Four seconds to spare: Bulldogs air game bags win at Ritzville

-Julie Kincaid photo

Colfax quarterback Brett Kincaid leaps and fires the final shot Friday at Ritzville for the Bulldogs' tie-breaking score in the last 10 seconds of the game. Gabe Ahmann, behind number 51, made the catch and crossed the goal line.

Colfax Friday at Ritzville scored in the final seconds of the game to book a 12-6 win over the LRSW Broncos and advance to 3-1 in the league race. The Bulldogs scored in the last 10 seconds of the game to break a 6-6 tie.

QB Brett Kincaid, who went back to work for one last chance in regulation time, ran quick series with the game clock ticking down and hit Gabe Ahmann on a screen play. Ahmann reached down to scope up the ball in the end zone.

The 12-6 tally went on the board with four seconds left on the clock.

The finish capped a breakout night for Kincaid’s passing game.

He finished at 10 for 16 for 171 yards win with two TD passes.

“It was just a matter of time before he broke out. We knew he would,” Coach Mike Morgan commented.

The aerial show means teams at other league stops will need to be aware of the Bulldogs’ option attack and the passing attack.

Kincaid hit Mason Miller for the other Colfax TD with just one second left in the third quarter. Miller, who is out for his first year of football as a junior, had two big catches for 45 yards.

Colfax went into halftime break after the Broncos scored their lone TD early in the second quarter on a short run by Mason Brausen.

Neither team picked up an extra point kick for the game.

“As the game went along, we just got stronger,” Morgan noted.

The final quarter sequence started when the Bulldogs had a drive going but missed a fourth down pass, and the Broncos took over the ball. A sustained drive at that point would have sent the game into overtime.

Colfax jolted the Ritzville fans when Nick Klaveano intercepted a Ritzville pass and took it into the end zone. The pick six was negated on a call against Colfax for roughing the passer.

Ritzville kept possession, but they had to punt, and Christopher Jones blocked the ball.

Colfax had the ball with 1:40 left. Kincaid hit Jones on a screen pass and then went with an option to the right side with Ben Ahmann. He had to spike the ball on the next play and that left one more chance with 10 seconds left.

Knowing the Broncos would be bearing down on Kincaid, Morgan called in the screen pass to Gabe Ahmann who picked it up at dandelion level for the win.

Now standing at 3-1 in the league race, Colfax will hit the road again for a game against Northwest Christian on the turf at West Valley Friday night. The Crusaders now stand at 4-0 after picking up a forfeit from Kettle Falls. The K-dogs, who had just 18 players turn out, couldn’t field a team for last Friday’s round.

Number-one order for the night will be stopping Silas Perreiah, who was named top back for the NE last year as a junior. Morgan believes stopping Perreiah will force the Crusaders to try other parts of their offense where they might not be as strong as they were last year.

Other league action saw Davenport jolt Asotin 20-14, Liberty top Wilbur/Creston 42-8, and Reardan blank Springdale 26-0.

Colfax stats: 308 total yards with 137 rushing and 171 passing; one fumble, lost; 19 first downs with 9 rushing, 9 passing, one on penalty; penalties 2-20; possession time: 28:18. Passing: Kincaid 10-16 for 171 yards; Rushing: Ben Ahmann 18-78, Jones 9-28, Matthew Neu 6-23, Kincaid 9-8; Receiving: Gabe Ahmann 4-62, Mason Miller 2-45, Jones 2-37, Blake Bodey 1-14, Derek Ward 1-13; Tackles: Tucker Gleason 8, Jones 54, Klaveano 4, B. Ahmann 4, Neu 3, Augie Allenbach 2, Miller 2.

LRSW stats: 214 total yards with 84 passing, 40 rushing; fumbles 0-0, penalties 4-30, possession time 19:38; Passing: Bryce Kelly 13-16 for 84; Receiving: Austin Thompson 7-49, Brausen 2-12, Spencer Gering 2-7, Camden Smith 2-7; Rushing: Brausen 17-67; Thompson, Kelly, Gering, all minus yards: Tackles: Ray Melville 10, Bryce Esser 6, Thompson 6, Kelly 4.