Game of the Week
Ilwaco vs. Columbia of White Salmon, 7 pm, Friday, Oct. 23, Patterson Field — Ilwaco Homecoming game
After two weeks away, the Ilwaco Fishermen (0-7, 0-3) return tonight for their homecoming game with Columbia of White Salmon (2-4, 1-2). The Fishermen's recent hosts were particularly inhospitable, allowing only 14 Ilwaco points while amassing 72 collectively. Perhaps it's the Fishermen's turn to invoke the home court advantage? With the halftime festivities you'd have to expect that the stands will be as full as they have been all year, let's help the boys out and let the Bruins know what Ilwaco fans can sound like?
The Bruins come into the game having beaten Kalama for their first Trico League win of the year last Friday. And while they may not have many wins to show for it, the Bruins have been putting up a lot of points this year — 186, just 25 behind league leader LaCenter, an average of 31 ppg, and Columbia has played one fewer game than the rest of the league.
However, they have also given up a lot of points this year — 198, just 26 points behind league worst Ilwaco, for an average of 33 ppg, once again in one fewer game than the rest of the Trico.
The Fishermen can accomplish a small milestone for themselves tonight — by scoring 23 points they will surpass the century mark in scoring for the year. Ilwaco is the only team in the league to not have at least 165 points thus far (only 77 points right now).
If they're going to stay in the game though the Fishermen will have to slow down a strong running attack for the second straight week. Last Friday the Fishermen had to contend with LaCenter's Dillon Kelly who ran for 253 yards on 14 carries (18 ypc) and 5 touchdowns. This week they'll be facing a Bruins run game that ran for a massive 423 yards last week on Kalama. It should be noted that while amassing that large sum the Bruins themselves gave up 320 yards on the ground.
Don't forget to check back Saturday for a game recap and photo gallery
Naselle @ North Beach, 7 pm, Friday, Oct. 23, North Beach
The Comets 51-point homecoming game blowout over Seattle Lutheran last Saturday turned a lot of heads — including that of the Willapa Valley Vikings head coach. The coach was on hand for the Saturday game following his teams 31-8 win the night before over the Comets opponent this week, the North Beach Hyaks (1-5, 1-2). According to a parent who spoke to him on the sidelines he was there to scout the Comets now that they are back to full strength roster-wise. The one word he used to describe the Naselle team? "Scary."
The Naselle Comets (6-1, 2-1) are coming into the home stretch of the season, with only three games remaining, and like I mentioned previously, they are finally back to full strength, giving them so many weapons it's kind of ridiculous. This time last year they were hanging on for dear life almost every week, eeking out wins at the last minute. This year they are like a multi-headed dragon, with a couple more fire-breathing heads hidden behind their back just in case. And lets remember, it was when they started running a wildcat-style offense late in the season that they started to really take off last year, and I'm pretty sure they haven't run a single wildcat play thus far.
The Hyaks have fallen off after a strong season last year, with their only win coming against the Raymond Gulls — every team in the league has at least one win against Raymond this year, except of course Raymond. And save for that one game against the Gulls, where they put up a whopping 64 points, the Hyaks have only scored 14 points once this season. Without that game they would not be averaging 18 ppg.
The Comets come into the game with the highest points scored total in the league, 241, an average of 35 ppg. That's not a good sign for a Hyaks team that is giving up an average of 31 ppg. Last week the Comets had multiple players score multiple touchdowns, while Austin Burkhalter was 3-for-3 for 111 yards, his second straight 111-yard game.
The Comets returned to the state AP rankings this week after slipping out the previous two. They are the 10th ranked team in the state, receiving 10 votes. Pacific League leading Valley is now ranked 7th with 26 votes, and South Bend has fallen out of the poll this week for the first time all season.
And speaking of South Bend ... yep next week's game is a doozy. But there are a number of playoff qualifying scenarios that come into play, depending on who wins tonight in the match-up between South Bend and Ocosta — who are both tied with Naselle at 2-1 for second in league. I've just gone through a bunch of scenarios on paper, but basically the best way for the Comets to assure themselves of a playoff bid is to win the last three games — oh, did I mention they play at Ocosta in the season finale?
Pigskin Pick'em
I'm thinking about getting a turban and crystal ball and advertising my psychic abilities. We're now 9-4 on the year
L- Ilwaco vs. Columbia of White Salmon
If you can only get one win all year, it might as well be homecoming right? Maybe not this year, but I'd love to be wrong.
W- Naselle @ North Beach
The beat goes on, and the points keep racking up for the Comets.
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