Flashback | Tarbox, Anderson had old score to settle in '86 - kissing a sister

The game: Football, Gonzaga Prep vs. Juanita, Dec. 6, 1986, at the Kingdome.

The significance: Gonzaga Prep of Spokane's 14-7 victory for the Class 4A (then AAA) state football championship in Kingbowl X kept Juanita of Kirkland from winning an unprecedented third consecutive big-school title.

The coaches: Gonzaga Prep's Don Anderson, whose team also won the 1982 title and made five state finals, finished 269-63-4, tied for the fourth-most wins in state history. Juanita's Chuck Tarbox, whose team won titles in 1984 and '85, is No. 16 at 207-99-1.

The hero: Gonzaga Prep quarterback Ron Hawkins, who later played at Washington State, carried five straight times, including a 1-yard keeper with 7:32 left, atoning for a third-quarter fumble on the 1 and underthrowing a sure TD pass.

The play: Juanita's Clayton Harley caught a 54-yard swing pass from Darrell Cloud to tie it at 7 8:03 before halftime.

The memories: Tarbox and Anderson had known about each other since their high-school days in Seattle — Tarbox went to Queen Anne and Anderson to Roosevelt — when Anderson dated Tarbox's late sister, Shirley.

Two of the greatest coaches in state history could laugh about that in 1986, when their teams played one of the more memorable finals in state history.

"He says I got mad at him for kissing my sister," Tarbox said with a chuckle by telephone last week from his home in Surprise, Ariz.

Tarbox insisted he wasn't upset about losing to an undefeated Gonzaga Prep team that avenged a 28-13 defeat in the 1985 final, was No. 1 all year and survived a two-overtime semifinal against No. 2 Kennewick. Few expected the Rebels to return to Kingbowl until a 22-14 semifinal win over Renton.

"It was not a disappointment because no one gave us a chance," Tarbox said. "The kids didn't really catch on until they beat Renton."

Tarbox, now 70, is battling a rare blood disorder that affects his immune system. He tires easily but still keeps up with football in this state and was well enough to attend a reunion in August at Juanita Beach Park. More than 100 players, coaches and friends showed up.

Anderson, now retired in Spokane, saw many of his former players at a surprise 75th birthday party last June.

"That was a special group of guys who shared an undefeated season," said Anderson by telephone on Monday. "It was a rewarding experience. It was almost a family-type feeling. That's what life's all about."

Don Shelton