Quick hits
Northeast A League football is in a state of “organized chaos right now,” said Colfax coach Mike Morgan.
He was referring to the potential for a three-way tie for first place if his Bulldogs defeat Freeman tonight in the final league football game.
A tie would be the best thing that could happen to Colfax which, by virtue of a numbers draw before the start of the season, would be the league’s No. 1 entrant into a state play-in series next week among four teams each from the NEA and Caribou Trail League.
Freeman drew the No. 6 and would be third if the league is knotted after the two teams play. With a win over Chewelah tonight, Kettle Falls will finish second. Lakeside is fourth.
The top-four NEA finishers play the top four from the CTL for four state berths.
Colfax has been something of a surprise.
“At camp this summer I didn’t know what we had,” Morgan said. “This has been one of the most pleasant surprises I’ve had in nine years.”
The Bulldogs are in title contention, thanks in part to a two-headed quarterback approach (Nate Johnson and Ben Aune), the running of Kyle Hill and a better-than-expected line.
GNL soccer surprise
Great Northern League girls soccer was split into two divisions this year, which has created an interesting playoff format beginning this weekend.
Winners of the divisions, West Valley in the North and Cheney in the South, meet for seeding Saturday as part of a four-game crossover series to determine the six District 7 participants.
The Eagles (11-2) and Blackhawks (12-1), who play at 10:30 a.m. at Central Valley, earn first-round byes either as the No. 1 or No. 2 finishers.
Pullman (11-2), which finished a match behind Cheney, faces Deer Park (6-7), also at CV, at 1 p.m. for third and fourth seeds.
Two other matches, Riverside (5-8) at Clarkston (3-10) and Medical Lake (2-11) at Colville (6-7), will determine the fifth and sixth district entries. District play begins Tuesday.
GSL Game of the Week
Lewis and Clark vs. Gonzaga Prep, tonight, Albi Stadium, 7:15 p.m.: The task facing LC’s Tigers is simple: Win and they’re in. If the Tigers (5-2 in league) upset the league-champion Bullpups (7-0) in their regular-season finale, they earn the third spot in next week’s state play-in game against Pasco. Otherwise, they’ll need help from Central Valley in Friday’s 7 p.m. game against visiting rival University or else U-Hi is third.
Other GSL games: Shadle Park vs. North Central, today, 4:30 p.m.; Ferris vs. Rogers, Friday 5:45 p.m. and Mt. Spokane vs. Mead, 8:30 p.m., all at Albi.
Small school games of week
GNL: Pullman at Clarkston, Friday, 7 p.m., second place at stake; NEA: Colfax at Freeman, tonight, 7; NE2B: Davenport at Liberty, Friday, 7 p.m.