Bulldog defense keys early blitz at Springdale

Colfax Bulldogs exploded for 28 points in the first half at Springdale Friday night to pick up a 28-6 win over the Chargers and advance their league record to 2-0.

The big first half was followed by a 0-0 shutout for most of the second half until Charger QB Josh Anderson hit the lone score for the hosts with 3:15 left in the game.

Coach Mike Morgan noted five Charger turnovers, four of them on interceptions, played a big part in the Colfax win. The Bulldogs’ line was also able to stop the Chargers’ ground game; most of the host’s offensive attack.

“Our defense really led the charge,” Morgan noted.

Mark Webber had two of the Colfax interceptions. Dylan Heiser and Austin Getz each had one.

Coach Morgan said the Chargers came out with a 3-5 defense, a mode which was probably loaded to stop the Colfax running attack keyed by Levi Hardy and Cody Fulfs.

For a response, the Bulldogs went to the air routes, something that wasn’t used last week in the runaway win over the NWC Crusaders.

At the QB slot, Webber hit seven of 10 passes for 137 yards.

Austin Getz topped the receiver charts with five snags for 147 yards. Getz and Webber hooked up for the first score of the game with a pass play which went for 76 yards in the first quarter.

The combo hit again on a 50-yard play in the second quarter when the Bulldogs rolled up 20 points on three TDs. Getz finished with eight catches for 143 yards.

The other scores in the quarter came off a 34-yard run by Keith Gfeller and a 35-yard run by Hardy.

Although the Charger defense was stacked against the running game, Hardy booked 96 yards for the night.

After the second half explosion, the two NE clubs locked it up in a standoff. Springdale sustained a drive late in the last quarter and scored on Anderson’s keeper run off a double option.

Colfax now returns home for a two-game stand with the Davenport Gorillas on the guest list for Friday.

Davenport will arrive after sustaining their first loss of the season, a 20-31 bow to Tri-Cities Prep from the SE league.

Davenport Coach Justin Young has installed a shotgun-type formation which is really a variation of the old single wing offense. The mode sends the ball back to the QB who has a wide range of options.

“There’s a lot of fakes and misdirection plays; it’s designed to create a lot of confusion,” Coach Morgan said.

The Gorillas, like Colfax, are operating in the league with a small turnout of players. One big setback for the team was the loss of running back Max Mielke for the season with a concussion sustained two weeks ago.

Other action in the league saw the LRS Broncos defeat Reardan 27-13 in an early league matchup of two teams tagged to finish on top of the NE race at the end of the season.

Lake Roosevelt defeated Liberty 27-24 in a non-league battle at Coulee Dam.