Oct. 15—We haven't even had a hard freeze yet, but there's just three weeks left in the football regular season, so just about every game has postseason implications. Let's abstain from the usual fluff of the opening paragraphs and get right to setting up the Week 7 matchups.
Reminder: The GSL 4A and 3A divisions will send two teams to the Week 10 Round of 32, while the third-place team will face the Mid-Columbia Conference third-place team for another spot. The GSL 2A division will send three teams.
All games Friday 7 p.m. and league games unless otherwise noted.
Games of the Week
Gonzaga Prep (2-4, 1-0) at Mead (5-1, 0-0): Friday 6 p.m. at Union Stadium. Coming off an emotional win in the "Battle of the Bell" last week, the Panthers finally — in Week 7 — play their first league game of the season. Mead has been firing on all cylinders lately and used a dangerous deep-strike offense the past two weeks to run up 50 and 49 points in consecutive lopsided wins.
The Bullpups have won back-to-back games the past two weeks after starting the season 0-4 with starting quarterback Andrew Yarno back at the helm. The senior ran for 64 yards and a score, and threw a TD pass in the Pups' 31-27 win over Cheney last week.
Pullman (5-1, 2-1) at Rogers (5-1, 4-0): Friday 4:30 p.m. at ONE Spokane Stadium. The Pirates have been perfect in league so far, winning four straight to lead the division — but their toughest tests remain. Up first is Pullman, which looks to get back on track after falling at West Valley last week.
Expect the Pirates to turn to senior running back Malikye Fletcher II, who has rushed for 583 yards and eight touchdowns this season. With a win, Rogers can become the first GSL team regardless of classification to clinch a postseason spot.
GSL 4A/3A
Mt. Spokane (4-2, 1-1) at Cheney (2-4, 2-0): Both teams took tough losses last week, but in the new GSL — where only games against similar classifications count as league games — it's easier to shake off those losses to concentrate on games that could get them to the postseason.
That makes this matchup key in the 3A division race. The Wildcats have one league loss, early in the season to Ridgeline, and Cheney has a losing record overall but has won both of its league matchups.
Ridgeline (5-1, 3-0) at Shadle Park (0-6, 0-2): Friday 7:30 p.m. at ONE Spokane Stadium. The Falcons didn't make it into a state Top 10 poll this week, but they're on the precipice as they just keep piling up wins.
The offense is obvious, averaging 33 points per week. But the defense has been stifling, allowing a total of 20 points over their last five games. Senior-dominated offensive and defensive lines have been the key.
Lewis and Clark (2-4) at University (4-2): The up-and-down Tigers exploded for 59 points last Thursday in a 4A win over Ferris and look to be productive two weeks in a row in a nonleague game at U-Hi.
The Titans bounced back from their lopsided loss to Ridgeline two weeks ago by shutting out Shadle last week. U-Hi only has one more league game, Oct. 29 against Mt. Spokane, and that could determine which GSL 3A team plays in the dreaded Week 10 play-in game.
Ferris (2-4) at Central Valley (1-5): The Saxons were overwhelmed by LC in the second half last week, but they haven't had too much trouble putting up points recently, averaging 28 points per game in their last three. They have a nonleague game against a Bears outfit that has struggled to keep teams out of the end zone, allowing 45 points per game over their last three.
GSL 2A
West Valley (5-1, 3-0) at Clarkston (2-4, 1-2): Friday 6 p.m. The Eagles shut out Pullman in the second half last week in a 31-14 win to deal the Greyhounds their first loss in league. West Valley makes the long drive down to Clarkston this week ranked No. 9 in the state coaches association poll.
North Central (0-5, 0-4) at Deer Park (1-5, 0-3): Friday 6 p.m. Both teams have struggled this season and are still looking for their first league wins.
East Valley (3-3) at Colville (1-5): The Knights travel north for a nonleague game, still squarely in the mix for one of the league's three Week 10 playoff spots.
Northeast A
Riverside (1-4, 0-0) at Lakeside (5-1, 1-0)
Northeast 2B
Northwest Christian (6-0, 5-0) at Reardan (2-4, 2-3)
Newport (4-2, 4-1) at Liberty (4-2, 3-2)
Kettle Falls (1-5, 0-5) at Freeman (3-2, 3-2)