Memories In The Making Mead Shrugs Off Storm, Prepares For Richland

Just exactly how pleasant the memories are of Mead’s run in the State AAA football playoffs remain to be seen.

But it’s already been truly memorable. Mother Nature gave the ninth-ranked Panthers (10-0) an unscheduled break from their preparations for Saturday’s second-round game with Richland (9-2) because of an ice storm on Tuesday that shut down Spokane, costing the Panthers - and everyone else - peace of mind, as well as lost practice time.

“The biggest concern is weather and practice time. It might be hard for all the kids to concentrate on a football game with a tree on their roof,” said Mead coach Mike McLaughlin, looking out a window to see a toppled tree on his roof, accompanied by a sagging power line. “By the same token, everyone will remember this week. We can all talk about the storm and the football game together.”

The Panthers already have something to talk about. They won a qualifying game Nov. 12, rolling past Pasco 27-6 as Scott McGlocklin ran for 251 yards. Then on Saturday, McGlocklin went for 253 and five touchdowns as the Panthers exorcised a demon - whipping Walla Walla 36-0.

It was the Blue Devils who eliminated Mead in the first round the previous two years on a muddy field in Walla Walla. This time at Joe Albi Stadium, the Panthers had a 23-0 lead when the snow came, obliterating the field and making the second half a memory-making, slip-sliding romp in a winter wonderland.

Adding to the memories is the fact that Mead, in the playoffs for the eighth straight year, ended a streak of five straight losses in the first round. The last time the Panthers won a playoff opener, 1990, Richland erased them in the second round.

The Bombers eliminated Mead in ‘89, 63-21, giving the Panthers more incentive for Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at Albi Stadium, where Mead has won 16 straight.

“Richland is a little bigger up front and they probably have more quickness than we’ve seen across the board,” McLaughlin said.

“They’re running Washington State’s defense and they try to pack seven in tight, like Walla Walla did. It’s a tough defense to run against. They have good athletes in the secondary, more similar to Pasco, but they’re a little taller. Their overall quickness makes it tough. Their two safeties are both very good run support people.”

Mead’s bread and butter has been the running game.

McGlocklin has 1,801 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games. McGlocklin has run for more yards than the entire Richland team. The Panthers average 28.9 points a game, the Bombers give up 14.4.

The Bombers, though, have just as potent an offense, averaging 28.7 points. Mead allowed 8.9 a game. Richland quarterback Jared Mitchell completed 111 of 213 passes (52.1 percent) for 1,472 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions during the regular season. Then, in the qualifying round, he shredded Shadle Park, completing his first nine passes and 14 of his first 15.

“You have to contain the quarterback and (receiver Josh Jelmberg). He’s their go-to guy, although they do spread the ball around,” McLaughlin said. “Their quarterback is similar to (Justin) Bursch (of Ferris). They run a very wide-open offense.”

Jelmberg had 45 catches for 550 yards and 10 TDs in the regular season and, with his kickoff and punt returns, had 997 all-purpose yards.

The Bombers finished third in the Big Nine but avenged an early season loss to Kamiakin by knocking off the No. 1 Braves 21-14 last Saturday.

“The key to the whole game is no different than it has been all year long,” McLaughlin said. “We need to stay in the plus in turnover ratio and we need to be able to run effectively. I think we’re looking at a lot more 4- to 8-yard runs.”

And, possibly, a lot more memories.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Matchup Richland vs. Mead, Joe Albi Stadium, 1 p.m. Saturday.