Oct. 22—We hesitated to bring this up here, but it's relevant to the discussion. Through seven weeks in the regular season, The Spokesman-Review has covered 17 football games in person involving Greater Spokane League teams. Only four of those games have been settled by fewer than 20 points, and 10 of them have been blowouts of 27 points or more.
And it's not like we're trying to pick the bad games to cover.
It speaks to the have/have not nature of all three divisions of the league this season. Of the 17 teams that comprise the league, eight have winning overall records through seven weeks — with four of those coming from the 2A ranks.
In the 4A/3A division, the top four teams have a combined record of 22-6, while the bottom six are 10-32.
But here we are in Week 8 and only two teams have clinched Week 10 playoff spots — and all three league titles are still up for grabs.
Go figure.
Reminder: The GSL 4A and 3A divisions will send their top two teams to the Week 10 Round of 32, while the third-place team from each will face the Mid-Columbia Conference third-place teams for another spot. The GSL 2A division will send three teams to Week 10.
All games Friday at 7 p.m. and league games unless otherwise noted.
Games of the week
Central Valley (2-5, 0-3) at Mt. Spokane (5-2, 2-1): At Union Stadium. On paper this might not seem like a captivating matchup, with the Wildcats' overall success outshining CV's struggles. But it is a critical league game in the next to the last week of the regular season.
A win would help Mt. Spokane's playoff resume tremendously, and coach Terry Cloer knows that CV would like nothing better than to play spoiler and make this its "signature win" this season.
The Wildcats can't look past the Bears to next week's showdown against University. A win won't clinch the 3A division's second seed to Week 10, but a loss could jeopardize a playoff spot altogether.
Rogers (5-2, 4-1) at West Valley (6-1, 4-0): The Eagles led 35-14 at halftime last week en route to a 49-27 win at Clarkston as reigning GSL 2A MVP Nathan Zettle threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns. On the other side, the Pirates are licking their wounds after a lopsided home loss to Pullman, in which they were shut out on offense.
West Valley can clinch the league title with a win, while a Pirates win could set up an eventual three-way Kansas tiebreaker with Pullman for the league championship before Week 10 — a scenario that could play havoc with all three teams' playoff aspirations.
GSL 4A/3A
Mead (6-1, 1-0) at Lewis and Clark (2-5, 1-0): Friday at 7:30 at ONE Spokane Stadium. Despite the discrepancy in overall records, this game likely decides the GSL 4A regular season title. Of course, in a league where each team only plays three league games, it also clinches nothing.
The Panthers have been the best team in the division all season and are averaging 41 points per game with quick-strike playmakers all over the field. LC is capable of putting up points, but has struggled against tougher competition.
University (5-2, 2-2) at Ferris (2-5, 0-2): Friday at 4:30 at ONE Spokane Stadium. Winners of four of its last five games, U-Hi gets a late-season nonleague game against the feisty Saxons before its critical league showdown next week against Mt. Spokane.
Ridgeline (6-1, 4-0) at Gonzaga Prep (2-5, 1-1): Friday at 6. The Falcons, in their sixth season in program history, have yet to beat the Bullpups. With the Pups in the midst of a down year, this is Ridgeline's best opportunity to date. GSL leading rusher Jaxin Fieser (849 yards, 7.2 per carry, 10 TDs) should get plenty of carries behind the Falcons' college-sized offensive line in this nonleague contest.
GSL 2A
East Valley (4-3, 2-2) at Pullman (6-1, 3-1): Friday at 6. The Greyhounds put up a decisive win over Rogers last week and can clinch a postseason berth with a home win over the Knights. East Valley needs to win out and get help to reach playoffs.
Deer Park (2-5, 1-3) at Clarkston (2-5, 1-3): Friday at 6. The Stags and Bantams are playing for pride the rest of the way.
Lakewood (Arlington) (0-7) at North Central (0-6): Saturday at 1.
Northeast A
Medical Lake (2-5, 1-1) at Riverside (2-4, 1-0): Rams are in the driver's seat to a league title after their upset win over Lakeside last week, but have to take care of their business against the Cardinals.
Colville (1-6, 0-1) at Lakeside (5-2, 1-1): After last week's loss, the Eagles need to win to lock down a playoff spot.
Northeast 2B
Liberty (5-2, 4-2) at Northwest Christian (7-0, 6-0): Friday at 6 at Central Valley HS.
Freeman (4-2, 4-2) at Newport (4-3, 4-2): Friday at 7.