Week 1 marquee game pits Tri-Cities 4A football title contenders + All the match-ups

Jeff Morrow
·4 min read

When Kamiakin visits Chiawana on Friday night (7 p.m. kickoff, Edgar Brown Stadium), the contest will pit two of the better Class 4A football teams in the state against each other in Week 1.

Braves head coach Scott Biglin has a talented and young offensive line with high expectations of a strong season — with players like Landon Biglin, Baker Mundy and Gavin McCallum opening holes or protecting the quarterback.

Speaking of quarterback, Trent Woodhouse is expected to start for Kamiakin. The junior opened the 2022 season as the Braves’ starting QB, but was lost for the season in the first game with a knee injury.

Now he’s back and starting.

His top target should be junior David Kuku, who has already garnered interest from the University of Nebraska.

Countering that Kamiakin offensive line will be a Chiawana defense led by Lane Hedrick and Zach Alvarez.

The Riverhawks also have a talented quarterback in senior DJ Duran, a big, tall player with a strong arm. He’ll be distributing the ball to usually eight or nine receivers, including Justin Webber and Michael Hansen.

A loss by either team won’t be the end of the world. But it will hinder a chance for a Mid-Columbia Conference title.

Richland at Southridge, 5 p.m., Saturday, Lampson Stadium. The Bombers will be led by star quarterback Josh Woodard, who finds ways to get into the end zone.

Can the Suns — who lost a lot of players to graduation last season — find a way to control him?

Sunnyside at Prosser, 7 p.m. Friday. The Class 2A and host Mustangs boast quarterback Koby McClure, who will pass the ball all over the lot to at least seven receivers.

The 4A Grizzlies must figure out how to stop him, and then get some of their own offense. They’ll do that by getting receiver Noah McNair (committed to Air Force) the ball.

Other games

All set for 7 p.m. Friday:

  • College Place at Weston-McEwen. The visiting Hawks lost their original opponent, Mac-Hi of Milton-Freewater, but were able to find a replacement.

  • Connell at Othello. Big neighborhood battle. Scott Forsyth makes his head coach debut for visiting Class 1A Eagles, going up against one of best 2A teams in Washington state.

  • DeSales at Tekoa-Rosalia. Visiting Irish begin their post-Joe Baffney Era with an Southeast 1B 8-man game.

  • Kiona-Benton at River View. Host Panthers should be favored to win 2B EWAC title, and youngster Hyatt Clark makes his starting QB debut for River View.

  • Okanogan at Columbia-Burbank. Host Coyotes, led by running back Elijah Kinsey, couldn’t ask for a tougher opening opponent than Okanogan.

  • Pomeroy at Liberty Christian, Lampson Stadium. Game was moved early this week from Hanford High to Lampson. Host Patriots begin the post-Keegan Bishop era.

  • Sunnyside Christian at Dayton. Visiting Knights open Southeast 1B 8-man play against the Bulldogs, who were are new to the league.

  • Toppenish at Royal. Lance Allred makes his starting QB debut for the host Knights, as they embark on a chance for a Class 1A four-peat.

  • Touchet at Waitsburg. Host Cardinals make their 1B debut. Last season, Waitsburg combined with Dayton in the 2B EWAC East.

  • Tri-Cities Prep at Umatilla. Led by star lineman Ethan Seeliger, the visiting Jags cross the border to open the season in Oregon.

  • Wahluke at Grandview. Host Grayhounds, a 2A school, opens the season against 1A Warriors.

  • Warden at White Swan. It’s Cougars versus Cougars in this non-league 2B season opener.

  • West Valley-Yakima at Walla Walla. Host Blue Devils get fortunate to play a non-league game to open the season, facing pass-happy Rams.

College football

Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., boasts five Mid-Columbians on its football roster.

Alvaro Campos Ontiveros is a senior out of DeSales High School, while Pasco grad Alejandro De Leon is a junior.

Junior Shawn Evans (Waitsburg), freshman Jaden Flippo (Walla Walla) and sophomore Kamron Shields (Walla Walla) should all see some time this fall for the Boxers, who open their season on Sept. 2 against Chapman University.

College signings

  • Davis Carr, who played the last two seasons as a catcher for Walla Walla Community College, has signed a letter of intent to play baseball next spring at South Dakota State.

  • Richland High grad Troy Molnaa is headed to Everett Community College, where he’ll be playing baseball in the spring.

  • Brock Streufert of Richland has signed on to play for the Columbia Basin College men’s basketball team this fall.

  • Wenatchee Valley’s softball team has added Warden’s Alexsus Leinweber and Hermiston’s Halley South to its roster for the 2024 season.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.