Colton stops S.C. Knights 54-16

Colton Wildcats used a pressure defense and a balanced attack Friday on their home field to roust Sunnyside Christian 54-16 and keep a lock on the SE Eights run down the stretch. The Wildcats erupted for 24 points in the second quarter and finished with three more scores in the second half.

The win advanced the Wildcats to 4-1 in the league standings with SJE slated to visit this Friday and a trip booked to Pomeroy in the last league round.

Touchet and Liberty Christian also prevailed in this week’s round with Touchet dropping Garfield/Palouse 36-14, and Liberty Christian stopping Pomeroy 42-28.

If all three teams finish with matching records, Colton would get the number-one slot in the playoff lineup against District seven eights by virtue of a pre-season draw which left the Wildcats with the top ticket.

Colton Friday combined some hard rushing with their passing game.

Quarterback Jake Straughan hit Jordan Druffel on a 36-yard passing play for the first score, but the Wildcats then scored the next three TDs on rushing plays with Knights’ defense keyed to stop the `cats air attack.

Straughan escaped for 46 yards for the next TD, and Druffel capped the next drive on a five-yarder. Straughan again scored via the ground on an 11- yarder.

In the second half, Colton reverted to the passing attack with Casey Jackson snagging a 45-yarder and Dalton Patchen a one-yarder for scores.

Dillon Frank, who was credited with grinding out the ground yards for the Wildcats on homecoming night, hit the last score in a 56-yard run.

Frank finished with 169 yards rushing on 21 carries, and Straughan finished with an 11-143 night rushing. Many of those yards were on scrambles with the Knights leaving gaps while attempting to cover would-be receivers for the blue club.

Colton defenders, led by Austin Staley, applied a lot of pressure on Knights’ QB Wyatt Hoff to disarm a lot of the SC passing game.

The Knights scored in the first half on a run for 45 yards down the visitors side of the field by power back Cooper Liefke.

Hoff Hooked up with Nate Scheenstra on a five yarder for their other TD in the third quarter.

Carter Dahmen and Straughan intercepted two of Hoff’s passes and Dahmen also recovered a fumble.