Western, Central Still Class Of Cfa

Minus established quarterbacks, Western and Central Washington nevertheless are expected to succeed in the pared down Columbia Football Association.

A 14-team, NAIA-affiliated league when it was formed in 1985, the CFA now is a five-school conference with mixed affiliations. Central, Western and Humboldt State are eligible for the Division II national playoffs. Western Oregon and Simon Fraser are NAIA.

But no matter the affiliation, Western and Central are expected to decide the CFA championship when they meet in Ellensburg on Oct. 16. Western, coached for the 11th year by Rob Smith (66-33-1), received three first-place votes in a poll of CFA coaches. Central, coached by John Zamberlin, received the other two.

Western attracted support because it has 13 starters returning from a second straight 5-5 team.

The offensive returnees include wide receiver Ben Clampit, a Division II honorable-mention All-America choice from The Dalles, Ore., and tight end Ben Fairbanks of Kirkland (Juanita High School).

Clampit caught 74 passes for 1,288 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1998. Fairbanks, who led CFA tight ends with 49 catches for 531 yards, has been selected a preseason Division II All-American by The Sporting News and Street & Smith's.

If Clampit and Fairbanks are going to match their numbers from a year ago, they will do so with a new quarterback. Sam Hanson, who led the CFA in passing yards and touchdowns last year, is gone.

Battling to become the starting quarterback are R.J. Del Mese of Spokane (Central Valley) and Scott Mitchell of Kennewick (Kamiakin), a transfer from Eastern Washington.

The new No. 1 running back (the top three graduated) could be redshirt freshman Solomon Sayers, a nephew of NFL great Gale Sayers.

Six starters return on defense.

Schedule: Sept. 11 - at Portland St., 6:05 p.m.; 18 - Wisconsin-Whitewater, 1 p.m.; 25 - St. Mary's, 1 p.m. Oct. 2 - Western New Mexico, 1 p.m.; 9 - at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m.; 16 - at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; 23 - Chadron State, 1 p.m.; 30 - at Humboldt State, 1 p.m. Nov. 6 - Western Oregon, 1 p.m.; 13 - at UC-Davis, 1 p.m.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON

1998: 7-4 overall, 4-1 CFA

Defense is expected to be the Wildcats' strength, at least until the inexperienced offense matures.

The returnees on defense include the team's top nine tacklers from 1998, including linebacker Brandon Christensen of Mukilteo (Kamiak) and defensive back John Hallead of Ellensburg. Both were NAIA All-Americans last year.

Offensively, Pete Kalasountas, a junior from Renton (Hazen), is expected to be the starter at quarterback in place of Casey Jacox, who completed his career as the No. 2 passer in school history behind Jon Kitna.

Running back Dan Murphy, a senior from Royal City who rushed for 1,445 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, is the likely focal point of the offense.

Schedule: Sept. 11 - at Eastern Wash., 6:05 p.m.; 18 - at Northern Iowa, 4:30 p.m.; 25 - at Carroll, noon. Oct. 2 - St. Mary's, 1:30 p.m.; 9 - at Humboldt State, 1 p.m.; 16 - Western Washington, 1 p.m.; 23 - at Western Oregon, 1 p.m. Nov. 6 - at UC-Davis, 1:30 p.m.; 13 - Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.

PACIFIC LUTHERAN

1998: 5-0 NWC, 8-2 overall.

Back from a team that earned a berth in the Division III playoffs are 10 offensive starters, reasons enough to think the Lutes are on the verge of a 31st straight winning season.

Expected to lead PLU is fullback Anthony Hicks, the 1998 NWC Offensive Player of the Year who averaged 100.3 yards per game and 6.4 yards per carry. The 225-pounder from Tumwater, who transferred from Washington, also caught 23 passes for 211 yards.

Also among the returnees is quarterback Chad Johnson, Westering's grandson who competed 146 of 252 passes (58 percent) for 1,947 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was chosen all-NWC.

The wide receivers are headed by Zach Hiatt of Astoria, Ore., and Kevin Giboney, from Shorecrest High. Hiatt had 21 catches, Giboney 15 in 1998.

Defensively, six starters return, but not Brandon Woods, chosen NWL Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Schedule: Sept. 11 - at Cal Lutheran, 1:30 p.m.; 25 - Southern Oregon, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 2 - at Eastern Oregon, 1:30 p.m.; 9 - at Willamette, 1:30 p.m.; 16 - Whitworth, 1:30 p.m.; 23 - Lewis and Clark, 1:30 p.m.; 30 - at Linfield, 1:30 p.m. Nov. 6 - at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m.; 13 - Puget Sound, 1:30 p.m.

PUGET SOUND

1998: 1-4 NWC, 2-8 overall.

Having gone through back-to-back two-win seasons with young players, the Loggers will have a more veteran offense from which to launch what they hope will be a winning season.

"I think we will find out this season if the experience gained in the past few years will help," said coach Gordon Elliott (sixth year, 10-36).

Craig Knapp, a junior from Sequim who started all 10 games last year, will have a veteran group of five receivers to throw to: Adrian Evans of Federal Way, Jeff Halstead of Milwaukie, Ore., and Hawaiians Micah Pavich, Bryan Siu and Brett Kakud. Combined, Halstead and Kakuda made 55 receptions last season.

Josh Yeater of Steilacoom will return at running back after missing all of last season with an ankle injury. Five players who have started return to the offensive line.

Defensively, the Loggers are young, with only two starters back.

Schedule: Sept. 11 - at Simon Fraser, 2 p.m.; 18 - Western Oregon, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 2 - at Whitworth, 1:30 p.m.; 9 - Eastern Oregon, 1:30 p.m.; 16 - at Lewis and Clark, 1:30 p.m.; 23 - Willamette, 1:30 p.m.; 30 - at Pomona-Pitzer. Nov. 6 - Linfield, 1 p.m.; 13 - at Pacific Lutheran, 1:30 p.m.

WHITWORTH

1998: 2-3 NWC, 5-5 overall.

The return of 18 starters (eight on offense) from a team that that avoided its first losing season since 1990 has created uncharacteristic optimism.

"Our team is feeling like we can compete with everybody on our schedule," said Coach John Tully (9-28 in his fifth year).

Josh Parbon, a junior from Aberdeen, will be the quarterback if he recovers from an offseason ankle injury. In 1998 he led the NWC in passing yards and touchdown passes and was selected to the all-conference team.

At running back, Ben Vaday of West Linn, Ore., and Damian Putney of Harrington are back from a season in which they combined for 1,190 yards.

Schedule: Sept. 11 - at Menlo, 1 p.m.; 18 - Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.; 25 - Cal Lutheran, 1 p.m.. Oct. 2 - Puget Sound, 1:30 p.m.; 9 - Linfield, 1:30 p.m.; 16 - at Pacific Lutheran, 1:30 p.m.; 23 - at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; 30 - at Willamette, 1 p.m.. Nov. 6 - at Eastern Oregon, 4 p.m.; 13 - Lewis and Clark, 1 p.m.