NE football league to have new look

The Northeast football league will mark a big change next year with the possible addition of Chewelah to the league lineup. The Cougars have been playing in the A division, but a decline in enrollment has dropped them close to the 2B ranks.

Regardless of where Chewelah lands, NE league officials have decided to split the league into north and south divisions. Teams in the two divisions will not play each other during the regular season, but will face off in some type of a crossover mode to determine who qualifies for the state playoffs.

Colfax Coach Mike Morgan told the crowd at the Nov. 30 football banquet that the league split leaves NE teams now working to book non-league games to fill out their card for the first part of next season. Colfax will be in the NE South with Asotin, Liberty, Lind/Ritzville/Sprague and Reardan.

The north end teams will be Kettle Falls, Springdale, Northwest Christian, Davenport and Wilbur/Christian. In the event Chewelah receives the WIAA approval to drop down to 2B, they will be added to the five teams already on the north side, Morgan said.

The hunt for non-league opponents contrasts with the last four years of the NE campaign when a full league card left zero dates to play non-league foes.

Morgan reported Colfax has already booked games with Orofino and Freeman for early next season.