LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. – The Ridgeline Falcons enter the 2026 postseason for the first time in three years, and this time, they do so as league champions.
Ridgeline opened the season with a 14-7 loss to eventual Greater Spokane League 2A champions West Valley, but that loss, according to the team, did them tremendous good.
“I think West Valley might’ve been the best thing that happened to us penalty-wise,” Falcons senior lineman Colten Kuhl said. “It refocused it on us of what we need to get better at and where we need to be.”
“Well, I think that when we lost, that really reset us,” Falcons senior defensive back Ryder Cross said. “Mt. Spokane going into Week 2, it was some of the hardest we’ve ever worked.”
The Falcons then rattled off eight-straight wins, including a clean sweep of 3A opponents to capture the district title.
“These are my boys,” Falcons senior kicker/punter Braxton Dickerhoff said. “I’m best friends with them. How can you not be excited? This is the first year we really dominated Spokane GSL; that’s pretty cool.”
Ridgeline earned a home game for the Week 10 winner-to-state game, but only the No. 11 seed despite the program-record regular season performance.
“I feel like these guys know that we still have to prove something here in Spokane,” Ridgeline head coach Andy Olson said. “The West Side has dominated the playoffs for the last… I mean, for a very long time. So we’re trying to put Spokane, Ridgeline on the map. That’s hoping that we can do that this offseason, or playoff season, but it’s going to be difficult; there’s no doubt about that. But I do think we have the boys to hopefully make it a deep run in the playoffs.”
Ridgeline hosts No. 22 Gig Harbor tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.
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