Fall high school schedules

Wednesday, Sept. 4

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Auburn.

Thursday, Sept. 5

Football

6 p.m.-Kentlake at Todd Beamer.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Highline at TJ.

Girls golf

3:15 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Auburn.

Friday, Sept. 6

Football

7 p.m.-Enumclaw at Decatur; Federal Way at Auburn Mountainview; TJ at White River.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-TJ at Kentwood.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Boys tennis

10 a.m.-TBD at TJ.

Monday, Sept. 9

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Enumclaw at Federal Way; 7:30 p.m.-TJ at Decatur.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Federal Way at Todd Beamer; Kent-Meridian at TJ; Decatur at Sumner.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at Federal Way; Stadium at TJ.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at Todd Beamer; TJ at Stadium.

Tuesday, Sept. 10

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Federal Way at Sumner.

Boys tennis

2:30 p.m.-Todd Beamer at TJ; 3:30 p.m.-Federal Way at Kent-Meridian; Decatur at Kentlake.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Federal Way at Decatur; Todd Beamer at Stadium.

Wednesday, Sept. 11

Girls soccer

6 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at TJ; 7 p.m.-Todd Beamer at White River; 7:30 p.m.-Decatur at Kent-Meridian.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way; Enumclaw at Decatur; Todd Beamer at Kentlake.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-TJ at Todd Beamer.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Todd Beamer at TJ; Stadium at Federal Way.

Thursday, Sept. 12

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Decatur; Kent-Meridian at TJ.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way; 3:15 p.m.-Decatur at Todd Beamer.

Friday, Sept. 13

Football

7 p.m.-Federal Way at Decatur; Todd Beamer at Enumclaw; TJ at Kent-Meridian.

Girls soccer

7:30 p.m.-TJ at Liberty.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Decatur at Todd Beamer; Kentlake at TJ; Federal Way at White River.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-TJ at Decatur; White River at Federal Way; Enumclaw at Todd Beamer.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Federal Way at Decatur; Todd Beamer at Stadium.

Saturday, Sept. 14

Girls swimming

10 a.m.-Decatur at Kennewick Invitational.

Monday, Sept. 16

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Enumclaw at Decatur; 7:30 p.m.-TJ at Todd Beamer; Federal Way at Kentlake.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-TJ at Decatur; Auburn Mountainview at Federal Way; Todd Beamer at Enumclaw.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Federal Way at TJ.

Tuesday, Sept. 17

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Federal Way; Decatur at White River.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-Decatur at Todd Beamer.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-TJ at Decatur; Stadium at TJ.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; Stadium at Federal Way.

Wednesday, Sept. 18

Cross country

4 p.m.-TJ, Auburn Mountainview at Federal Way; Todd Beamer, White River at Kentlake; Decatur, Enumclaw at Kent-Meridian.

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-TJ at Decatur; 7:30 p.m.-Decatur at Federal Way; Todd Beamer at Kent-Meridian.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Enumclaw at TJ; Decatur at White River; Federal Way at Kent-Meridian.

Thursday, Sept. 19

Football

6 p.m.-Kent-Meridian at Todd Beamer.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Federal Way at TJ; Decatur at Enumclaw; Todd Beamer at Kentlake.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-Todd Beamer at TJ; Enumclaw, White River at Decatur.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; Stadium at Federal Way.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Decatur; TJ at Stadium.

Friday, Sept. 20

Football

7 p.m.-Decatur at TJ.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Federal Way at Decatur; Auburn Mountainview at Todd Beamer; TJ at Enumclaw.

Saturday, Sept. 21

Football

1 p.m.-Spanaway Lake at Federal Way.

Girls soccer

1 p.m.-Kentlake at Decatur; Enumclaw at Todd Beamer; 7:30 p.m.-Federal Way at Auburn Mountainview.

Monday, Sept. 23

Boys golf

3 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way; Stadium at Todd Beamer.

Tuesday, Sept. 24

Girls soccer

6 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Federal Way; 7:30 p.m.-TJ at Kent-Meridian.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-TJ at Todd Beamer; Auburn Mountainview at Decatur.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-White River at TJ; Decatur at Auburn Mountainview; Federal Way at Kentlake.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Federal Way at Todd Beamer; Decatur at Stadium.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at Federal Way; 3:15 p.m.-TJ at Todd Beamer.

