Prep Football Playoffs -- Knock, Knock: South Kitsap Not There Yet

PORT ORCHARD - The knocks are getting louder, the pounding harder. Soon, the door could open.

The way South Kitsap High School Coach Ed Fisher figures it, his football team has been knocking and knocking some more at that state championship door. So far, no answer.

This year, Fisher hopes his Wolves tear the door off its hinges.

"One of these days, they're going to have to let us in," Fisher said. "Maybe we'll just have to barge through."

South Kitsap has traditionally been a football power with glowing records, lofty rankings and big numbers. The Wolves have done everything to win a state championship - except win a state championship.

The numbers: A 121-11 regular-season record over the past 15 years, a spot in the state playoffs for the past 14 years and a coach who has spent 20 years as head of the program.

But there are other numbers: Only two state playoff victories in the past four years, no state championships and no Kingbowl appearances since 1984.

"There's been a lot of pressure on us to win in the past," said South Kitsap lineman Tony Coates, who is being recruited by Notre Dame, Washington and Stanford.

"Maybe we just haven't been able to handle it. We've felt the pressure. It didn't help when it came time to play the playoff game."

Said Andrew Peterson, starting offensive guard at Washington and a 1990 South Kitsap graduate: "I don't think it's the coaches. I don't think it's the players. Playing in that league, they don't hit a dominant team until the playoffs. They usually haven't been tested all season. Some of those kids don't know what to do and they choke because they haven't been in that situation before."

This year, South Kitsap faced Kentridge of the South Puget Sound League in the first round and won 29-0. It was the first state playoff victory for South Kitsap since 1990.

Fisher floated many theories at South Kitsap's inability to win a state championship.

"The Narrows League is not the toughest league," Coates said. "We're not used to being pushed."

One reason South Kitsap is so successful in the league - 100-8 since 1979 - is that the district has a solid feeder program, starting with its three junior high programs. Tacoma junior highs do not offer football.

Fisher also invites the district's junior high players into the locker room and onto the sideline for one game during the season.

"They make you feel like you're part of the program even though you're still in junior high," Coates said. But South Kitsap has never won a championship. And for players like Coates, that's frustrating because of the league championships, undefeated records and top rankings.

"When you can't win in the playoffs, you hear people talking like you're a choker," Coates said. "Even our own students talk like that. . . . We just need to show people that South Kitsap can win a football championship."

---------------------------------------------------------. Playoff disappointments.

South Kitsap's football record and state-playoff performances over the past 14 years: . . Year W-L State playoffs. . 1993 10-0 Beat Kentridge in first round. . 1992 8-2 Lost to Newport in first round. . 1991 9-1 Lost to Puyallup in first round. . 1990 9-2 Beat Shorewood; lost to Curtis.

in quarterfinals. . 1989 8-3 # Lost to Curtis in first round. . 1988 10-1 # Lost to Curtis in first round. . 1987 8-3 # Lost to Kelso in first round. . 1986 8-1 Lost to Puyallup in first round. . 1985 10-1 Beat Puyallup and Kentwood;.

lost to Gonzaga Prep in semis. . 1984 12-1 Beat Columbia River, Kennedy,.

Kentwood; lost to Juanita in.

Kingbowl championship. . 1983 11-1 Beat Bethel, Rogers (Puyallup);.

lost to Kennewick in semis. . 1982 12-1 Beat Oak Harbor, Sammamish,.

Kentwood; lost to Gonzaga Prep.

in Kingbowl. . 1981 10-2 Beat Rogers (Puyallup), Kelso;.

lost to Kentridge in semifinals. . 1980 7-3 Beat Clover Park, lost to Cascade.

in quarterfinals. .

# Won preliminary-round playoff to qualify for state. . (Note: State football playoffs started in 1973; South Kitsap's first appearance was in 1980. South Kitsap's state playoff record is 15-13.).