Plenty of Mid-Columbia athletes are also academic champs + This week’s playoff matches

It’s one thing to perform well on the fields and courts in high school sports.

But when you’re also performing well in the classroom, that’s a winning formula.

Mid-Columbia teams were honored this week when the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced the academic state champions in each sport.

To become a state champion, each athlete who played for the varsity had their grade point averages counted.

This region had four representatives. They are:

▪ Chiawana in Class 4A football. Head coach Scott Bond had 46 athletes play varsity football this fall, with a combined grade point average of 3.597.

▪ Kamiakin in Class 4A volleyball. Braves head coach Morgan Schauble had 15 players who combined for a 3.880 grade point average.

▪ Kamiakin in Class 4A boys cross country. Head coach Matt Rexus had nine runners who combined for a 3.940 grade point average.

▪ Warden in Class 2B volleyball. Head coach Emily Pruneda had six players who averaged a 3.870 GPA.

What makes it even more interesting is that three of the teams — Chiawana football and both Kamiakin squads — either won their conference titles outright or earned a share of the crown.

Warden placed second in the 2B EWAC East volleyball race behind River View.

These are the seasons that make coaching definitely enjoyable.

Prep football

Richland rolled past Central Valley 47-14 on Tuesday night at Fran Rish Stadium in a Class 4A regional crossover playoff game.

Josh Woodard was 24 for 31 for 354 yards passing and six touchdown passes for the Bombers.

Woodard, a senior, became the Bombers’ all-time career leader in passing yards during the game. He is now at 5,603 yards.

The previous record holder was Paxton Stevens (2014-2016) at 5,418 yards.

Woodard already has the Richland career record in touchdown passes at 68 and running.

In Tuesday’s game, Bombers receivers Rayce Reeves (9 catches-156 yards-3 touchdowns) and Brody Bocek (5-106-2) had big games. Richland running back Jakob Brannon added 16 rushes for 58 yards and a TD.

Linebacker Cannon Weikum led Richland’s defense with 6 tackles (1 for loss).

Richland (6-4) continues its run with another playoff game at Eastmont at 4 p.m. Saturday. Eastmont is 9-0 and the Columbia Basin Big Nine champion.

Winner of this game qualifies for the 4A state playoffs.

▪ Here’s a look at this weekend’s playoff matchups, as teams battle for state berths.

Class 4A crossovers — Chiawana at Moses Lake, Lions Field, 7 p.m., Friday; Richland at Eastmont, 4 p.m., Saturday; Sunnyside at Gonzaga Prep, 7 p.m.; Wenatchee at Kamiakin, Lampson Stadium, 7 p.m.

Class 3A Round of 32 — Hermiston at Eastside Catholic, 7 p.m., Friday; Mercer Island at Kennewick, 2 p.m., Saturday.

Class 2A — Othello has a bye.

Class 1A crossovers — Connell at La Salle, Marquette Stadium, Yakima, 7 p.m., Friday; Naches Valley at Royal, 7 p.m., Friday; Wahluke at Toppenish, 7 p.m., Friday.

Class 2B crossovers — Cle Elum/Roslyn at Tri-Cities Prep, Chiawana High, 7 p.m., Friday; Columbia-Burbank at Goldendale, 7 p.m., Friday; Kittitas/Thorp at River View, 7 p.m., Friday.

Class 1B — Liberty Christian has already qualified for the state playoffs. The Patriots will finish up Southeast 1B regular-season play with a road game at Tekoa-Rosalia at 7 p.m., Friday.

▪ Prosser, which did not qualify for the state 2A playoffs, found out its non-league opponent on Tuesday night. The Mustangs will visit West Valley of Spokane at 6 p.m. Friday to end their season.

▪ Thanks to Richland’s Tait Meyer for stepping up and organizing Mid-Columbia Conference football statistics this year — the first time we’ve had them since the late John Crawford organized them a few years ago.

Meyer completed the regular-season compilation on Monday afternoon, just in time for the MCC football coaches meeting to discuss and vote on the MCC football team (which will be released at a later date.

Here’s a look at the top three in each major statistical category this season:

PASSING: 1, Josh Woodard, Richland, 173 completions-254 attempts, 2833 yards, 32 TDs-8 interceptions; 2, Issac Corey, Hermiston, 195-290, 2254, 18-7; 3, Trent Woodhouse, Kamiakin, 118-195, 1595, 19-15.

RUSHING: 1, Camden Schmidt, Kamiakin, 129 rushes-1101 yards, 14 TDs, 8.5 average; 2, Alex Roberts, Kennewick, 128-1012, 13, 7.9; 3, Hunter Taylor, Chiawana, 145-681, 7, 4.7.

RECEIVING: 1, Colson Mackey, Richland, 46 receptions-863 yards, 10 touchdowns; 2, David Wacenske, Kennewick, 49-722, 13; 3, Brody Bocek, Richland, 42-641, 7.

SCORING: 1, Camden Schmidt, Kamiakin, 16 touchdowns-96 points; 2 (tie), Alex Roberts, Kennewick, 13-78; David Wacenske, Kennewick, 13-78.

TACKLES: 1, Carter O’Dell, Walla Walla, 70 tackles; 2 (tie), Damian Tavares, Pasco, 62.5 tackles; Neal Stasik, Hermiston, 62.5 tackles.

TACKLES FOR LOSS: 1, Cooper MacPherson, Chiawana, 20; 2, Dylin McIntyre, Kennewick, 13; 3 (tie), Braxton Feldmann, Chiawana, 9; Mason Grigg, Kamiakin, 9; Jaxson Baxter, Chiawana, 9.

QB SACKS: 1 (tie), Cooper MacPherson, Chiawana, 12; Dylin McIntyre, Kennewick, 12; 3, Cliff Sandburg, Southridge, 4.5.

INTERCEPTIONS: 1, Justin Webber, Chiawana, 6; 2 (tie), David Kuku, Kamiakin, 5; Dane McClure, Kennewick, 5; Rayce Reeves, Richland, 5.

WIAA draws this weekend

Sunday will be a newsy day, as the WIAA and its committees will make the draws for the state football playoffs — all classifications — as well as all girls soccer.

In addition, draws for all small-school state volleyball (2A, 1A, 2B and 1B) will happen on Sunday.

The draws for 4A and 3A volleyball will happen the following Sunday, Nov. 11.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.