Morgan, Colfax gridders start new football season

Colfax Head Coach Mike Morgan, at left, smiles at his team as they run out on the track for introductions on “Meet the Bulldogs” night Tuesday.

A total of 35 football recruits started practice last week for the Bulldog football team which is expected to face another competitive lineup in the NE league.

Colfax graduated eight seniors off the team which rolled out a 6-4 record last year, but they have 11 seniors back.

"Most of our seniors played last year, so we do have a lot of experience," Coach Mike Morgan commented. The aim will be to get the pieces put back together for the start of the campaign.

Colfax gridders again will face the first sports action of the season when they travel to Ritzville Friday to play in the Bronco jamboree with other NE teams and invited guests.

In addition to the host LRS, the action will feature area invitees Medical Lake, Tri-Cities Prep and Warden.

Coach Morgan noted the big change for Colfax will be at the QB slot where Mark Webber presided for two seasons. Bulldog teams compiled a 12-9 record over the two years Webber was at the QB slot.

Senior Keith Gfeller will be moved into the QB position this year. Gfeller has been working as a thrower in Colfax practice sessions for the last two years, but saw limited time at QB when Webber was aboard.

Gfeller has been a receiver and defensive back for the previous two seasons.

Most of the senior grads last year came off the line. Josh Brown, Andrew Becker and A.J. Garcia will also be absent from the front ranks.

Other grads were running backs and receivers Dylan Hall, Bo Claassen and Cody Gronning and tight end Brian Stueckle.

Morgan notes returnees Tyler Kincaid, Nick McAdams, Brian DeYoung and Kenton Lyman each have a long record of game starts and figure to provide another solid front for the Bulldogs.

Gfeller brings the ability to throw the ball farther than Webber, and that could stretch opponents' defense and allow more leeway for the running game.

Cody Fulfs, Ben Ahmann, Reggie Jones and Tobie Warwick will all have slots in the Colfax offense as the season reaches launch point. Warwick missed last season with a broken hand and looks forward to playing a full slate this year. Jared Kneale will be back as a junior receiver.

Colfax football last year ended at the NE-SE crossover round when they faced Reardan for a second time during the season. Reardan was the number two finisher in the league behind LRS.

Coach Morgan expects the LRS Broncs, who advanced as far as the state semi-finals last year, to reload and lead the league campaign this year.

He expects Reardan to again be tough and the Liberty Lancers, which Colfax plays in the league opener Sept. 4, to return with a lot of talent.

Another Morgan nominee for a power team among the eight NE contenders is Northwest Christian. The Crusaders' lineup now includes veteran players who were on the team when NWC opted to play football three years ago.

Reardan and LRS both ran into Okanogan during the playoffs. Okanogan last fall rolled to the 2B title in a freight train mode after being bumped out of the A division by the WIAA recount.

The Colfax grid roster includes nine juniors, nine sophomores and six freshman.