Riverhawks football starts this weekend

MOSES LAKE — The wait is over for local football fans wanting to catch a live game in the Columbia Basin.

The Columbia Basin Riverhawks, a local minor league football team, open their season this Saturday against the Wenatchee Rams at Moses Lake High School. Saturday's game, along with three other Riverhawks' home games this season, begins at 3 p.m.

The Riverhawks, a first-year team in the Evergreen Football League, are comprised of players from around the Columbia Basin. Players from Moses Lake, Ephrata, Othello, Warden, Royal City, Soap Lake and Ritzville and other areas make up this year's squad.

League rules are similar to those of the NFL, including full-contact tackling with pads and helmets.

The team plays an eight-game schedule against teams from the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Wenatchee, Okanogan, the Palouse, Spokane, State Line and Walla Walla.

According to team spokesperson Justin Whitaker, players compete for community pride and out of a love for the game. For those who share that sense of pride or a love for football, he said the Riverhawks are accepting new players up until April 14.

For more information, contact Justin Whitaker at 509-793-3420.

— Staff report