"High school football: Tigers’ road gets much tougher" -- Nov. 21, 2006

Caleb Breakey
The Olympian

The Centralia Tigers have Kellen Moore’s number. No, really, they do.

After toppling Anacortes last week, the Tigers improved their win total to 11 — the same number the Prosser star quarterback touts on his jersey.

But these numbers won’t mean anything when the Tigers (11-1) suit up against the Mustangs (12-0) in the state semifinals at 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Tacoma Dome. Moore will draw plenty attention from the Tigers.

“You have to worry about him and his brother,” Centralia coach John Schultz said.

Bitterly cold weather hasn’t fazed the Tigers this November, but players will face a 35-degree spike in temperature when they start bumping and bruising in the Tacoma Dome. Fans and the cheering atmosphere also pose change for the team, but Schultz said that wouldn’t be a problem for the Tigers.

“You don’t spend time looking up at the crowd,” he said.

Prosser edged Archbishop Murphy in its quarterfinal game last week when Moore found his brother, Kirby, in the end zone with a 19-yard touchdown pass in the game’s final 15 seconds to capture a 14-7 victory. Moore completed 12 of his 18 passes for 142 yards in the win.

Tigers quarterback Cal Cruickshank is coming off a five-touchdown performance in which he threw for 266 yards in a 47-26 quarterfinal thumping of the Seahawks. Wide receiver Isaac Moog was Cruickshank’s favorite receiver in the game, catching six passes for two touchdowns and 127 yards.

Schultz said he’s keeping his team calm, ready and intense. His response to how the Tigers are getting ready for their showdown with the Mustangs?

“They already are,” he said.