Othello faces West Valley in quarterfinals

OTHELLO — It’s so close they can feel it, but the Othello Huskies have to travel far in order to attain what they seek this weekend.

What the Huskies travel to Spokane for on Saturday is a coveted spot in the Class 2A football semifinals next weekend. The game starts at 4 p.m.

In order to get there, Othello (9-2) must lock horns with the West Valley Eagles (11-0) at Gonzaga Prep and against former Huskie Craig Whitney.

Whitney, who is in his sixth year as head coach with West Valley, graduated from Othello in 1987.

“As a graduate of Othello, I’ve kept tabs on them, so its exciting for me to play my alma mater,” Whitney said. “They are very, very, very well coached. I have a lot of respect for head coach (Roger) Hoell and his staff. They have had a great playoff run and we are new to the playoffs in recent years.”

Despite their second playoff berth in three years and an undefeated record, the Eagles are wary of the Huskies.

“We need to match their physicality and speed,” Whitney said.  “We have a chance especially if we hold on to the football. I like what they do. They have great players who carry out what they need to do and compete.”

Othello will try to out defend the Eagles, who held seven of their opponents to less than 10 points this year and given up only one touchdown in the last three weeks.

But the Huskies can bring the “D” as well.

Last week they managed to stiffen when needed against Colville in their first round playoff game, a 26-13 win in Othello.

They held off Colville on five drives inside the Othello red zone.

“We got them out of the run game which they wanted to do and spread them out,” Brad Swensen, Othello defensive coordinator said. “It was a little different so you can’t do a lot of attacking in that situation. It was definitely bend but don’t break.”

This week they hope there will be much less bending and no breaking.

“They definitely are potent with a lot of great weapons and a lot of great athletes,” Swensen said.  “We are going to have to get some three-and-outs and five-and-outs and try to get turnovers. They just play power football and run at you. They also have good receivers and their quarterback was all league so we have to defend a lot of weapons for sure.”

Eagles quarterback Drew Clausen threw for 1,400 yards and gained 750 on the ground, scoring 12 touchdowns.

Clausen has two running backs, Dylan Ellsworth (750 yards) and Krys Smith (670 yards) he can hand off to and expect big gains from, Whitney said.

Sam Schoeffler is West Valley’s greatest aerial threat. He also is one of their top defenders as he, Austin Watson, and Tyler Poldervart have all recorded more than 100 tackles.

But the Huskies have a running attack led by Parker Davis and Matt Jensen to count on, along with the passing of Jeremy Cerrillo, who can also leg out a long run when need be.

Additionally, Othello can fall back on what has brought them this far.

“Where we are is what we can’t coach and that is they have heart, are tenacious, and fly to the ball,” Swensen said.  “That makes up for the inexperience and the youth we had at the beginning of the year. They are adjusting really well and have good football sense. Going through practice this week they are picking stuff up but its still hard to see how it will be. It will be a challenge.”