Chiefs wrap up season Friday

MOSES LAKE —  Moses Lake’s playoff hopes were dashed last week in a 12-7 loss to the Walla Walla Blue Devils, but the Chiefs will wrap up their 2009 season Friday night when they travel to Spokane, Wash., to take on the University Titans.

With last week’s Columbia Basin Big Nine crossover loss to Walla Walla, Moses Lake was eliminated from postseason play and will play another crossover game on the road against the Greater Spokane League’s fourth-seeded Titans.

The Titans fell Tuesday night to the Ferris Saxons in a conference tie-breaker. Ferris also beat University on Oct. 30.

Moses Lake and University enter Friday night’s contest with 5-4 records and both teams are looking to end their season with a win.

Moses Lake first-year head coach Todd Griffith said he wants his team to finish the season on a high note.

“There is a big difference between 6-4 and 5-5,” he said following the loss Friday night to Walla Walla. “We want to be 6-4.”

The Chiefs were one of the conference’s most productive teams throughout the season, finishing ranked third overall in offense and second overall in defense.

Moses Lake played well defensively all season, showcasing their ability in high-profile games at Wenatchee and at Walla Walla.

Although Moses Lake lost both games, the Chiefs defense held two of the Columbia Basin Big Nine’s most productive offenses to just 11 and 12 points, respectively.

While Moses Lake struggled to score more than seven points in the losses to Wenatchee and Walla Walla, the Chiefs were capable of moving the football when they needed to.

Moses Lake senior quarterback Dylan Signorelli ranks second in the Columbia Basin Big Nine in total offense with 1,889 yards. Senior wide receiver Jordan Wilks set a new Moses Lake record with eight touchdown receptions and senior wide receiver Mitch Hill is ranked second in the conference in receiving.

Griffith is wrapping up his first year as the head of the Chiefs football program and he said his seniors have helped make his transition a memorable one.

“This group is a special group,” he said of his seniors. “Everyone of the kids, all 29 of them, they have put their work clothes on every time they come out to practice. There is not a bad kid in the whole bunch.”

With University falling to the Greater Spokane League’s fourth spot Tuesday night, Griffith and his coaching staff have had little time to prepare for their next opponents.

Although the Chiefs only have days to prepare for the Titans, Griffith is confident Friday night’s game should be exciting.

“We have prepared as much as we could for University in one day,” he said. “We have two days, it’s not much, but you can get the gist of what they do. It should be exciting.”

Friday night’s contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.