Wednesday, Sept. 25

Cross country

4 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview, Kentlake at Decatur; Federal Way, Kent-Meridian at White River; TJ, Todd Beamer at Enumclaw.

Thursday, Sept. 26

Football

6 p.m.-Decatur at Kent-Meridian.

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Kentlake at Todd Beamer; 7 p.m.-Federal Way at White River; 7:30 p.m.-Enumclaw at TJ; Decatur at Auburn Mountainview.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Kentlake at Federal Way; Todd Beamer at White River.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-TJ at Auburn Mountainview.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at Todd Beamer; TJ, White River at Enumclaw; 3:30 p.m.-Decatur at Kentlake.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at Federal Way; 3:15 p.m.-TJ at Todd Beamer.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at Stadium; 3:15 p.m.-Federal Way at Todd Beamer.

Friday, Sept. 27

Football

7 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at TJ; Federal Way at Enumclaw; Todd Beamer at White River.

Volleyball

6 p.m.-Decatur at Kent-Meridian.

Boys tennis

8:30 a.m.-Federal Way at Curtis Cup; 3:30 p.m.-Kentlake at TJ; Kent-Meridian at Decatur; Todd Beamer at White River.

Saturday, Sept. 28

Girls soccer

4 p.m.-TJ at Lindbergh.

Boys tennis

8:30 a.m.-Federal Way at Curtis Cup.

Monday, Sept. 30

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way; 7:30 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Decatur.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Federal Way at Decatur; White River at TJ; Auburn Mountainview at Todd Beamer.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Enumclaw at Federal Way.

Tuesday, Oct. 1

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at Federal Way; Kent-Meridian at Todd Beamer.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Federal Way at TJ; Todd Beamer at Stadium.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Decatur; TJ at Stadium.

Wednesday, Oct. 2

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at Todd Beamer; 7 p.m.-Decatur at White River; 7:30 p.m.-Kentlake at TJ; Federal Way at Kent-Meridian.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Enumclaw at Federal Way; TJ at Auburn Mountainview; Decatur at Kentlake; Todd Beamer at Kent-Meridian.

Thursday, Oct. 3

Football

6 p.m.-Kent-Meridian at Federal Way.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Kentlake at Decatur; Kent-Meridian at Federal Way.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Federal Way; Kentlake at TJ; Sumner at Decatur.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Decatur; TJ at Stadium.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way; 3:15 p.m.-Stadium at Todd Beamer.

Friday, Oct. 4

Football

7 p.m.-Skyview at Decatur.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Decatur at Todd Beamer.

Saturday, Oct. 5

Football

1 p.m.-Enumclaw at TJ; 7 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at Todd Beamer.

Monday, Oct. 7

Girls soccer

6 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; 7 p.m.-Federal Way at Enumclaw.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Federal Way; TJ at Kent-Meridian.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Kentlake at TJ.

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; Todd Beamer at Enumclaw; Federal Way at White River.

Girls swimming

3:30 p.m.-Decatur at North Thurston.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; Stadium at Federal Way.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Federal Way; Stadium at Decatur.

Wednesday, Oct. 9

Cross country

4 p.m.-Enumclaw at Federal Way; Kentlake at TJ; Auburn Mountainview, Kent-Meridian at Todd Beamer; Decatur at White River.

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Kent-Meridian at Decatur; 7:30 p.m.-White River at Todd Beamer; TJ at Auburn Mountainview.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Federal Way at TJ; Kentlake at Todd Beamer; Decatur at Enumclaw.

Thursday, Oct. 10

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-Federal Way at Todd Beamer; White River at Decatur.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-TJ at Decatur; Federal Way, White River at Enumclaw.

Boys golf

3 p.m.-Stadium at Decatur; Todd Beamer at Federal Way.

Girls golf

3 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; Stadium at Federal Way.

Friday, Oct. 11

Football

4 p.m.-Decatur at Auburn Mountainview; 7 p.m.-White River at Federal Way; TJ at Kentlake.

Boys tennis

3:30 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way.

Saturday, Oct. 12

Girls soccer

1 p.m.-Todd Beamer at TJ; Kentlake at Federal Way; Decatur at Enumclaw.

Monday, Oct. 14

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Decatur; White River at Federal Way; TJ at Kentlake.

