ATM football team planning to light things up in 2004

The Friday night lights may soon be shining at Archbishop Murphy High School.

Right now, approximately 90 lights are lying in the grass near the corner of the northwest end zone. Several 85-foot poles sit on the south side of the football field awaiting installation. Archbishop Murphy football coach Terry Ennis said he expects the lights to be ready for the 2004 football season.

“In many ways we enjoy Saturday afternoons,” said Ennis, whose team has played 1 p.m. Saturday home games for the past three seasons. “There’s a real carnival atmosphere on Saturdays. But, this will give us some options.”

The light were donated to the school after Fort Dent, a park located in Tukwila, was remodeled. New lights can cost in the neighborhood of $250,000.

“That’s not something we could have done,” Ennis said.

Archbishop Murphy is also in the midst of building a two-story press box behind the stands. The box was used by announcers, statisticians and the media during Saturday’s 40-7 victory over Orcas Island. The power failed briefly because of an overloaded circuit, but was restored before the game began, allowing the scoreboard to work without a hitch. A roof will be added to the press box soon.

Ennis said the Wildcats likely will continue to play Saturday games when teams such as Orcas Island and Friday Harbor visit. Lights are generally required to host state playoff games. Ennis said another benefit would be the ability to hold junior-varsity games on Monday nights.

Longtime officials honored: Edmonds School District event staff members Dick LaFave and Jan Kavadas have been honored for their longtime contributions to prep sports.

LaFave won the United States Swim Association Phillips 66 Outstanding Service Award presented by the Northwest Swim Club. He has officiated swim meets since 1968, including several district and state meets.

Kavadas, who won the Northwest District’s Dave DuVall Award, has been a swim referee since 1971 and has worked conference, district and state meets since 1988. Kavadas has also judged track and field competitions.

The King: Jackson tailback Johnie Kirton’s 1,711 rushing yards are enough to make anyone call Kirton a King. Or maybe the fact that he’s 6-foot-3, 248 pounds. He was officially named Homecoming King at halftime of Jackson’s game on Friday just as he walked out of the locker room for the second half. The King rushed for 352 yards against Shorecrest to set Jackson’s single-game rushing record for the fourth time in five weeks. He’s rushed for 239, 259, 247, 297 and 352 yards in his last five games. He also had a 66-yard TD run called back Friday because of a penalty.

Big week for running backs: Prior to the weekend, 13 individual 200-yard rushing performances by local backs had been reported to The Herald. Nine of them came from Kirton and Edmonds-Woodway’s Glenn Gallagher. Kirton (352 yards) and Gallagher (290) continued their dominance. Archbishop Murphy’s Jevon Butler added another 200-plus performance to his resume with 214 against Orcas Island. Marysville-Pilchuck’s Ken Kam (228) and Snohomish’s Casey Fortin (234) surpassed the 200-yard mark for the first time this season.