Class 1B quarterfinal football capsule
Almira-Coulee-Hartline (9-1) vs. Tri-Cities Prep (8-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., Edgar Brown Stadium, Pasco, 7 p.m.
About Almira-Coulee-Hartline – The Warriors, state champions in 2007 under coach Brandon Walsh, are having another big year. Their only blemish of the 2009 season was a loss to No. 1-ranked and undefeated Cusick. ACH is averaging 46.2 points per game and allowing 21.7 points a game. One of the Warriors’ top players is Dylan Tipps, who has rushed for 1,300 yards this season.
About Almira-Coulee-Hartline’s coach – Brandon Walsh is in his 11th season at Almira-Coulee-Hartline, his alma mater. He attended Central Washington University. He and Tri-Cities Prep coach Dan Whitsett are good friends.
About Tri-Cities Prep – Senior quarterback Will Hoppes is coming to the end of a record-setting career at the small, private school in Pasco. He already holds state eight-man football records for career touchdown passes (127), career total all-purpose yards (11,737), single-game passing yards (639) and single-game all-purpose yards (756). Hoppes, who’s 6-foot, 185 pounds, has completed 118 of 164 passes for 1,924 yards and 32 touchdowns with four interceptions this season. He’s also rushed for 496 yards and six touchdowns on 49 carries. All this and he’s only played in 20 quarters this season due to injury, illness and lopsided scores. Troy Redmann is his favorite receiving target (69 catches, 1,239 yards, 19 touchdowns). Kevin Ratuiste leads the team in rushing with 1,062 yards and 13 touchdowns. Tri-Cities Prep’s only losses this season came to Oregon teams.
About Tri-Cities Prep’s coach – Dan Whitsett has compiled a 45-17 record in six seasons at Tri-Cities Prep. He graduated from Hermiston (Ore.) High School, then went on to Shoreline College and the University of Washington.
Brandon Walsh on Tri-Cities Prep: “Tri-Cities Prep is a well-oiled, passing attack that will pick your defense apart if they get a chance. This year, they’ve added a stronger running attack to help keep opponents honest. They spread the field and stretch the defense, which creates some matchup issues. If possible, we will need to get pressure as much as we can on their stud quarterback, Will Hoppes. The game will come down to which one of us executes better defensively: If they can stop our three-pronged running attack or we can stop their passing attack to some degree.”
The pick– Strategies aside, the Jaguars have too many player-makers. Tri-Cities Prep, 44-30.
Ron Newberry, CoachesAid.com
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