NEAH BAY — It’s pronounced Too-shee.
Touchet is one of many Washington city names that you’ll probably say incorrectly (kind of like Sequim) unless you live within an hour or two.
Those who have been around 1B 8-man football for the last three decades know how to say it.
When the Indians face Neah Bay in the state championship at the Tacoma Dome on Friday at 4 p.m., it will be their ninth 1B title game appearance. That’s four more than any other 1B school.
Touchet’s last championship was earned with a 42-36 win over Neah Bay in 1999. The previous year, the Indians won the title by beating Clallam Bay 71-48.
In fact, Friday will be the fifth time Touchet has played for a state title against a school from the North Olympic Peninsula.
In 1979, the Indians beat Crescent, which was called Joyce at the time, 56-42.
The following year, Clallam Bay finished off an undefeated season by blasting Touchet 40-16 in the championship game.
A freshman on the 1980 Clallam Bay team was Tony McCaulley, now Neah Bay’s head coach.
McCaulley will be participating in his sixth 1B championship game.
He played in two for the Bruins (they lost the 1982 game to LaCrosse-Washtucna), was an assistant when Clallam Bay lost 18-12 to Odessa in 1993 and is leading Neah Bay to its third consecutive 8-man championship game.
Only two other schools have made three straight appearances: LaCrosse-Washtucna (2002-05, all wins) and Touchet (1979-81).
The Red Devils will be playing in their fifth 1B title game. That ties them for third most along with Clallam Bay, Crescent/Joyce and LaCrosse-Washtucna.
If Neah Bay wins Friday, they will be the first North Olympic Peninsula 1B football team to win multiple championships.
LaCrosse-Washtucna has the most titles with five (six, counting the 2008 title won by LaCrosse-Washtucna-Kahlotus; eight, counting the two Washtucna won by itself in the 1970s).
Touchet and Inchelium have the second most championships with four.
Touchet also has the most 1B state playoff games, 35, and the most wins with 22.
This season, the Indians passed up Clallam Bay and Odessa for the most state playoff appearances with 18.
Neah Bay is tied for second with 15.
The Red Devils also are tied with Odessa for the second-most state wins with 16.
No TV this week
Last week’s Neah Bay win over Lummi in the 1B semifinals was televised by ROOT Sports.
On Friday, ROOT will be televising a replay of last week’s 2B semifinal at the same time Neah Bay and Touchet are playing.
WIAA and NFHS Network will broadcast the game online, but the live broadcast costs $9.99.
At least that’s cheaper than the gas used to travel to Tacoma by car.
Go to www.nfhsnetwork.com/channels/washington for more information.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
