Blackhawks make a splash
Lummi thumps Lopez 50-16 in regular-season finale; first-round playoff game is Nov. 15 in Edmonds.

Murphy Julius, far left, and Alex LaClair, center, are among the Blackhawks enjoying a mud bath following Lummi's win over Lopez.

The weather cooperated for Thursday's game between Lummi and Lopez Island. It rained all afternoon. The downpour turned the field into a sloppy mess, ideal for the Blackhawks' end-of-the-season tradition of sliding face-first into the biggest puddle available.

Beforehand, Lummi took care of the Lobos, 50-16, finishing the regular season 9-1 and 5-0 in the Pacific Coast League. Gale Jefferson scored four times, including on a 93-yard punt return, in his final home game. He amassed 367 total yards, according to Michelle Nolan's game story in The Bellingham Herald. Thursday's contest also was the last home game for seniors Kody Dennis, Ray Jefferson, Darryl James, Lonnie James, Nelson Montenegro, Dustin Tom, Lawrence Tom and Tony Washington. This group has made it to the state playoffs every year, including the semifinals last year. Lummi has yet to win a state championship.

Seniors Kody Dennis, left, and Lawrence Tom listen to coach Jim Sandusky during a timeout Thursday.

Lummi opens the playoffs this year at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Edmonds Stadium against either Tahola or Oakville. Those two teams play today, Nov. 7, to determine third and fourth place in the South Division of the PCL. Lummi will play the loser of that game, and Neah Bay will face the winner. If the Blackhawks win their first-round contest in Edmonds, they will play the following weekend at Civic Stadium in Bellingham against the winner of Lake Quinault's first-round game against either Highland Christian or Crescent.

Lonnie James protects himself from the cold and rain in the waning minutes of Thursday's game against Lopez.

A writer on bsports.org predicts the Blackhawks will meet Neah Bay in the state semifinals in Tacoma. Tri-Cities Prep, the only team to beat Lummi this season, would be in the other semifinal game according to this scenario. The Blackhawks moved up to third in this week's Associated Press 1B state rankings (no other team from the west side of the state is in the top five), and Tri-Cities Prep is fourth.