Prep football preview: Skyview (9-3) vs. Richland (12-0)
4A STATE SEMIFINAL
WHEN, WHERE: 3 p.m. Saturday at Lampson Stadium, 505 S. Garfield St., Kennewick.
INTERNET RADIO: KONA-AM
LAST WEEK: Skyview beat Lake Stevens 35-14; Richland beat Bothell 49-28.
GAME NOTES: Skyview was the No. 2 team in the 4A Greater St. Helens League. This is the Storm’s fourth consecutive trip to the state playoffs and their first trip to the semifinals since reaching the 4A title game in 2011. Skyview reached the semifinals with playoff wins over Olympia (38-27), Chiawana (38-28) and Lake Stevens. Skyview has outscored opponents by an average of 33-23. The Storm’s three losses are to teams in the state semifinals – Eastside Catholic and O’Dea in 3A and Camas in 4A. The Storm are led by senior QB Brody Barnum, a Washington State signee for baseball. Barnum has passed for 2472 yards and 23 TDs. He’s rushed for 638 yards and 7 TDs. The Storm prefer to run the ball by committee. Hayden Froeber is the leading rusher on the season with 1,006 yards and 10 TDs. But a hip injury has limited him. He averaged 24 carries a game in the first four weeks, but hasn’t had more than 10 in a game since. Dyvon Green has emerged as the top rusher in the postseason. He has averaged 120 yards in the past two weeks. Jeremiah Wright has become the top receiver with 40 catches for 766 yards and 9 TDs in nine games. He has 19 catches for 421 yards in the postseason. The Storm produced five interceptions on defense last week from five different players. Skyview and Richland have one common opponent – Chiawana. Skyview beat Chiawana two weeks ago, and Richland beat the Riverhawks 21-14 on Oct. 21. Richland was the Mid-Columbia Conference champion. This is Richland’s second consecutive trip to the state semifinals. The Bombers have advanced to state in four times in the past seven seasons. Richland advanced to the semifinals with playoff wins over Central Valley (37-0), Sunnyside (41-0) and Bothell. Richland has outscored opponents by an average of 39-11 this season. The Bombers have four shutouts this season. Richland’s top player is lineman Brigham Whitby. The 6-foot, 275-pound senior is the offensive lineman of the year and the defensive player of the year In the Mid-Columbia Conference. The Bombers also have Dontae Powell (6-5, 300) on the line. QB Paxton Stevens leads the offense. He has passed for 2,547 yards and 34 TDs. Senior Alex Chapman and junior Josh Mendoza are the top receivers. Last week, when Bothell’s defense was set up to stop the pass, the Bombers showed they could win on the ground. Like Skyview, Richland rushes by committee, led by senior Ben Stanfield (911 yards, 10 TDs) and junior Parker McCary (670, 13 TDs). Richland’s defense gave up 280 passing yards against Bothell last week, but also got three interceptions. Saturday’s forecast in Kennewick calls for showers and a high of 51.
FANS’ PICK: Skyview (65 percent)
SCORE CZAR PICK: Richland 31, Skyview 23
PREP PROLETARIAT PICK: Click here
