State first-round football preview: Pullman vs. Hockinson
Pullman (6-3) vs. Hockinson (9-0)
CLASS 2A STATE FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF
WHEN: 2 p.m. Friday
WHERE: District Stadium, Battle Ground HS, 300 W. Main St., Battle Ground
BROADCAST: None
LAST WEEK: Pullman beat Prosser 31-30 OT; Hockinson beat Aberdeen 49-8.
NEXT UP FOR WINNER: Host a quarterfinal game vs. winner of Liberty-Fife
GAME NOTES: Pullman was the No. 2 team from the Great Northern League, losing to West Valley-Spokane 35-14. The Greyhounds also have non-league losses to Fife (22-13) and West Valley-Yakima (31-10). Pullman has advanced to state in back-to-back years for the first time since 2008. Prosser led 17-3 in the third quarter, but Pullman rallied to force overtime on Jed Byers’ 41-yard TD pass to Dylan Hodge to tie it at 24-24. Isaiah Strong, who also had two interceptions, caught a 10-yard TD pass in the first overtime for Pullman. Prosser scored a touchdown on its overtime possession, then tried to go for the win by going for two. The Mustangs fumbled the ball away. Byers rushed for 84 yards. H was also 6-for-6 with 56 yards passing with 3 TDs in relief of TJ Newman, who threw two first-half interceptions. Hockinson was the 2A Greater St. Helens League champion. This is the Hawks’ third trip to the state playoffs in four years. QB Canon Racanelli has passed for 2,805 yards and 40 TDs this season. He completed 17 of 18 passes for 318 yards and 6 TDs last week. Sawyer Racanelli has 58 catches for 1,304 yards and 20 TDs on the season. He had nine catches for 193 yards and 3 TDs last week, his third nine-catch game of the season. But the Hawks have other options as well – Matt Henry (28 catches, 330 yards), Peyton Brammer (33, 478) Jake Beslanowitch (22, 264). Beslanowitch had three TD catches last week. Baily Jones had his best rushing game of the season last week with 87 yards.
FANS’ PICK: Hockinson (92 percent)
SCORE CZAR: Hockinson
PREP PROLETARIAT PICK: Click here
