Colfax will fill grad gaps to work behind veteran line

Colfax football Coach Mike Morgan and staff once again are faced with checking out the lineup of football recruits and putting together a team which can pick up a head of steam as the season advances. Last year the Bulldogs rolled out a string of wins and advanced undefeated until the state semi-final round in Pasco.

Waitsburg/Prescott stopped the Colfax bid with a big win in the semi round and went on to take their first state title over Morton/White Pass in the Tacoma Dome.

Last year, Coach Morgan keyed the season launch by moving Justin Berarducci from wide receiver into the QB slot where he led the Colfax offense.

Berarducci and running backs Alvin Li and Jaime Bledsoe were among senior grads last year. Also departing were senior receivers Jay Hart and Sam Thompson and lineman Brent Conrad.

Most of Conrad’s cohorts on last year’s line have returned for their senior season, but all those skill position slots vacated by last year’s seniors are where most of the decisions have to be made in the early season.

Morgan noted those assignments will be filled by players who have logged a lot of game time in prior seasons. Most are game veterans because of the early leads carved out by the starters last year allowed the Bulldog coaches leeway to put younger players into the action.

Colfax has seven seniors and just four juniors on the turnout list this year. Also on the roster are 12 sophomores and 14 freshmen, class sizes the bode well for the Colfax grid future in the 2B football division.

Senior Brady Ellis, a backup quarterback who made a mark as wide receiver last year, has been moved into the starting slot at quarterback. Ellis cranked out some QB playing time last year.

“He’s looking good, and he’s making a lot of the right decisions,” Coach Morgan commented.

Joining Ellis in the backfield will be Levi Hardy, who logged a lot of game time last year as sophomore fullback, and Kellen McNannay, a senior tailback. Austin Corean, last year’s kickoff return specialist, and Austin Getz, are the other two veterans back in that small junior class.

Two sophomores, Brandon Arneson and Dylan Hall could also see time as varsity running backs.

Backing Ellis in the QB slot will be sophomore Marc Webber and freshmen Keith Gfeller and Dustin Hall.

The redo lineup on offensive will get a few extra seconds to mature behind one of the most experienced lines in the league. Cole Neu, Aaron Arneson and John Mellor all return as seniors. Judd Thompson also returns as a senior in the 200-pound class.

Two sophomores, Josh Brown and Andrew Becker, are also working into the varsity line slots.

Senior Cole Klaveano will probably be the tight end for the Bulldogs this year.

The team will have its team scrimmage Saturday morning and “Meet the Bulldogs” night next Thursday before the embark on the Bi-County Jamboree at Ritzville Aug. 31.

Colfax fans will also see some big changes in the Bulldog schedule this year. Coach Morgan has revised the Bulldogs’ pre-league season. Missing this year will be an early game against the DeSales Irish. Instead, Colfax has booked Asotin out of the SE ranks to start the season.

Game two will see the Coeur d’Alene Jayvees make a rare appearance on the grid at Schmuck Park. Morgan booked that game with CDA Coach Shawn Amos.

The third Friday in September will take the Bulldogs to Moscow to play the Bears. Morgan expects Moscow to be a big test for the Bulldogs before they start a five-game league campaign.

Missing from the league lineup this year will be Kettle Falls which will be back in the NE-A ranks. The K-dogs again will have to go up against some of the NE-A powers with a small enrollment for an A division school.

Justin Carstens, an assistant with the Bulldogs last year, has returned to his home territory which he will be in the K-dogs staff for the upcoming season.

The coaching lineup remains the same for the new season with Tony Carter, Mark Brown, Jason Cooper, Craig Culbertson and Phil Morgan all back working with the recruits in the pre-season.