Pasco’s Gutierrez lands with Indianapolis Colts + WA football playoffs start this weekend

Pasco High graduate Sebastian Gutierrez is still working on finding his way into a more permanent position in the National Football League.

The offensive lineman who played at Minot State has had eight stints with different NFL teams.

At 6-6, 308 pounds, Gutierrez has spent the majority of his time on team practice squads — players who practice with the team but don’t suit up for the games.

Gutierrez did play in one regular-season game for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.

But he’s been busy in 2024.

He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 13, but he was waived in training camp on Aug. 27, then signed to the team’s practice squad.

The 49ers released Gutierrez on Sept. 2. Cleveland stepped in on Sept. 25, and the Browns signed him to their practice squad.

Gutierrez was released by the Browns on Oct. 22, but the Indianapolis Colts signed him to their practice squad on Oct. 28, and that’s where he is now.

Sometimes it’s about finding the right fit.

Prep football

There has been one change to this weekend’s state high school football schedule.

Tri-Cities Prep was supposed to host Toledo on Saturday afternoon in Richland. However, now the game has been moved to Grandview High School, with a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.

Here’s a reminder of which Mid-Columbia high school football teams have their WIAA state first-round playoff games and where this weekend:

Friday, Nov. 15

Class 4A: (13) Richland at (4) Kennedy Catholic, Highline Stadium, 7 p.m.

Class 1B: (16) Ocosta at (1) Liberty Christian, Fran Rish Stadium, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16

Class 4A: (15) Kamiakin at (2) Sumner, 1 p.m.

Class 4A: (14) Puyallup at (3) Chiawana, Edgar Brown Stadium, 4 p.m.

Class 3A: (9) Enumclaw at (8) Kennewick, Lampson Stadium, 3 p.m.

Class 2A: (10) Prosser at (7) West Valley-Spokane, 3 p.m.

Class 2A: (9) Sehome at (8) Othello, 2 p.m.

Class 2B: (14) Columbia-Burbank at (3) Napavine, 4 p.m.

Class 2B: (9) Toledo at (8) Tri-Cities Prep, Grandview High School, 1 p.m.

Class 1B: (9) Quilcene at (8) DeSales, 12 p.m.

First-round bye

Class 1A: (1) Royal.

College football

Scott Linehan is a Sunnyside High School graduate who has made his mark in both college and professional football ranks.

At one point, he was the head coach for the St. Louis Rams, and has been an offensive coordinator for Miami and Dallas.

Earlier this year, Linehan was hired to be an offensive analyst for the University of Montana.

His son, Mike Linehan, is the defensive line coach for the Grizzlies.

College golf

Graduate student Gabe Cach, a Hanford High product, is playing one last season for the Whitworth University men’s golf team.

Cach, playing unattached, shot rounds of 73 and 75 for a 148 total to place ninth overall at the Saint John’s Fall Invitational in Sartell, Minn., on Sept. 14-15.

There were 78 competitors in the event.

College basketball

Kamiakin grad Maddy Rendall transferred from Idaho State in the offseason to Oakland University in Michigan to play women’s basketball.

Rendall is a redshirt freshman and is a 6-foot guard.

Prep sports

Here is a list of all Mid-Columbia athletes who have earned WIAA athletes of the week honors: Grandview sophomore Brendan Kramer, boys cross country (Week 1); Prosser senior Abigail Jenson, girls soccer (Week 2); Chiawana senior Braxton Feldmann, football (Week 5); Dayton sophomore Denver Hutchens, football (Week 7); Pasco junior Jayden Williams, football (Week 8); Southridge junior Gabe Borisch (Week 9).

Pro basketball

Most prep basketball fans in this region know of the Pepper name.

Based out of Selah, a number of Pepper siblings and cousins have done some extensive damage on the basketball courts.

The oldest, Elijah Pepper, is now spending his days playing in Australia’s National Basketball League for the Perth Wildcats.

Pepper finished his college career at UC Davis last spring, and he was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year.

Now in Perth, the 6-foot-4 Pepper is averaging 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the 5-6 Wildcats.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.