A potential three-way tie for first place? Bring it, says La Center coach John Lambert.
It’s still early, but depending on the outcomes of a couple key matchups, the race for the top spot in the 1A Trico League could be tough.
La Center feels as though it’s found its groove.
That confidence was bolstered by a strong all-around performance on Friday. The Wildcats didn’t cough up a turnover, quarterback Tom Lambert completed all four passes he attempted and the team was perfect in the red zone.
The Wildcats disposed of Seton Catholic to improve to 2-1 in league, a full game behind Columbia-White Salmon and Stevenson. Its lone loss came at the hands of Stevenson in Week 6. Stevenson and Columbia-White Salmon, who are both 3-0, face off in week 9. Next week, La Center plays at White Salmon.
The gist: It’s not all that far-fetched to imagine movement in the top three. And with a loss under its belt, La Center is rooting for chaos.
“If Stevenson stumbles we could have a three-way tie,” Lambert said, of the Trico League, which will receive four postseason berths. “I’d be all for that.”
Trico champ won’t play in Week 10
There’s good news for the Trico League champion for 2018: Free pass directly to the first round of state.
The WIAA’s state allocations lists District 4 with four state playoff berths, and 1A District 4 officials are rewarding the Trico and Evergreen league champions with an automatic berth to the first round of state.
The remaining playoff-bound teams, second and third place, will square off Week 10 for the remaining two berths. The third-place team from each league travels to the runner-up.
Healthy Mickenham shines for Prairie
The return of a healthy Nolan Mickenham meant a return to the win column for Prairie.
The senior receiver was a big reason behind the Falcons’ 2-0 start, catching a combined 10 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
But an injury in Week 4 against Battle Ground caused him to miss most of that game, plus the following week against Kelso. In Week 6 against Mountain View, he managed just two catches for 15 yards.
But Mickenham was back at full strength Friday against Hudson’s Bay, and it showed. A district track champion in the sprints last spring, the 190-pound senior was the type of dynamic playmaker the Falcons had been missing in four consecutive losses.
Friday, Mickenham had eight catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including a 28-yard game-winner late in Prairie’s 23-21 victory.
Prairie (3-4, 1-2) is tied with Hudson’s Bay and Evergreen for the last of three postseason berths in the 3A Greater St. Helens League. If the Falcons beat Fort Vancouver and Evergreen in the next two weeks, they’ll be headed to the postseason for the first time since 2011.
And with arguably their best playmaker back healthy, Prairie must like its chances.
New option for Storm
With leading receiver Mason Wheeler sidelined on Friday against Olympia, the Skyview Storm were looking for someone else to step up.
Sophomore Xavier Owens, who before Friday’s game, had one catch for one yard. Against Olympia, he finished with six catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
On Skyview’s first offensive play of the second quarter, the sophomore speedster took a slant pass from Duvalko and outran the Olympia defense for a 65-yard touchdown pass play, giving the Storm a 28-0.
He capped Skyview’s scoring in the third quarter by taking a fade route to the corner of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown catch.
