B-11 preview: Lind-Ritzville vs. Reardan

Lind-Ritzville Broncos

Coach: Mike Lynch, 195-91-2 in 29 years at Ritzville (now Lind-Ritzville).

Season snapshot: 11-0 overall, 9-0 in Northeast B-11 League (1st) in first year in athletic co-op with Lind, a former B-8 school. Beat Reardan 27-6 in Week 5, a game that ultimately decided the league championship, and edged DeSales 29-27 in quarterfinals.

Scouting report: Controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing turnovers (six) were major factors in earlier win over Reardan.

Three to watch: RB John Kragt (6-3, 185, Sr.) has 179 carries for 1,340 rushing yards, 21 TDs. RB Brett Alspach (6-0, 165, Jr.) has 138 carries, 1,019 yards, 14 TDs. QB Cameron McGregor (5-9, 160, Jr.) is 94-of-154 passing for 1,381 yards, 21 TDs, 6 INTs.

Numerology: 17 miles, distance between towns Lind (pop. 582) and Ritzville (pop. 1,736) in Adams County.

Playoff pedigree: Ritzville won only state title in 1980, and lost in '81 final to Morton and 2000 final to Davenport. Broncos lost in semifinals last year to eventual-champion Willapa Valley.

Quick kick: "We want to get it right this time."

— Kragt, on trying to win the title game against a team the Broncos beat earlier in the season. In 2000, they lost the title to Davenport after winning the earlier matchup.

Inside slant: Lynch, who ranks fifth in wins among the state's active football coaches, is a legend in Ritzville. He coached a few of the players' fathers earlier in his career. Travis Dewald's dad, Rob, was an offensive lineman on the teams that won the title in 1980 and was second in '81.

Reardan Indians

Coach: Dan Graham, 90-19 in 10 years at Reardan.

Season snapshot: 11-1 overall, 8-1 in Northeast B-11 League (2nd). Lost to Lind-Ritzville 27-6 in Week 5, then crushed final four regular-season opponents by an aggregate score of 192-20.

Scouting report: Stopping the run is the No. 1 priority for the Indians, who have done a pretty good job of that all season. Six turnovers — three fumbles, three interceptions — were their undoing last time against the Broncos, and they can't afford many tonight.

Three to watch: QB Mason Garner (5-8, 140, Jr.) has passed for 1,365 yards with 14 TDs, and rushed for 760 yards with 13 TDs. RB Thomas Casselberry (5-9, 160, Jr.) has 980 rushing yards, 16 TDs, and 20 receptions for 409 yards, 3 TDs. WR John Seyler (5-10, 175, Sr.) has 20 receptions for 481 yards and 7 TDs.

Numerology: 9 touchdowns allowed in 10 games (not including three in the loss to Lind-Ritzville).

Playoff pedigree: Graham has taken the Indians to the playoffs in each of his 10 seasons, reaching the title game in his first season (1993) and losing to Raymond. Reardan lost to DeSales in last year's semifinals. Won only state title in 1990.

Quick kick: "I picked them (Lind-Ritzville) to win the whole thing at the beginning of the season. But I didn't think they'd be playing us."

— Coach Graham.

Inside slant: Mason Garner's step-mom, Julie Garner, spent much of the semifinal game in Kennewick on her cell phone with his father, Don, who is in the Air Force and on duty in Saudi Arabia. She called him with updates after every quarter. At last word, Don Garner wasn't due home until Monday.

— Sandy Ringer