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; 7 p.m.-TJ at White River; 7:30 p.m.-Kent-Meridian at Todd Beamer.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-Kentlake at Federal Way; Enumclaw, White River at Todd Beamer; Auburn Mountainview at Decatur.

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Cross country

4 p.m.-Federal Way, TJ, Todd Beamer at Decatur.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Decatur at TJ; Enumclaw at Todd Beamer; Federal Way at Auburn Mountainview.

Thursday, Oct. 17

Football

6 p.m.-Decatur at Kentlake.

Girls soccer

6 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at Federal Way; Todd Beamer at Enumclaw.

Girls swimming

3 p.m.-Decatur at Federal Way; Kentlake at Todd Beamer; Auburn Mountainview at TJ.

Friday, Oct. 18

Football

7 p.m.-Federal Way at Todd Beamer.

Girls soccer

7:30 p.m.- Decatur at Kentlake.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Tyee at Decatur.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Football

1 p.m.-Sultan at TJ.

Monday, Oct. 21

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Federal Way at Todd Beamer; 7:30 p.m.-Kent-Meridian at TJ.

Tuesday, Oct. 22

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-White River at Decatur; Kent-Meridian at Federal Way; TJ at Enumclaw.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at Decatur; 7 p.m.-TJ at Enumclaw; 7:30 p.m.-White River at Federal Way; Todd Beamer at Kentlake.

Thursday, Oct. 24

Football

6 p.m.-White River at Decatur.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Todd Beamer at TJ; Decatur at Auburn Mountainview.

Friday, Oct. 25

7 p.m.-Todd Beamer at TJ.

Saturday, Oct. 26

Football

1 p.m.-Kentlake at Federal Way.

Girls soccer

1 p.m.-Federal Way at TJ; 7:30 p.m.-Decatur at Todd Beamer.

Monday, Oct. 28

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-White River at Todd Beamer; Kent-Meridian at Decatur; Federal Way at Kentlake.

Tuesday, Oct. 29

Girls soccer

5:30 p.m.-Kent-Meridian at Federal Way; 7:30 p.m.-White River at Decatur; Todd Beamer at Auburn Mountainview; TJ at Kentlake.

Wednesday, Oct. 30

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Decatur at Federal Way; TJ at White River; Todd Beamer at Auburn Mountainview.

Thursday, Oct. 31

Football

6 p.m.-Todd Beamer at Decatur.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Federal Way at Enumclaw.

Friday, Nov. 1

Football

7 p.m.-TJ at Federal Way.

Volleyball

7:15 p.m.-Auburn Mountainview at TJ; Kent-Meridian at Todd Beamer; Kentlake at Decatur.

A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

High schools

Football

Thomas Jefferson plays in a jamboree at Chief Sealth's Southwest Athletic Complex in White Center starting at 4 p.m. Friday along with Evergreen, Cleveland, Rainier Beach and Renton.

Decatur visits Stadium of Tacoma for an 11 a.m. Saturday jamboree along with West Seattle and Clover Park.

Pros

Mariners

Seattle hosts Tampa Bay for a 1:10 p.m. game at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday before traveling to Anaheim to play the Los Angeles Angels at 6:38 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:07 p.m. Sunday.

The Mariners visit the Oakland A's at 4:07 p.m. Monday and 6:40 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Friday's action will be on Apple TV+ and the rest on ROOT Sports Northwest.

Sounders

Seattle entertains Los Angeles FC for a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday match at Lumen Field and visits Portland at the same time Saturday with both on Apple TV+.

Storm

Seattle gets a 7 p.m. Wednesday visit from Atlanta at the Climate Pledge Arena and New York comes to town at the same time Friday.

The Storm rolls into Connecticut for 10 a.m. Sunday and 4 p.m. Tuesday action.

Wednesday's game can be seen on Fox 13+ with Friday's on ION and the two Connecticut games on Fox 13+.  Sunday's will also be carried on the NBA network.

Reign

Seattle visits Louisville for a 4:30 p.m. Saturday match on ION.

Rainiers

Tacoma is in El Paso for an 11:05 a.m. Wednesday game ahead of 5:35 p.m. action Thursday, Friday and Saturday and another 11:05 a.m. game Sunday.

The Rainiers come home to Cheney Stadium for 6:05 p.m. action Tuesday and Wednesday against Albuquerque.

AquaSox

Everett visits the Eugene Emeralds at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday ahead of a 5:05 p.m. twin bill Thursday.

