Comets advance in 1B; Central dominates 2B

Commentary by Rick Nelson

Is this the year of the Comets?

I hope so. The team from Naselle/Grays River Valley High School remains undefeated as they head into the state Class 1B football playoffs, but they had their hardest test of the season last weekend, a 50-46 win over Quilcene. The Comets face Almira-Coulee-Hartline this Saturday, 1 p.m., at Tumwater High School, which has a synthetic surface. Speed will be a key factor.

And the Class 2B playoffs are an all-Central League show. Game 1 Saturday at Centralia High School features two speedy, quarterback led teams, Kalama and Napavine. Game 2, later in the day pits brawny Onalaska Loggers against Adna Pirates. Onalaska edged Adna 22-14 when they met in October, the Loggers' closest game of the season.

In the other matchup, the Napavine Tigers handed the Kalama Chinooks a 33-27 loss earlier this season; the Tigers' only loss is to Onalaska in what has been described to me as a wet, windy night on Onalaska's sloppy field. These semifinals and the final championship next week will be played on artificial turf. Speed will be a key factor.

Who will be in that championship game? I'll favor Onalaska for one entry; flip a coin for the other.