Archbishop Murphy didn’t pass much this season. When you win by an average score of 50-9, you don’t have to. You don’t want to. You want to run the clock and get it over with.
But Pullman, Archbishop Murphy’s opponent in today’s 2A high school football championship game at the Tacoma Dome, does throw – frequently. Even though the Greyhounds won most games by 30 or more points, quarterback JT Levenseller has attempted 156 passes in 13 games. He completed 81 for 1,597 yards and 25 touchdowns, complementing a ground game that produced two 1,000-yard rushers (Mike Thomas, 1,291, and JC Sherritt, 1,076) and 21 TDs.
“In my 13 years of coaching, that’s one of the finest teams that I’ve ever coached against,” said Connell coach Wayne Riner, whose team lost 34-7 to Pullman in the semifinals. “They’re just a great football team and I’d be disappointed if they don’t go all the way.”
Fortunately for Archbishop Murphy, the Wildcats have Shiloh Keo, the Cascade Conference’s most valuable defensive player, in their secondary. He teamed with fellow defensive back Alex Ungs to stop a two-point conversion pass, preserving last week’s 14-13 semifinal win over Cashmere.
Keo likely will have the responsibility of covering fleet wide receiver Ashton Gant today. Gant turned a reception into a 56-yard TD for Pullman’s first score against Connell. Overall, Gant has 23 receptions for 606 yards and 11 TDs.
Ungs and the other Murphy DBs also will be tested. Pullman receiver Aaron Pflugrad has 34 catches for 687 yards and 10 TDs.
Keo also will be a key figure on offense. He and backfield mate, Stan Smith – the Cascade Conference offensive MVP – are averaging more than 10 yards per carry, primarily because of their ability to break long runs. Cashmere held the Murphy offense to 3.4 yards per carry, but Smith (39-yard run) and Keo (81-yard run) both broke long TD runs.
“They both had their best game,” Archbishop Murphy coach Terry Ennis said. “Each one of them breaking one play against a great defense was the difference in the game.”
Both gained more than 100 yards (Smith 124, Keo 111) against Cashmere.
“They’re special,” Pullman coach Bob Wollan said. “They’re the best set of backs we’ve seen. You put them together and it’s double trouble for us. The thing I like about those two guys is that they’re great blockers, too. They’re tough, physical kids and they play the game hard. They’re a big play waiting to happen at any given time.”
They’ll test a Pullman defense led by Sherritt, the Great Northern League defensive MVP from his linebacker position.
As running backs, Sherritt and Thomas – the Great Northern League offensive MVP – aren’t quite as prolific as Keo and Smith, but they average more than 8 yards per carry.
Murphy is seeking its third state title in four years. The Wildcats won 1A titles in 2002 and 2003. They lost in the 2A semifinals last year, their only defeat in 54 games.
“We’ve seen some good teams this year, but we haven’t seen a team like them,” Wollan said. “They’re so efficient.”
That from the coach of a team that beat 3A finalist Prosser 35-28 on Sept. 16.
Pullman is seeking its first state championship. It has finished second three times, 1978, 1997 and 2003. The Greyhounds, who lost to Connell in the first round last year, are making their third straight state appearance and seventh in eight years.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