Action starts at 6:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 5:05 p.m. Sunday.

The AquaSox host Spokane at 4:05 p.m. Monday and 7:05 p.m. Wednesday with Tuesday off.

Emerald Downs

The Auburn track hosts horse racing at 7 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Colleges

Husky football

Washington entertains Weber State at 8 p.m. Saturday on the Big Ten network.

Cougar football

Washington State gets a noon Saturday visit from Portland State in Pullman on CW television.

A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

Pros

Mariners

Seattle concludes its series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers with a 7:10 p.m. Wednesday game before coming home to T-Mobile Park for three against the San Francisco Giants.

Action starts at 7:10 p.m. Friday to facilitate a post game fireworks show followed by 1:10 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Rays fly in for games at 6:40 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 1:10 p.m. Wednesday.

Mariners action can be seen on ROOT Sports Northwest.

Seahawks

The Cleveland Browns will provide the competition as Seattle wraps up preseason play with a 7 p.m. Saturday game at Lumen Field on Channel 5.

Sounders

Seattle visits Minnesota for a 3:30 p.m. Saturday match carried on Channel 13.

Storm

Seattle hosts Washington for a 7 p.m. Monday women's basketball game at the Climate Pledge Arena.

Atlanta invades at the same time next Wednesday.

Both games will be broadcast on Fox 13+.

Reign

North Carolina visits the Seattle women's soccer team for 7 p.m. Sunday action at Lumen Field on ESPN2.

Rainiers

Tacoma entertains the Sacramento River Cats for 7:05 p.m. games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday ahead of 6:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday action.

The Rainiers visit the El Paso Chihuahuas at 5:35 p.m. Tuesday and 11:05 a.m. Wednesday.

AquaSox

Everett visits Vancouver for action at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 1:05 p.m. Friday, 7:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

The AquaSox drop in on the Eugene Emeralds at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Emerald Downs

The Auburn oval opens for horse racing action at 7 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

Pros

Storm

Seattle returns to action Friday after a long Olympic break, visiting Atlanta for a 4:30 p.m. game.

The Storm breezes off to Indiana at 12:30 p.m. Sunday and to Washington at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Friday's action will be televised on ION with Sunday's on Channel 4 and Tuesday's on Channel 13.

Mariners

Seattle finishes its stay in Detroit with a 10:10 a.m. Thursday contest before playing in Pittsburgh at 3:40 p.m. Friday, 10:05 a.m. Saturday and 10:35 a.m. Sunday 

The Mariners visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for 7:05 p.m. games Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

All of the action will be carried in ROOT Sports Northwest.

Seahawks

Seattle visits the Tennessee Titans for a 4 p.m. Sunday preseason game on Channel 5.

Sounders

Seattle hosts Los Angeles FC at 5 p.m. Saturday at Lumen Field.

Rainiers

Seattle entertains Sugar Land at 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday ahead of 6:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday action.

The Sacramento River Cats come to town for 7:05 p.m. games Tuesday and Wednesday.

AquaSox

Everett hosts the Tri-City Dusters at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 4:05 p.m. Sunday before visiting Vancouver at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Emerald Downs

The Auburn oval opens for horse racing action at 7 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Photos by Jeff Clinton.

McConnaughey looks back on football career

By Tim Clinton

Tom McConnaughey retired in May after over 40 years in the field of football.  Well, sort of.

The Federal Way High School graduate and former head coach has already found an upcoming new gig that is right up his alley, albeit a brief one.

He will work as a scout at next year's Senior Bowl college all-star game, helping to evaluate the value of the talent for future signing bonuses.

"It's an after retirement job, but it won't have nearly the work load," said the 67 year-old McConnaughey.

McConnaughey spent the past 28 years as a National Football League scout -- the past three helping the Jacksonville Jaguars in their recent turn-around after 25 years with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers.

McConnaughey initially left after coaching nine seasons at Federal Way from 1988-96 to accept a scouting job with NSF, which puts on the NFL combine.

"I took a shot at it and never looked back," he said.  "As a coach you have to move around a lot.  As a scout you do not.  You are gone a lot, but you don't have to move."

McConnaughey remains in Federal Way to this day.

"My wife, Sheri, works for the city of Tukwila recreation department," McConnaughey said.  "And being only 15 minutes from an airport, drive or fly I could cover my area."

