Season is opening with a bang

YAKIMA, Wash. — This time there’s no trial run, no dress rehearsal, no game film to break down.

Eisenhower and Davis have found yet another way to spice up their football rivalry, opening the season against each other for the first time in 31 years tonight at Zaepfel Stadium.

“The first game and the biggest rival — it should be a great way to start the season,” said Davis’ third-year head coach Rick Clark. “I think it will be the best-attended Davis game in 10 years.”

Eisenhower’s James Akers, right, tackles Davis’ David Trimble during a November 2008 game at Zaepfel Stadium. (Kris Holland/Yakima Herald-Republic file)

Yakima’s crosstown series, which will stage its 57th edition with tonight’s 7:30 kickoff, is going through an unprecedented stretch of familiarity with a third meeting in less than a year. In fact, the last game played by both programs was against each other in last year’s finale.

Even so, there’s clearly something special about a season-opener.

“It’s not to hard to get our kids fired up to play Davis at any time much less week one,” noted Eisenhower coach Dan Eyman. “Everybody’s excited about opening this way.”

Eisenhower is the home team tonight and the Cadet Boosters are holding their 20th annual Eisenhower Roundup starting at 4 p.m. at the west end of the stadium. A $5 barbecue ticket gets you a burger, chips, apple, drink and dessert.

Eisenhower athletic director John Gonzales said a freshman game will start at 4 p.m. and the stadium will be cleared at the conclusion of that game.

The Cadets took the measure of Davis twice last year by hefty margins of 33-3 and 44-14, extending Ike’s win streak in the series to nine games. The Pirates are hoping that gap will be narrowed tonight but as with all season openers, it’s all speculation.

The crux of the matchup, however, is clear: Can Davis’ offensive potential, which centers around a pair of sophomores (quarterback Deion Wright and receiver David Trimble) and an established running back in Mitchell Vinsant, come together quick enough to sustain drives against Eisenhower’s sturdy defense and what Eyman calls his best group of linebackers ever.

Like last year, the game is non-league with both teams opening CBBN play in their respective divisions next week.

WV-Selah rivalry renewed

After two seasons apart, West Valley and Selah will renew their long-standing rivalry tonight at Clasen Field starting at 7:30 p.m.

Selah coach Jeff Jamieson, a West Valley grad, will bring 15 returning starters to his alma mater. Scott Ditter is starting his third season with the Rams.

West Valley and Selah played each other for 51 straight years between 1956 and 2006. The Rams hold a 34-18-1 lead in the series.

Top-Hi hosting Zillah

Another interesting cross-classification neighborhood rivalry will take place in Toppenish where the Wildcats host Zillah at 7:30 p.m. Top-Hi edged the Leopards 12-7 last year.

In two weeks Toppenish will christen Wildcat Stadium as Bob Winters Field in honor of its longtime former coach, who led the program from 1967 to 1978 and again from 1983 to 1994. The Wildcats won the Class A state title under Winters in 1989.

All of Winters’ former players are invited to attend a gathering and barbecue set for 5 p.m. on Sept. 18 before a CWAC game between Toppenish and Quincy.