B-8 preview: Touchet vs. Lacrosse-Washtucna

Touchet Indians

Coach: Wayne Dickey, 164-70 in 24 years at Touchet.

Season snapshot: 8-3 overall, 5-1 in Blue Mountain B League (2nd). Two losses came early vs. perennial Oregon B-8 powers — Dufur (36-15) and Perrydale (34-18). Third loss was to Lacrosse-Washtucna 42-12.

Scouting report: Touchet must contain Lacrosse-Washtucna RB Nick Koller.

Three to watch: RB/OLB Whitey Burrowes (5-7, 167, Sr.) 156 carries for 1,584 rushing yards, 26 TDs, and leading tackler. QB/DB Steven Hudson (5-10, 162, Sr.) 52 of 89 passing for 914 yards, 16 TDs. TE/DB Jerardo Solis (5-8, 137, Sr.) 91 tackles, two INT (one returned for a 75-yard TD).

Numerology: 4 titles won with Dickey as coach.

Playoff pedigree: Touchet makes its eighth appearance in title game, most of any school in any classification. Dickey won a championship his first year (1979) as a head coach, and in 1994, '98, '99.

Quick kick: "We'll try to make a few adjustments since the last time we played them. But the bottom line is we have to go out and block and tackle better." — Dickey

Inside slant: The Indians will play with heavy hearts after the death of 47-year-old Jose Luis Pedroza-Garcia, who was related to six players (including sons Sergio and Luis) on the team. He died Saturday night when his truck slid down an embankment into the Walla Walla River. All six relatives are expected to play this weekend. "It's death, and that's hard to deal with," Dickey said. "It makes football not seem all so important when something tragic like that happens."

Lacrosse-Washtucna

Tigercats

Coach: Jeff Nelson, 66-19 in nine years at Lacrosse-Washtucna.

Season snapshot: 10-0 overall, 6-0 in Southeast B-8 League (1st). Tigercats established themselves with big wins in early games, including 42-12 victory over Touchet in Week 3 and 56-2 victory over Columbia-Hunters in Week 2.

Scouting report: Both teams have speedy RBs who can get up and down the field. Nelson says best defense will win this one.

Three to watch: RB Nick Koller (5-8, 140, Sr.) 1,734 rushing yards, 24 TDs. QB Ryan Dorman (6-3, 185, Jr.) controls offense. NG/TE Zach Fisher (6-4, 250, Sr.), playing first year of football, dominates smaller players.

Numerology: 24 miles separate Lacrosse (pop. 380 in Whitman County) and Washtucna (pop. 260 in Adams County).

Playoff pedigree: In 1982, the year the two schools combined to form one team, Tigercats won the championship. They haven't been back to the final since.

Quick kick: "This is something all kids play for. It's something to dream about. And this has been a dream season for us, especially the seniors." — Lineman Blaine Hill

Inside slant: In the 20 years the schools have joined forces in athletics, inter-town teammates haven't always gotten along. This year, though, players from both towns are close friends. "We've really come together as one community," Nelson said.