McConnaughey's scouting territory included a wide variety of universities and colleges.

"It was the West Coast for the most part, and a lot of Texas and Oklahoma," he said.  "But in 28 years I ended up going all over."

McConnaughey's playing career as a wide receiver with sure hands and deceptive footwork also took him all over.

After graduating from Federal Way in 1975 he played for Central Arkansas, where he recently was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.

His late father, Don, was inducted there in 2008.

From there, the younger McConnaughey signed on with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1981.

"I was cut the first week of the season," he said.  "Then I was the last cut for the New York Jets and the New Jersey Generals called me.  I was a wide receiver for them two years until 1984."

The United States Football League team would end up being owned by Donald Trump.

"He was 36 years old and he was kind of brash," McConnaughey said.  "He knew all the players' names, which they thought was cool.  The NFL was worried he was paying some players too much.  We had six millionaires on the team and the NFL had zero at that time."

As for McConnaughey, he signed with the NFL Philadelphia Eagles "for a whopping $5,000 signing bonus, which was a lot then."

The Minnesota Vikings were next in line to give him a tryout.

"They called me the next season," McConnaughey said.  "That's where I broke my jaw and cheek bone.  I spent most of the year on injured reserve.  They said they were going to sign me the next year, but they never did."

With his playing days now over, he turned to being an assistant coach and teacher at South Kitsap High School.

That's where he also got his first taste of scouting.

"I did part time scouting for Art Rooney Jr. and Pittsburgh," McConnaughey said. "He wanted to hire me, but I was making too much money as an assistant coach and teacher."

McConnaughey was hired as the head coach and a teacher back at Federal Way in 1988.

"I was the youngest coach in the South Puget Sound League at 31," he said. "We had a lot of talent, but not the numbers for the playoffs with teams like Puyallup, Curtis and Kentwood.  I was proud of our teams and the guys who came out of the program."

Eagle players included 10 future Division I athletes and 40 small college players.

McConnaughey coached future five year NFL receiver Lake Dawson, who played his college football at Notre Dame.

"Coach Lou Holtz couldn't believe how well prepared he was," McConnaughey said.  "And (the late) Bronzell Miller was drafted by the Rams.  He was incredible."

McConnaughey brought with him an NFL and USFL approach.

"We tried to incorporate things they did," McConnaughey said.  "We filmed practices and not just games.  We were ahead of our time.  We had solid programs and coaches and culture.  Everyone had to bring it every day to every practice and every play."

The assistant coaches included Don Gregory, who preceded McConnaughey as an NFL scout.

"He did some scouting in the Canadian Football League," McConnaughey said.  "He was hired by the San Diego Chargers."

The connection helped lead to McConnaughey's change of careers.

McConnaughey gives a lot of the credit for his playing and subsequent coaching and scouting careers to his father, Don, who wound up coaching track and serving as athletic director at Highline College.

"My dad was the consummate teacher and coach," Tom said of Don, who passed away at age 91 in 2021.  "He had a huge impact on me.  I was just smart enough to listen to him."

Former Raiders receiver Fred Biletnikoff was an influence at a quarterback and receivers camp starting Tom's senior year of high school.

"Matt Bledsoe, Drew's dad, was in charge of receivers and they invited pros to help.  One time Fred asked me to stay after practice, and I did and continued to.  I got invited back as a college and pro player."

Biletnikoff taught McConnaughey his footwork, and Thomas Jefferson graduate Kenny Mayne provided his strong arm at quarterback to help with off-season practices.

That's the same Kenny Mayne who recently retired after a long career as an ESPN commentator.

"He went to Wenatchee Valley and set all kinds of records," McConnaughey said of Mayne.  "Then he was the backup at UNLV."

Now McConnaughey is following Mayne into retirement.

"I'm 67, so I thought it was time," said McConnaughey, whose son, Donny, is an assistant football coach and the head baseball coach at Todd Beamer High School.  "My wife, Sheri, can retire after another year, then we'll relocate to Gig Harbor to be closer to our boat."

Photos courtesy of Tom McConnaughey.

(Top photo) Tom McConnaughey stands with wife Sheri at his Central Arkansas Hall of Fame induction ceremony.  (Bottom photo) McConnaughey snags a pass for the New Jersey Generals.

Andrew breaks All-City record

By Tim Clinton

Jack Andrew of Twin Lakes broke into the Greater Seattle Summer Swim League's All-City meet record book Tuesday.

