. He’s hopeful to have them back in limited capacity.

 

“We feel good about the five guys who can play at this point,” Amos said. “We’ve been working on emergency plans if anything else happens. If we play well we can beat anybody. But we have to play well.”

 

LC has improved measurably on defense since a season-opening loss (35-28) at Eagle.LC returns to Eagle on Friday.

“We’re better than we were Week 1,” Troxel said. “We can compete with anybody.”

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