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First, it was the unlikely first-round match-up on the road against No. 2-ranked Lynden, which the Thunderbirds won, 21-10.
Then, it was the postponement of Saturday’s scheduled state semifinal game against Spokane East Valley – a move that surprised Tumwater a mere two hours after the team had arrived in Spokane to play the game at snowbound Joe Albi Stadium. It forced the Thunderbirds to do an about-face and make the 6-hour-plus drive back home.
All of which serves to set the stage for today: Tumwater’s rescheduled semifinal against the Knights at 2 p.m. in the Tacoma Dome.
Given the recent circumstances, some teams might have been unnerved by the whole ordeal. Not the T-Birds (10-1), who are playing in their first semifinal since 2006 but the 10th under Tumwater coach Sid Otton.
“One thing about this group is not much fazes them,” Otton said. “They’re a focused group. We’ll look to the older guys to lead us, and get this group ready. … There’s no excuses (today).”
For East Valley, Saturday was supposed to be its big break: a home playoff game. Instead, the Knights will travel for their fourth consecutive playoff. After earlier trips to Ellensburg, Clarkston and Kennewick, the Knights arrived in the Tacoma area Sunday.
While most teams at this stage of the playoffs feature an unbeaten or one-loss record, East Valley (7-5) is a team catching fire at the right time.
The Knights struggled through a 1-5 start, including 0-2 in Great Northern League play. But coach Adam Fisher, the son of legendary South Kitsap coach Ed Fisher, made wholesale personnel changes in the starting lineup on offense and defense, and his Knights have been on the rise ever since. Winners of six straight, East Valley is in its first state semifinal since winning the championship in 1981.
Changes Fisher implemented included shifting some sophomores into key positions at midseason. Most notably, sophomores Taylor Watkins and Adam Talley now start at quarterback and tailback, respectively, in the team’s Power-I offense. In last week’s 48-28 victory over Prosser, Talley ran for 241 yards and four touchdowns, while Watkins threw for 133 yards on 8-of-10 passing accuracy.
Fisher also changed the defensive front at midseason, shifting from a three-man to a four-man alignment.
The T-Birds won’t overlook the Knights and their five losses, despite the postponement handing Tumwater home-area advantage.
“It’s been a trademark of competitiveness with this team,” Otton said. “Focus on the team you’re playing, and not taking a step before you get there.”
The winner will face a short week of preparation before taking on top-ranked Archbishop Murphy at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Tacoma Dome for the 2A state title. The Wildcats were 42-18 winners over Mark Morris on Saturday in the other semifinal.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/prepsportsblog