Andrew accomplished the feat by winning the boys age 15-18 100-yard freestyle event in a trend setting time of 46.78 seconds.

The action took place at the Lakeridge pool in Renton.

Marine Hills took 11th as a team with 96 points at the meet with Twin Lakes coming in 15th with 44.

Ian Frenchowicz and Lucas Palomo were both double winners for Marine Hills.

Frenchowicz took the boys 13-14 100 individual medley in 58.09 and the 50 breaststroke in 30.11.

Palomo placed first in the boys 11-12 50 breast (35.94) and 100 IM (1:10.62).

Also for Marine Hills, Jace Djang won the boys 8 and under 25 breast in 19.60 and Jordan Djang took the boys 9-10 50 breast in 36.54.

Matthew Audette of Marine Hills won the boys 15-18 50 butterfly in 23.37.

The annual meet features 72 events and includes boys and girls from Federal Way to North Seattle.

Sand Point won with 324 points with Innis Arden a distant second with 211. Normandy Park placed third with 204.

A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

Pros

Mariners

Seattle seeks to stay in first place as it hosts the Detroit Tigers for games at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at T-Mobile Park.

The New York Mets come to town for action at 7:10 p.m. Friday, 6:40 p.m. Saturday and 4:10 p.m. Sunday.

Seattle visits Detroit at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Most Mariners games can be seen on ROOT Sports Northwest, but Sunday's clash will be aired on ESPN and ESPN2.

Seahawks

Seattle opens preseason play with a 4:05 p.m. Saturday visit to the Los Angeles Chargers on KONG.

Sounders

Seattle entertains the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Lumen Field in Leagues Cup action.

Rainiers

Tacoma is in Reno playing the Aces at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

The Rainiers come home to Cheney Stadium to play Sugar Land in a 12:05 p.m. Tuesday game.

Aquasox

Everett visits the Hillsboro Hops for 7:05 p.m. action Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Aquasox stay for a 1:05 p.m. Sunday clash before hosting the Tri-City Dust Devils at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.

Emerald Downs

The Auburn horse racing track opens at 7 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tim Clinton

Luke Raley rips a two-run double for the Seattle Mariners to help lift them past the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday.

Football schedule announced

By Tim Clinton

Crosstown rivalry games abound for Federal Way schools on the new North Puget Sound League football schedule announced for this fall.

The four schools now find themselves together in the NPSL Class 3A division and each must play the other three teams at some point in the nine-game regular season.

That means a full one third of each team's season is spent on rivalry games.

It won't start off with a rivalry game for anybody, however.

Decatur opens with an 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 visit to the Stadium High School jamboree in Tacoma along with West Seattle and Clover Park.

Todd Beamer opens at home at Federal Way Memorial Field against Kentlake at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 and Decatur hosts Enumclaw at 7 p.m. the next day as Federal Way visits Auburn Mountain view and Thomas Jefferson goes to White River.

Decatur entertains Federal Way in the first crosstown clash at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 as Todd Beamer goes to Enumclaw and TJ to Kent-Meridian.

Todd Beamer hosts Kent-Meridian at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 and Decatur drops in on TJ at 7 p.m. the next day.

Federal Way entertains Spanaway Lake at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.

Decatur travels to Kent-Meridian at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 and at 7 p.m. the next day it will be Auburn Mountainview at TJ, Federal Way at Enumclaw and Todd Beamer at White River.

Federal Way gets a 6 p.m. visit from Kent-Meridian on Thursday, Oct. 3 and Decatur entertains Skyview at 7 p.m. the next day.

TJ hosts Enumclaw at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 and Todd Beamer entertains Auburn Mountainview at 7 p.m.

Decatur goes to Auburn Mountainview for a 4 p.m. game Friday, Oct. 11 and at 7 p.m. it's White River at Federal Way and TJ at Kentlake.

Decatur visits Kentlake at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 and Federal Way visits Todd Beamer at 7 p.m. the next day.

TJ hosts Sultan at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19.

Decatur gets a 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 visit from White River and TJ hosts Todd Beamer at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25.

Federal Way entertains Kentlake at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

Two rivalry games are on tap the final week of division play.

Decatur hosts Todd Beamer at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.

TJ visits Federal Way at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 to renew a once longstanding tradition of finishing against each other.