Kingbowl Xviii Previews

Class A

Montesano vs. Royal

What: Class A championship game.

When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

Where: Kingdome.

Records: No. 2 Montesano 12-0, South Central League champion; No. 4 Royal 12-0, Yakima Valley League's Eastern Division champion.

Last week: Montesano beat top-ranked Eatonville 30-13; Royal beat No. 5 East Valley of Yakima 21-20 in overtime.

Coaches: Brent Whitaker, Montesano, seventh year; Bob Nielsen, Royal, 24th year.

Notable: This is Montesano's third Kingbowl appearance. The Bulldogs won the title in 1983, beating Riverside 35-27 to cap an unbeaten season, and lost the 1981 championship game to Colfax 6-0 - their only loss that year. This is their fifth straight year in the playoffs. They lost in the semifinals last year to Lynden Christian. . . . Royal is in the big game for the first time. The Knights reached the Class A semifinals in 1986, losing to Ephrata. This is the school's second year at Class A, returning after four seasons at B-11. . . . Royal High School is located in Royal City, about 30 miles Southwest of Moses Lake.

Montesano facts: The Bulldogs like to keep opposing defenses guessing. Wide receiver Brian Winkelman (6-1, 195, Sr.), possibly the best athlete in the game, will take a few snaps at quarterback in addition to running reverses and throwing off a lateral pass. What he does best, though, is catch the ball - he has 37 receptions for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns. Winkelman also has six rushing TDs. . . . QB Bryan Talley (6-4, 165, Jr.) has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes (77 of 119) for 1,701 yards with 20 TDs and 10 interceptions. . . . Pete Muller (5-9, 185 Sr.) leads a two-pronged rushing attack. He carried 26 times for 162 yards and three TDs against Eatonville, pushing him over 1,000 yards for the season (1,049 yards on 121 carries, 21 TDs). Ryan Wilson (5-11, 170, Sr.) is also a threat. He carried just six times for 48 yards last week, but has 829 yards on 75 tries for the year with 18 TDs. . . . The Bulldogs average nearly 40 points per game (39.7) with a season low of 26 (twice). They've scored 133 points in their three playoff games. Defensively, they've given up an average of 10.8 with just two shutouts.

Royal facts: Operating out of the wing-T, the Knights feature a balanced offense. Their ground attack relies on a lot of misdirection. Running back Dan Murphy (6-2, 185, Sr.) had his usual 100-yard game in the semifinals. For the season, he has 1,297 yards on 158 carries with 17 TDs. . . . QB Derek Allred (5-11, 170, Jr.) is a 52-percent passer (74 of 149) with 1,332 yards, 17 TDs and seven interceptions. His two favorite targets are Chad Bergeson (6-4, 195, Sr.) and Ryan Kallenberger (5-11, 160, Sr.). Bergeson has 23 catches for 506 yards and nine TDs, while Kallenberger has 24 for 385 and five TDs. . . . The Knights average just 165 pounds across their front line. . . . Royal's defense has been spectacular for most of the season, allowing just 7.4 points per game with four shutouts. The offense isn't too bad either, averaging 39 points an outing - including a season-high 69 points in the second game of the season against Highland.

Keys to the game: Montesano must deal with Royal's blitzing defense. The Knights usually send at least one linebacker every play. Both teams have good quickness, but Montesano enjoys a size advantage. Neither can afford to give up the big play - Royal especially.

Class B-11

Dayton vs. Toutle Lake

What: Class B-11 championship game.

When: Saturday, noon.

Where: Kingdome.

Records: No. 3 Dayton 12-0, Southeast League champion; No. 1 Toutle Lake 12-0, Central League champion.

Last week: Dayton beat sixth-ranked Ritzville 32-6; Toutle Lake beat No. 10 Tacoma Baptist 36-23.

Coaches: Dave Spray, Dayton, 19th year; Scott Grabenhorst, Toutle Lake, 16th year.

Notable: It's a Kingbowl first for Dayton. The Bulldogs came close in 1990, losing in the semifinals to eventual-champion Reardan. They were 8-1 last season, but failed to qualify for the playoffs. Spray has been here before, though. He was an assistant coach at Riverside in 1983, when the Rams reached the Class A title game and lost 35-27 to Montesano. . . . Toutle Lake made its only other Kingbowl appearance in 1988, losing 14-7 to Hunters. The Ducks were just 4-4 last year and 2-7 in 1992. . . . Toutle Lake High School is located in the city of Toutle, just north of Longview toward Mount St. Helens. There is a lake there, but it's Silver Lake, not Toutle Lake. Years ago, there were two high schools in the town, Toutle and Silver Lake. They eventually merged to create Toutle Lake. . . . Toutle Lake QB Kevin Grabenhorst is the coach's son. He was the team's water boy when the Ducks played in the 1988 Kingbowl. . . . Dayton lost just five players from last year's team, but three of them were on the state-championship 400-meter relay team. The other member of that relay squad, Ryan Rundell, is this year's leading receiver. Dayton won the Class B state track and field championship. Rundell also is a top basketball player - the Bulldogs placed fifth at state last year.

