Story Photos
 Mark Morris players roar in front of the student body after a rare victory over Kelso last season at Longview Memorial Stadium. The teams meet again Friday at Schroeder Field. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News
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Zimmy's Sideline Tour: A week-by-week guide to local must-see games
Thursday, September 4, 2008 4:30 PM PDT
By Ben Zimmerman
Printable version
E-mail this articleSept. 5
Kalama at Woodland
Beavers coach Mark Greenleaf is calling this burgeoning interleague rivalry the “Eight Mile War,” a nod to rapper Eminem.
“He’s my favorite,” said Greenleaf of the Detroit-area MC. “I could play that ‘You’ve Only Got One Shot’ song of his at the start of every period. It’s true. You only get one shot each week.”
Week 1 is Woodland’s shot at revenge against the rebuilding ’Nookies, and there could be some bad blood boiling after Kalama manhandled the Beavers last year.
If that main course doesn’t appetize, how about this side dish: Mark Morris and Kelso lock up for the 44th time in the series at Schroeder Field.
The Monarchs ended almost 30 years of gridiron suffering at the hands of Kelso last year, and the Scotties will be looking for revenge.
Mark Morris should probably be considered the favorite in this one, but a crowd of 5,000 will see for itself.
Kelso leads the all-time series 33-8-2.
SEPT. 12
Centralia at Mark Morris
Slim pickings in Week 2, but the Monarchs’ home opener should be an interesting peek into the future for both the hosts and their visitors from the Evergreen 2A Conference.
The best on-paper matchups will take place out of county, as Castle Rock visits Montesano and Toutle Lake heads out to Willapa Valley.
SEPT. 19
Rainier at Woodland
So that’s why the Lewis and Clark Bridge has been going through all those repairs: To accommodate the entire town of Rainier when it makes the trek over the Columbia for the first of two tasty interstate battles against Southwest Washington powerhouses.
In Week 3, the mighty Columbians pay a visit to the Beavers’ backyard, and Woodland’s stop troops get to take on one of Oregon’s best running backs in Rainier fullback Andrew Allen.
The Columbians will be on this side of the river in Week 4, too. ‘Bout time!
Meanwhile, Wahkiakum visits Toutle Lake for a game that actually counts in the league standings. Someone needs to offer a helicopter shuttle between Toutle and Woodland.
SEPT. 26
Rainier at Kalama
An Oregon Class 3A state semifinalist versus a Washington Class 1A state quarterfinalist. This clash of true heavyweights will give Rainier an opportunity to play on the nicest surface south of Qwest, and will test Kalama’s reputation as a hard-hitting squad.
Two programs that live in the weight room get black-and-blue — a true football junkie’s delight.
OCT. 3
Evergreen at Kelso
The calendar turns a page and an old Hilander nemesis invades Schroeder. Evergreen is a perennial state playoff team and will arrive in Kelso with one of the area’s most exciting players.
Senior Kyrell Hudson has scholarship offers from Boise State, Oregon State and Stanford, according to Rivals.com. The 6-foot, 185-pound phenom does a little bit of everything, lining up at safety, wide receiver, kick returner and even at quarterback. Evergreen coach Tom Smythe, a 44-year sideline veteran, told Rivals that Hudson is the best athlete he has ever had.
Which means that even if they are charging extra at the Schroeder gate, Hudson’s presence — and Kelso’s response — make any price right.
OCT. 9 (Thurs.)
Woodland at Mark Morris
Weekends rule in the football fanatic’s world, with high school action on Fridays, college games on Saturdays and the NFL on Sundays.
But as the temperature chills and the leaves change, Week 6 sends football lovers a special gift with this Thursday Night Special.
A poll of the GSHL 2A coaches reflects their opinion that these two programs are the teams to beat in ‘08, and the league title could be in the balance at Longview Memorial Stadium when they meet.
What a way to start a long football weekend.
Especially with what Friday night has to offer ...
OCT. 10
Kalama at Castle Rock
The area’s best rivalry game has yet to disappoint in terms of atmosphere, anticipation and intensity.
The only disappointment so far belongs to the Rockets, who fell 37-12 at home in 2006 and dropped a frustrating 14-6 decision at Kalama last season to extend a five-game series losing streak that dates back to 1986.
At some point, it gets silly trying to hype this matchup.
Get in your car. Get to the Rock. Buckle your seat belt.
The hits in this rivalry have been known to put the UFC to shame.
Oh, by the way: If you like your rivalry cooked Oregon-style, Rainier visits Clatskanie on this night, too. The Highway 30 Hootenanny will probably determine the Lewis and Clark 3A League title, and according to The Oregonian, Rainier is the third- and Clatskanie the eighth-best team in the state among 3A squads.
And just in case these pairings don’t excite, there’s a Central 2B battle royale in Toutle on this evening, when the Ducks welcome league title contender Adna to town.
OCT. 17
Warrenton at Clatskanie
The Tigers face a prickly challenge from ... the Tigers.
If there is a “blah” week on the 2008 schedule, it’s this one, when all but five local teams are on the road.
The most important Week 7 matchup will unfold in South Clark County, when Woodland pays a visit to Hockinson.
OCT. 24
La Center at Castle Rock
Those responsible for assembling the Trico schedule this season were prophetic geniuses, because Weeks 8 and 9 will settle playoff pecking order in dramatic fashion. The Wildcats return almost everyone from a very sturdy ‘07 squad and are considered the preseason league title favorites by many. John Lambert’s double-wing brigade finished second last year, thanks to a spirited homecoming beat-down of the Rockets.
This is the second-biggest home game of the year for Castle Rock. If the Rockets come into this game undefeated (see “Oct. 10”), they’ll be in a position to wrap up the Trico crown.
OCT. 31
Mark Morris vs. R.A. Long
Mark Morris puts a two-game series winning streak on the line in the 62nd Civil War, having had its way with the Jacks in ‘06 and ‘07.
R.A. Long still leads the all-time series 38-21-2 and is hoping to finish in the upper half of the league this season, while Mark Morris is in a strong cycle of talent and has its sights set on consecutive playoff berths — and more.
The Monarchs blasted the Jacks 35-7 last year.
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