WP Gets Ready To Spread Wings

WAITSBURG --The WP Cardinals had the power of pink on their side as they clipped the T-O-R Nighthawks wings last Friday night 35-0. The win gave the boys of fall their second-consecutive undefeated regular season.

They begin loser-out post season play this Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Waitsburg against the Kettle Falls Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are the fourth place seed from class 2B District 7 with a 5-4 record. Kettle Falls is lead by 5'10", 155-pound sophomore quarterback Conner McKern.

"McKern has a decent arm and he can move," said WP head coach Jeff Bartlow.

"They also have a big lineman in 6'2" 300-pound senior Eddie Bitzan."

"Our biggest concern in this week's game is going to be our offensive line," said Bartlow. "In the past couple of weeks we haven't been getting Zach (Bartlow) the protection he needs."

" We're also going to working on our blitz pick out," said Bartlow. "We need to improve if we're going to be contenders in the post season."

Kettle Falls played the Colfax Bulldogs last week and were held scoreless the first half of the game. It scored its 13 points of the game in the second half by using a widespread offense, dropping three running backs into the backfield gave them plenty of pitching options, which they used to score on Colfax.

"It's bad to say, but I hope they run on us, "said Bartlow. "We have struggled with our pass coverage some this season even though we have been picking off the ball lately. They are mainly a running team so we're hoping they stick to that."

Physically the Cardinals look to be a fair match up to the Bulldogs despite its 300- pund lineman. Its three strongest wide receivers are 5'10" 150 pounds, but can they outrun WP's Dustin Wooderchak and Devin Acevedo. And do they have the moves of WP's Dalton Estes and Billy Brown? And do any of them have Justin Zuger's catlike reflexes that have nailed him four interceptions in the last two games?

Defensively, the Bulldog's Bitzan is the biggest threat with his size and ability to move, and he is backed up by 6'0" 200-pound lineman Konlan Sterland and Nick Hartell. But do they have what it takes to take down WP's grid iron men Greg Stearns, Eshom Estes, and Cadman Donovan?

These WP defensive monsters have lead their team to an average of 2 sacks and 77.7 tackles a game.

Offensively, the Cardinals averaged 39.6 points a game with 166 yards passing and 206 yards rushing. The Cardinals are ranked 6th in the state in 2B standings while the Kettle Falls Bulldogs are ranked no. 17.

The WP Cardinals have got to give it their all this Saturday against the Bulldogs and show the league that its got what it takes to survive in post-season play.