Some of the best memories I have in my athletic career are the road trips and long-distance games, meets and tournaments I had the opportunity to participate in.

There was the prospect of competing away from home in a new environment, plus the time with teammates was valuable and epic. Even when I have work trips, I am still reminded of events and little tidbits of road wisdom learned on those trips.

For Montesano, Hoquiam and Raymond, they will be hitting the road for the opening weekend of the state football playoffs. For two of them — Hoquiam and Raymond — it is a choreographed one-day round-trip voyage. For Montesano, it is a sports business trip that begins today.

The last time Montesano traveled to Eastern Washington for a state football game was in 2007, a semi-final game against Connell in Adam Bighill’s senior year. The Eagles won, 51-14.

This time around, the Bulldogs have a two-day play, starting today.

“We are going over on Thursday, stopping at Central Washington University to practice and spend the night in Ellensburg,” Montesano head coach Terry Jensen said. “On Friday, we’ll drive to Yakima to watch (the Montesano volleyball team’s) first state match, then have lunch before going to Connell.”

After Friday’s 6 p.m. game, Montesano will hit the road for home, ending the two-day trip early Saturday morning.

The Bulldogs are known for keeping a strict schedule during the week before games. The trip may be a bit of a departure, but from what Jensen describes, I have a feeling the weekly routine isn’t going to be disrupted much.

The same thing can be said for Hoquiam, which will do a one-day round-trip to Bellingham on Saturday to take on Mount Baker.

Over the past two seasons, including this year’s campaign, the Grizzlies have embarked on several long-distance game trips. By the way HHS head coach Rick Moore — a Western Washington University grad — describes it, this is just another road trip, just like the others.

“We’ve traveled a lot and it isn’t that big of a deal,” Moore said. “We’ve figured out the segments — a stop in Federal Way to let the kids stretch, then back on the bus to Smokey Point. We carry all of our meals with us, so we’ll feed them and keep them going before back on the bus to Bellingham. We keep everything scheduled for what will happen when we get there and it is just like a home game. Everything is blocked off and the travel is broken up.

“After the game, we’ll hop on the bus and head home,” Moore added. “We’ll have dinner on the bus. It is what we do. It has become a normal routine. It isn’t anything new.”

Trips to Meridian, Stevenson twice and Forks have prepared Hoquiam for the journey. Coincidentally, Hoquiam is 4-0 in those long road games.

For Raymond, this is its second trip to Sedro-Wooley this season. Earlier in the year, the Gulls took on Friday Harbor at Sedro-Wooley High School in a non-league win. So, the Gulls are familiar with the trip and with the field.

“We will be heading north on Saturday, so we are doing a one-day trip,” Raymond head coach Luke Abbott said. “We have played multiple Saturday games this season and have played at Sedro Woolley once already as well. So, I don’t see this as a big distraction.”

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley and Taholah don’t have much of a road trip to contend with this weekend. The Titans will have a short trip from Pe Ell to Centralia’s Tiger Stadium, while the Chitwhins will head down the coast to Stewart Field.

Friday

State 1A First Round

(4) Montesano Bulldogs (10-0) at (3) Connell Eagles (10-1) — Why? Why is this game being played now? Why isn’t this game in Montesano, which is a higher district seed than Connell? Why? All that aside, a state-title contender is going to begin basketball season on Saturday morning. Too soon and a damn shame for one of these teams, regardless of the outcome. … Bulldogs 21, Eagles 20.

Quad-District 1B

(3) Neah Bay Red Devils (8-1) vs. Taholah Chitwhins (7-3), Stewart Field, Aberdeen — Taholah has been the eight-man football team that could, parlaying a small roster into a Coastal 1B League title. Its reward? State-ranked and state-title contender Neah Bay, which throttled Evergreen Lutheran, 82-8, last week. This is a tough outing for the Chitwhins. … Red Devils 60, Chitwhins 35.

Saturday

State 1A First Round

Hoquiam Grizzlies (7-3) vs. Mount Baker Mountaineers (10-0), Civic Stadium, Bellingham — Road trip notwithstanding, Hoquiam has more than a puncher’s chance against Mount Baker. Can the Grizzlies’ defense slow down and stop the Mounties’ Wing-T? Can Hoquiam’s offense score enough points to get Mount Baker out of its comfort zone? … Grizzlies 35, Mounties 28.

State 2B First Round

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans (8-3) vs. Mabton Vikings (5-5), Tiger Stadium, Centralia — A power running game. A turf field. A short bus ride. A third straight year in state. Life is good for the Titans right now. … Titans 42, Vikings 12.

Raymond Seagulls (5-5) vs. La Conner Braves (7-1), Sedro-Wooley HS — The last time Raymond and La Conner met in the state playoffs, it was played inside a monsoon rainstorm that created a grinder of a game that resembled a test rugby scrum for four quarters. Raymond already played a game like that against Adna, so why not do it again. … Braves 28, Gulls 14.

Rob Burns: (360) 537-3926; rburns@thedailyworld.com; Twitter: @RobRVR