PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: Grangeville aims for its first-ever state crown

Grangeville can make history with one more win.

The Bulldogs can claim their school's first 2A state football championship tonight when they face Firth at 7 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome.

The Bulldogs (11-0) have set records - tailback Justin Robie has amassed 2,698 yards rushing this season - and avenged last year's narrow league title defeat. But their sights are set on winning a state title.

Standing between the Bulldogs and their first title: a streaking Firth (6-5).

Firth started its season with four losses - including a lopsided 41-14 setback to South Fremont - before winning its next game 30-0 against North Fremont (the opposing team's prefix serving as sort of a compass for which direction the Firth season was heading).

Without a 26-7 win over New Plymouth in last week's semifinal, Firth would have finished its season with a losing record.

Grangeville, behind a stout offensive line and a stingy interior defense, has been on an upward trajectory all season.

The Bulldogs roll into tonight's game ranked No. 1, and hope to depart the Kibbie Dome state champions.

The Bulldogs' dominance has bolstered a community's support: One example, a Grangeville woman holed up in a Lewiston hospital sent the team a fax before its bus ride to Pocatello last week for the state semifinals, wishing them good luck.

"That's what small-town football is all about," Bulldogs coach Jeff Lindsley said, adding that community support has been tremendous all season.

Kendrick vs. Hagerman - Kendrick's football team has been seeking to rouse itself early and adjust its collective circadian rhythm the past several days in preparation for today's 10 a.m. PST tilt with Hagerman at Holt Arena in Pocatello - the winner bringing home the 1A D-I title for 8-man football.

"Playing at 11 o'clock in the morning (MST) is something they're not going to be used to," Tigers coach Davey Steele said.

The Tigers last visited the state finals precisely a decade ago, when they handily defeated Horseshoe Bend in the Kibbie Dome.

Steele was a member of that team, but isn't satisfied with having won titles as a player: "It's a business trip," he said. He said he told his players: "Congratulations on making it this far, but it's not a party."

The Tigers will face a bigger opponent. Undefeated Hagerman's running back "would probably play guard if he played for us," Steele admitted. But the Tigers showcased a resolve to match their coach's last name last week during a 36-24 semifinal victory over Wallace, proving that speed can trump size.

"We have the two best corners in the league," Steele said of defensive backs Jared Boyle and Tim Olson. "If they come out and try to throw on us, I think they're going to turn it over."

The Tigers forced Wallace into five turnovers last week, while Hagerman won its two playoff contests by a combined score of 95-30.

Colfax vs. White Swan - Colfax coach Mike Morgan sent a text message yesterday to the opposing team's coach.

It read: "I really like how your kids look on film. They're playing hard, that's an Andy Bush team."

The Bulldogs (10-0) face White Swan (8-3) tonight at 7 in Neil F. Lampson Stadium in Kennewick - the winner advancing to the Washington Class 2B semifinals.

"He's got his players whipped up into a frenzy right now," Morgan said of Bush. "They're a threat, they're a danger."

Colfax is back in familiar territory, the state playoffs: The Bulldogs have advanced to the state finals the past two years.

White Swan - a team that leans heavily on three running backs - lost early in its season to DeSales, but thumped the state power 42-16 last week in the opening round of the Washington Class 2B playoffs to advance to tonight's game. White Swan is on a seven-game winning streak.

"I think as you get farther along in the playoffs, it's really going to come down to who's up front," Morgan said, referring to each team's linemen. "I think it's going to be a great matchup. Our boys up front are certainly ready for it, excited for it, and I think the White Swan boys are thinking exactly the same thing."

Colfax prevailed 22-7 over Warden last week in inclement conditions. And Morgan tonight suspects another gritty contest: "I have three running backs who can play on anybody's team. And the same thing with them. ... So it's really going to be a hard-fought battle."

Pomeroy vs. Wellpinit - Pomeroy's triple-threat backfield will power the Pirates during a Washington Class 1B quarterfinal contest against Wellpinit on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Pasco's Edgar Brown Stadium.

The Pirates' three leading rushers - tailback Tory Knebel, fullback Austin Reisdorph and quarterback Ryan Smith - have combined for 4,581 all-purpose yards, and run behind a stout offensive front: Cody LaMunyan, Jesse Koller, Sam Lindekugel and Mike Wymore.

The Pirates got their first playoff win since 2002 last week, and are in the playoffs for the first time ever as an 8-man team.

An interesting side note on the Pirates: They've punted once during the past five games, though their punter, Knebel, averages about 50 yards per boot.

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Edelman may be contacted at bedelman@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.