Dec. 3, 1983: Inchelium wins first state title

A moment following Inchelium's incredible win, Coach Duane Gatlin, Hornet team-members and fans gave the victory sign to everyone cheering at the December 3 Kingdome State B-8 Championship game in Seattle.

SEATTLE - On Saturday, December 3, Lonnie Simpson led the Inchelium Hornets to a 38-22 smashing victory over Wishkah for the State B-8 Championship title in the Kingbowl VII that featured games in B-8, B-11, A, AA, and AAA.

Simpson, the 5-foot-11, 165 pound senior created a new Kingbowl record of 281 yards on 30 carries scoring four touchdowns on 9, 26, 76 and 8 yards.

He was named to the Inland Empire Sports Writers and Broadcasters "Athlete of the Week" roster twice - and received a prestigious seating on the Washington State Sportswriters Association's Class A-B All-State High School football team as a running back.

The Hornets were off to a shaky start when the Wishkah Loggers drove 64 yards in nine plays from the opening kickoff to the first quarter touchdown, only three minutes into the game. 

By halftime, the Hornets were over their initial jitters and had taken the lead away from the Loggers. Coach Duane Gatlin was quoted in a Spokane paper "We just had to get the ants out of our pants."

Simpson rushed 58 yards in the first half and jumped another 223 yards in the final 24 minutes. His total (281) broke the 1975 record of 271 yards. While Wishkah concentrated on Simpson, fullback Rob Williams rushed for 70 yards -- he took three passes from Tracy Flugel for 86 more yards and a touchdown.

Wishkah's coach McDougall paid the Inchelium Hornets a supreme compliment when he said "I don't think they out-muscled us, I think they out-quicked us. I was amazed at how quick they were. That's not coaching or anything, that's talent.

When the game was over, the roar of victory filled Kingdome as Inchelium fans went crazy in the stands. The Hornets had their ultimate victory of the 1983 season -- and a coach Gatlin said "Not bad."

Perhaps it should be noted that each of the Inchelium players was a fine athlete who demonstrated a combination of determination, sportsmanship, and teamwork -- a combination that won the Kingbowl title for Inchelium in 1983.

Inchelium Hornets starting eight: Back row, Joe Bear Swan and Lonnie Simpson.

Front row: Rob Williams, Jeff Vining, Van Allen Bradeen, Russ Camp, Les Hatin, Tracy Flugel.