Serving Whitman County since 1877
Ben Ahmann takes flight on a punt return while Riley Wuesteney (55) and Christopher Jones (40) open a gap in the second quarter.
After grinding out a 9-0 win over Reardan in the the season opener at home Friday, the Colfax Bulldogs will travel to Asotin to face the team pegged to be one of the powers in this year’s NE football race. Asotin Friday lived up to their pre-season billing by rolling out a 34-20 win over the LRSW Broncos.
Colton Ball, a power back last year who has been moved to tailback, racked up 163 yards against the Broncs in the league opener for both teams. Josh Wilkinson, who was moved into the QB slot vacated by Blake Magnuson zapped 129 yards passing with two TD shots.
The Colfax-Asotin series renews Friday after the Panthers dropped Colfax 45-20 in the league crossover round last year to shut Colfax out of the playoff grid for another year.
“Asotin is not as strong as last year, but they’re still very formidable,” Colfax Coach Mike Morgan commented.
Friday on their home turf, Colfax put together a first quarter drive and scored on an 18-yard pass from Brett Kincaid to Nick Klaveano. Derek Ward kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Colfax lead with 4:46 left in the first quarter.
That however, turned out to be the one and only tally on the scoreboard until the final seconds of the game when Colfax added a safety. Reardan attempted a desperation pass in the last 43 seconds of the game. The pass was ruled a safety because it was launched in the end zone and went to a spot on the grid where the Indians did not have a receiver.
That was the final frustration for the night for Reardan which cranked out more yards than Colfax, booked more plays and had possession of the football eight and a half minutes longer the Bulldogs.
“Shutting down Reardan was a huge accomplishment, just because of the way they play ball,” Morgan commented.
Reardan in the the second half had a drive that started in the third quarter and went all the way to the six-yard line in the fourth quarter. The Indians looked like they were on the brink of banking their first score, but Colfax defender Matt Neu stopped QB Riley Nikkola for a loss on a bootleg play, and the Indians were called for holding at the same time. They picked up another penalty and faced a fourth-and-36 to the end zone after getting so close .
Colfax took over the ball on the 36 and advanced across mid field to the 37 on a run by Christopher Jones
Reardan’s defense held, and Colfax punter Augie Allenbach dropped the kick on Reardan’s six yard line. Their muffed pass and the next play netted Colfax the other two points.
Colfax cranked up drives in the second and third quarters, but couldn’t get to the end zone.
Before the half, the Bulldogs ignited on a 25-yard punt return by Ben Ahmann. Christopher Jones rolled out a 15-yard run, but the drive ended 12 yards short on afumble with 2:47 left in the half.
Reardan took the ball on the 20, and cranked out three first downs before the half ended.
Colfax threatened in the third but stalled out on a pass interference call and Reardan took possession with 5:15 left in the third quarter. That possession continued into the fourth quarter when Reardan chugged to within six yards of making a score. Reardan’s long grind consumed the equivalent of a quarter of game time.
Colfax linebackers Dane Hall and Blake Bodey each had five solo tackles to lead the Colfax defense.
Colfax statistics: Total yards-167, 98 rushing, 4-8 passing for 69; penalties 5-45, time of possession 19:50, first downs 9, fumbles 2 with 1 loss of possession 19:50. Passing: Brett Kincaid 4-7 for 69. Rushing: Christopher Jones 8-51, Ben Ahmann 11-28, Mathew Neu 7-12 , Kindciad 4-7. Receiving; Ahmann 2-40, Klaveano 1-17, Jones 1-12. Tackles: Dane Hall 8.5, Blake Bodey 5, Ahmann 6.5, G. Ahmann 4.5, Jones 3.5 Tucker Gleason 3.5, Riley Wuesteney 3, 3.0.
Reardan: Total yards-188, 180 rushing, 2-9 passing for 8: penalties 10-45; time of possession 28:10, first downs 10. Passing Tyler Sprecher 2-9 8 yards; Rushing: Caleb Cole 15-83, Sprecher 17-60, Gabe Ziler 8-34, Riley Nikkola 3-3; Receiving- Nikkola 1-10, Ziler-1 minus 2. Tackles: Hunter Dawley 3.5, Sprecher 3, Cole 3, Ziler 3, Nikkola 2.
Christopher Jones reels in a catch on a pass by Brett Kincaid in the first quarter of the home opener against Reardan Friday night.
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