State starts here
GSL trio have home games on Saturday
With play-in games over for the most part, Washington high school football teams begin the postseason journey they hope culminates in Tacoma.
Greater Spokane League 4A Gonzaga Prep and 3A Shadle Park and Mt. Spokane start the trek with home games on Saturday afternoon.
Playoff matchups were confirmed Monday. 4A GSL champion Gonzaga Prep (9-1) plays host to Todd Beamer of Federal Way (7-3). Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
In a doubleheader at Albi Stadium, 3A GSL runner-up Shadle Park (7-3) takes on Auburn Mountainview (9-1) at 1 followed by 3A GSL champ Mt. Spokane (8-2) meeting Wilson of Tacoma (8-2) at 4.
Gonzaga Prep faces a team that is making its first appearance in the state playoffs. Beamer, which opened in 2003, defeated Kamiak 17-13 in a play-in qualifier.
Beamer features a big, physical front on defense but has been offensively challenged.
Federal Way, also in the playoffs, handled Beamer 35-7 in late October. Beamer finished the regular season with back-to-back losses.
Beamer has been without its top running back from a year ago after a knee injury this summer. He gained more than 1,100 yards last season.
Wilson has difficulty stopping the run. The Rams’ secondary did a good job slowing down undefeated and pass-happy Lincoln in a 12-3 loss.
The Rams’ thin depth has been tested with several injuries. The defense has been opportunistic, creating several turnovers.
Auburn Mountainview’s defensive strength is its secondary. It will be tested by Shadle quarterback Brett Rypien, who went over 12,000 career passing yards in the Highlanders’ 27-7 win over Kamiakin last Friday. Rypien has 12,245 yards, 133 touchdowns, 33 interceptions and completed 937 of 1,474 passes (63.5 percent) in 37 games.
Auburn Mountainview finished third in a deep South Puget Sound League.
2A
A pair of Great Northern League teams have play-in games tonight against Central Washington Athletic Conference opponents.
GNL champ Clarkston (8-1) entertains CWAC third seed Ephrata (6-4) while West Valley (5-4) travels to perennial playoff qualifier Prosser (5-4). Both games are at 6.
Ephrata emerged from a three-way tie with Selah and Othello that required a playoff Saturday.
Tonight’s winners turn around and face state opening-round games this weekend.
1A
Defending 1A state champ Freeman (8-1) travels to Zillah (10-0) on Friday night. Kickoff is at 6.
Northeast A League champ Colville (9-0) stays at home to face La Salle (8-2) while Lakeside of Nine Mile (8-2) travels to Royal (9-1). Both games are at 7.
2B
Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (10-0) begins defense of back-to-back state championships when it entertains Brewster (10-1) on Friday night at 6.
LRS has a 36-game winning streak dating back to 2011.
In other 2B openers Friday night, Davenport (8-2) travels to White Swan (8-2) at 6 and Reardan (9-1) is on the road to Okanogan (10-1) at 7.
1B
In 1B eight-man openers Friday, Garfield-Palouse (7-2) visits Odessa-Harrington (8-2) while Pomeroy (5-4) meets Republic (9-1) at Kettle Falls. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
In a game Saturday, Cusick (9-1) goes to Touchet (8-1). Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
Idaho 5A
The lone North Idaho team still playing is Lake City (9-1).
The second-ranked Timberwolves (9-1) visit Mountain View of Meridian (8-2) on Friday night in a semifinal matchup. Kickoff is at 6 Pacific.