Bulldogs beat Crusaders, host Chargers next

Colfax bagged football win number four Friday night before a homecoming crowd after stacking a quick 21 points in the first quarter over a much improved Northwest Christian team. The Bulldogs and Crusaders gave the circuits on the Schmuck Park scoreboard a workout before it finished at 50-27 for the Bulldogs.

"Northwest Christian is a much-improved team. They were here with a 2-1 record, and they played like a 2-1 team." Colfax Coach Mike Morgan noted. The Crusaders, who have zero seniors on the roster, figure to be that much tougher in coming seasons.

Colfax again took the win after mixing in a strong ground game with a passing and option attack. They also had some solid defense which shut down the Crusaders’ drives at key points in the game.

Morgan pointed out one big factor which didn’t show on the game stats was some of the play calls made on the field by Senior QB Mark Webber.

On three TD drives, Webber shook off a play call from the sideline and went with his own selection to collect points. On a Colfax quick play series at the end of the first half, Webber called six of the plays enroute to the last score of the half.

The series ended with a 33-yard TD run by Hall for a 28-6 Colfax lead at the break.

Colfax scored on their first possession when Hall took a punt and returned it 45 yards to score. A 17-yard TD pass from Webber to Jared Kneale, and TD runs by Hall for four yards and then 33 yards at the end of the second quarter put Colfax on top 28-6.

"Of course, you don't get scoring like that without some great play by our line," Morgan commented.

Tyler Kincaid earned the top credits for defense with nine tackles and three sacks. Josh Brown, who has been out with a knee injury, was also back in the trenches and went full bore for most of the game.

A highlight play for the line crew came early in the second half when the line put the pressure on Crusader QB Chris Carey and the ball popped loose in front of Kenton Lyman who gathered it up and scored on a nine-yard rumble.

Cody Fulfs, who broke out for a 65-yard TD run for the last Bulldog score, finished with 18 carries for 169 yards for the night.

Webber finished with 14 for 24 passing with 124 yards and two TDs, both to Jared Kneale. He had one interception.

Nathan Sander scored the first three Crusader TDs, with his second one coming on an 82 yard kickoff return after the break.

Sander had seven catches for 124 yards. Sophomore QB Chirs Carey, who heads the team with junior David Olds sidelined by an injury, hit 10 of 25 passes for 159 yards with one interception.

Sophomore defensive back Layne Kloetsch score the lone score of the last quarter on a 54-year interception return.

Colfax this week gets the luxury of having another home game with Mary Walker of Springdale on the agenda. The Chargers were defeated last week 57-18 by a much-improved Davenport team after a close first half.

Coach Morgan again expects the Chargers to play a physical up-the-middle type game with the power-I offense favored by Coach Rick Johnson.

On defense, Springdale likes to use a 4-4 set with the linebackers moving up into the box before most plays. That defense can take a toll on a team which likes to get its yards in the middle of the field, and the Bulldogs can be expected to plug in a lot of plays which will go elsewhere.

Colfax remains one of three undefeated teams in the league race. Lind/Ritzville/Sprague blanked Wilbur/-Creston 49-0, and Reardan shutout Tekoa/Rosalia 50-0. The other league round saw Liberty top Kettle Falls 55- 25.