Reardan topples Liberty
In a battle of once-beaten teams, Reardan earned the right to NOT play top-ranked DeSales in the first-round of the state Class B-11 playoffs.
Reardan got a 35-yard punt return for a touchdown from Eric Everett and a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ian Wagner to down Liberty, 21-6 on the Lancers’ home field.
Reardan, with only a 19-0 loss to Lind-Ritzville blemishing its record, clinched the Northeast B-11 No. 2 seed into the state playoffs, against an opponent to be determined.
Liberty earned its first playoff berth since 1998, but must play the No. 1-ranked team in the state, DeSales.
Quarterback Andrew Canning completed 9 of 21 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lancers.
In other games: Lind-Ritzville capped an undefeated regular season with a 36-0 shutout win over visiting Republic – giving coach Mike Lynch a grand send-off in his final home game as the school’s long-time head coach. Jacob Kragt ran for 66 yards on 11 carries and found the end zone three times for the Broncos and set up two touchdowns by forcing a pair of Republic fumbles. Nick Ashley added 152 yards and two touchdowns on his 13 carries. Lind-Ritzville is the league’s No. 1 seed into the playoffs; Republic the No. 4. The Tigers play Waterville in the first round of the playoffs. … Cory Christman ran for two touchdowns to lead Davenport to a 31-12 win over visiting Almira/Coulee-Hartline. Christman carried 15 times for 101 yards and backfield mate Luke Rodenbough carried 11 times for 100. Quarterback Greg Giese completed 9 of 16 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. … Selkirk erupted for 22 points in the second quarter en route to a 34-15 victory at Wilbur-Creston. Quarterback Nathan Reed completed 10 of 17 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Rangers. … Odessa’s Kurtis Finkbeiner rushed for two touchdowns and picked up 142 yards on 22 carries to lead Odessa to a season-ending, 16-6 victory at Springdale. The Chargers got 129 rushing yards out of Mike Whitney, who carried 24 times. …
SOUTHEAST B-11
Pirates seize No. 3 playoff berth
Pomeroy clinched the league’s third and final playoff berth by scoring a 33-14 win at Dayton. … Waitsburg forfeited its game with Asotin after several players violated team training rules. The forfeit finishes the Cardinals season at 1-4 and lifts Asotin to 4-1, a game behind league champion DeSales. …The Irish used a 28-0 lead after the first quarter to hold off visiting Tekoa-Oakesdale/Rosalia, 56-22. DeSales, the top-ranked B-11 team in the state, will play Liberty in the Tri-Cities in a first-round state playoff game.
NORTHEAST B-8
Lions roar into playoffs
Columbia earned a first-round playoff bye by smothering visiting Curlew, 46-0 in the regular season finale. Offensive lineman Joey Richardson had his first career touchdown run, rumbling 34 yards to cap Columbia’s 38-point first quarter. The Lions play Jubilee Christian in two weeks at a site to be determined. … Garfield-Palouse cruised to an easy, 42-6 victory at Jubilee Christian in a non-league game. Running back Mike Rosser carried 20 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Vikings. … Sprague-Harrington needed a 22-point fourth quarter to escape Cusick with a victory, 54-28. Josh Adams paced the Falcons with 26 carries for 265 yards and four touchdowns.
SOUTHEAST B-8
LaCrosse-Washtucna undefeated
Someone finally found a way to keep LaCrosse-Washtucna out of the end zone. But it was hardly a winning strategy. The Tigercats finished their season undefeated for the third straight year when Tri-Cities Prep forfeited the regular season finale. … Touchet ended its season on a wining note, scoring an 18-6 victory at St. John-Endicott. Josh Zahl scored the game-winning touchdown on a five-yard fumble recovery.