Dayton facts: The Bulldogs are very athletic and feature a big front line, averaging about 200 pounds. They're explosive offensively with a run-and-shoot attack, generally operating without a huddle. QB Matt Talbott (5-10, 170, Sr.) can air it out. He's completed 150 of 272 passes for 2,316 yards with 21 TDs and nine interceptions. . . . Rundell (5-10, 160, Sr.) has hauled in 58 passes for 1,068 yards and 13 TDs. Jose Acevedo (6-2, 190, Sr.) is another threat with 20 catches for 410 yards and seven TDs. Four others have nine or more receptions for more than 100 yards. . . . The mighty mite of the team is running back Bud Lyonnais (5-8, 155), whom Spray calls "pound for pound the best football player East of the mountains." He has 202 carries for 1,669 yards and 24 touchdowns. . . . The Bulldogs have posted six shutouts this season.

Toutle Lake facts: Kevin Grabenhorst has been nearly flawless at quarterback, throwing just two interceptions in 210 attempts this season (the second came last week in semifinals) against 24 touchdowns (three coming in the semis). He has completed 127 passes (60 percent) for 1,530 yards. He's a pretty good defensive back, too - he intercepted two passes against Tacoma Baptist. . . . Toutle Lake's top receivers are wide-out Gary Wick (5-9, 160, Sr.), who has 43 catches for 538 yards and eight TDs, and tight end Greg Kilponen (6-0, 180, Sr.), who has 28 catches for 365 yards and six TDs. . . . The Ducks have a balanced rushing attack. No running back has more than 500 yards for the season. Tailback Warren Staples (5-9, 160, Sr.) had just 49 yards on 10 tries last week, but scored three times. Sophomore Buck Smith (5-3 155) has moved in at fullback following a midseason ankle injury to Jeremy Tompson (5-9, 180, Jr.), who will also see some action.

Keys to the game: Defensively, Toutle Lake must adapt to Dayton's no-huddle offense. Offensively, the Ducks would like to establish a ground game and eat up some time on the clock. The Bulldogs' success largely hinges on the play of their quarterback. This could turn into a shootout.

Class B-8 Touchet vs. Pateros

What: Class B-8 state championship game.

When: Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

Where: Kingdome.

Records: Third-ranked Touchet, 10-1, Southeast League runner-up; Fourth-ranked Pateros, 9-1, Northeast League runner-up.

Last week: Touchet beat Inchelium 63-24; Pateros beat Crescent (Joyce) 74-64.

Notable: Pateros 1-1 in games this season in which it gives up 64 points.

Touchet facts: Team scores 40.2 points per game and allows 19.3 per game. In high-scoring B-8 class, Touchet (rhymes with sushi) has one shutout, limited opponents to 14 points or fewer four times, and 28 or fewer in all but the season opener. . . . QB Mike Adams 42 of 86 for 912 yards, 12 TDs, five intercepted. RB/LB A.J. Trejo 1,348 yards, 168 carries, 8.0 per carry, 24 TDs, team-leading 96 tackles. RB Ricky Boualapha 830 yards, 90 carries, 9.2 per carry, 17 TDs. LB Tom Ewing 58 tackles (after missing first four games of season). Making first Kingbowl appearance in 14 seasons, fourth overall (won '79 title).

Pateros facts: Semifinal game against Crescent set all-time state playoff (all classifications) scoring record. Nothing new to Billygoats, who average 59.6 points, 498 yards per game. But they've also allowed 35.3 points, 355 yards per game. . . . Plus-5 turnover ratio. . . . QB Pat Hunter 109 of 196 (56 percent) for 2,254 yards, 25 TDs, three intercepted and leads team with 987 rushing yards on 130 carries (7.6 average), 24 TDs. Shoulder injury leaves RB Shaun Moore (722 yards, 76 carries, eight TDs; 20 receptions, 580 yards, seven TDs) doubtful. WR/DB Robert Alvarez 39 receptions, 931 yards, 10 TDs, team-leading five interceptions. E Garrett Zwar 21 receptions, 303 yards, three TDs. MLB Charles Savoia 134 tackles. Third Kingbowl appearance in four years, seeking first title.

Keys to the game: Hunter. Pateros QB does it all, but with Moore out, he may have to do more. Touchet could win if it keeps Hunter under 300 yards.