Coasting into the big games

Having the North Division title wrapped up has significant advantages for the Kitsap County Bears, especially if rumors of their preparations for this week's games are true.
The Bears plan to rest many of their starters in for their game against South King County thanks to having a two-game lead over the Colts and Clark County Vipers. The Bears are guaranteed homefield advantage through the North Division playoffs.
South King needs a win to wrap up a home game in the first round.
If Yakima wins as expected at Clark County Saturday, the Bears will play host to the Vipers in the first round, while Yakima is at South King.
And with the Vipers late-season swoon, Kitsap might be able to rest many starters then, too.
The Bears got their two-game edge with a 24-17 win over Yakima, June 26. South King beat Clark County 66-6 as 10 different players scored.
The Portland Monarchs have the South Division wrapped up, so they'll likely offer plenty of playing time to players hungry for it in their game with the Portland Raiders.
The Springfield Buzzards need a win at the Oregon Outlaws to advance to the playoffs, so they'll have their top line-up available.
The league playoffs begin July 16.

Discipline key to Bears-Mavs battle?

Linebacker Jesse "Captain Caveman" Cardenas has the Mavericks playing under control.

If results in one key area in wins by Kitsap County and Yakima on Saturday are an indication of which team has an edge in this weekend's Pacific Football League battle for playoff momentum, then the visiting Mavericks could be looked on as the favorite.
The key area is penalties, and the Mavericks dominated that in their 42-32 win at Grays Harbor by having just one at a meaningless moment.
Kitsap County, meanwhile, got involved in what the published account of the game might be referred to as the "Antietam" of penalties during its 40-13 win over Clark County. The first half, according to the report, included 30 penalties, which caused the half to last two hours.
Grays Harbor actually had just a handful of penalties called by an officiating crew that just got cleared to move up to small college games, but those penalties came at key times. The first caused the Mavs to shun a punt on fourth-and-6, in favor of a run on fourth-and-1 on a drive that ended with a touchdown on play No. 13. Another penalty wiped out a recovered onsides kick. The Mavs rerturned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a score.

Vipers move Thomas in at QB

Marvin Thomas is the answer for the Clark County Vipers this week.
With Kyle English done for the season, and Naamon Archer out for the weekend, the Vipers are turning to Thomas at quarterback for their key game Saturday against the Kitsap County Bears in a battle of unbeatens in the Northern Division of the Pacific Football League.
Thomas, who prepped at Evergreen High in Vancouver, has played in mop-up roles this season.
"He's got a lot of athletic skill and has played at a high level before," Clark County coach Reggie White said Wednesday. "He knows our offense. He's ready to do a good job for us."
Both teams are 5-0 in Northern Division play. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Olympic High School in Bremerton, Wash.
English, who has played quarterback, running back and receiver, re-injured his left ACL in Saturday's 42-7 loss at home to Southern Oregon in which he and Archer combined to throw six interceptions.
The Vipers, though, were without key defensive lineman Marquise Cross and three-way threat Jason Pabillano, both of whom are set to play Saturday.
Pabillano, who has scored as a running back and kick returner and is a standout defensive back, missed the past two games with a high sprain of his right ankle.
White, who expects more than 30 players to travel with the team, said the loss of the team's top two quarterbacks shouldn't affect its morale.
"Everyone expects us to be the underdog, but we're okay with that," he said. "Saturday was a tough game, but it brought everyone together on what we need to do to be successful for the rest of the season."
Kitsap has been led throughout the season by running backs Edward Ash and Anthony Galloway, each of whom has scored seven touchdowns.

This week's big game - Rogue at Springfield

Getting a big win over Klamath has the Rogue Warriors finally into the win column, while the Buzzards dropped to 0-2 with a tough loss at Southern Oregon, after an overtime loss to the Outlaws.
Looking at this week's schedule, the hosts of PFWeekly, Cliff and Charlie, came up with differing opinions on who's going to win this game. "Super Genius" Cliff believes the Warriors have solved their tackling problems and will win, while "Highland" Charlie is going with the Buzzards, putting his 3-0 record against SG on the line.
That's the game of the week.
Here's the schedule for Saturday:
Warriors at Buzzards
Oregon Outlaws at PDX Raiders
Monarchs at High Desert
Southern Oregon at Klamath
Clark County at Snohomish
Grays Harbor at South King
Kitsap County at South Sound
Yakima and Bellingham (in a battle of teams thirsting for victory)
Check in Monday at 8:30 for notes and opinions on these games, along with an interview with guest Kevin Hatfield.