Top > Sport > 2004 > September > 2004-09-18

Area players shine at Western, Central

It is homecoming weekend for more than two dozen Eastside and South County high school football players.

They`ll be back near their hometowns Saturday when Western Washington University plays Central Washington University in the second Battle in Seattle at 6 p.m. at Qwest Field.

``It`s a very important area for us in recruiting,`` Western coach Rob Smith said. ``We know we`ll get a good reception at those schools. And a lot of kids in the area want to go to Western.``

A lot want to go to Central in Ellensburg, as well, as to the Bellingham school.

``We recruit the same kids,`` Smith said. ``It so often comes down to Western and Central. Many players took trips to both schools.``

That makes for an even more intense rivalry between Western and Central.

``They know each other,`` Smith said. ``There`s a great deal of pride and bragging rights.``

The game is one of two Great Northwest Athletic Conference meetings between the teams this season. They play again Oct. 30 in Ellensburg. The teams split their two games last season, with Central winning the inaugural Battle in Seattle, 29-20, last year before 16,392 fans.

Western (2-1) is off to a better start this season than Central (1-3).

Last week, Western upset Nebraska-Omaha 31-21 in Bellingham. Nebraska-Omaha entered the game rated No. 23 in the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II poll.

But Smith insisted records are not important in a rivalry game: ``It`s the type of game where both teams are very even, even though the records don`t reflect that. It`ll be hard-fought and close at the end.``

Western features eight starters from the Eastside and South County, including four offensive linemen.

Senior guard Todd Gowing of Inglemoor leads a solid line that includes junior tackle Geoff Hise of Mount Si, junior center Loren Winter of Juanita and junior guard Will Freitag of Eastside Catholic.

``They played their best game last week against Nebraska-Omaha,`` Smith said. ``They knocked them off the ball.``

The line provided plenty of protection for quarterback Steve Nichols.

Central`s offensive line will include redshirt freshman tackle James Harrison of Kentridge and senior guard Zach Hubbell of Woodinville.

Senior safety Rob White of Inglemoor is one of the top players for Western. He had a key interception last week.

``He`s having a good senior year as we knew he would,`` Smith said. ``He`s our only senior on defense. He`s a very intelligent player.``

Notes: The Qwest Field box office will open at 10 a.m. Saturday because plenty of walk-up sales are expected. More than 5,000 tickets were sold the day of the game last year.

Tickets are $25, $20 and $10. Central fans will sit on the east side of the field and Western fans on the west side.

A free pre-game event starts at 3 p.m. in the Qwest Exhibition Center next to the stadium. Music, food, drinks and other pre-game activities will be offered.