Lancers shut out Colfax to bag top slot in NE race

Liberty's James Heer, number 33, was a tough back to stop in the Colfax homecoming game. Heer here is adding to his 151-yard rushing total with a host of Colfax tacklers on his back.

Liberty’s Lancers blanked Colfax 26-0 Friday night on the Bulldogs’ field to roll up a 6-0 mark in the NE league. Friday night’s big win put the Lancers on top of the league, and their win margins point to a solid run through the balance of the season.

The Bulldogs were unable to get on track through most of the game.

Liberty’s James Heer, a 200-pound senior, scored all five of the visitors’ touchdowns and finished with 151 yards rushing on 28 carries and 64 yards receiving on six catches.

“They are just an awfully good team,” Colfax Coach Mike Morgan said.

He noted the Lancers had the size to match Colfax on the front line, and they made few mistakes during the game.

Top: Bulldog gridders blast through the halftime banner Friday following halftime festivities at Schmuck Park. The visiting Liberty Lancers stacked a 26-0 shutout to end a four-game win string for Colfax in league action. Above: Justin King of Liberty looks for a route on a punt return with Matthew Neu aiming for a stop for the Bulldogs.

“We made some poor adjustments, and they made us pay,” Morgan commented.

A 100-yard total on 10 penalty calls against the Bulldogs and turnovers also took a toll on the Colfax offense. Colfax anchors its offense on the option game, and that mode functions poorly when it has to cover 15 or 20 yards in three downs.

Colfax Friday had just one drive get inside the end zone.

Liberty looks to finish the league run over the next three weeks undefeated on the playoff chart.

Colfax this week faces a big test when they travel to Davenport to face a Gorilla team which is now in the number-two slot in the league. The G club booked another impressive win this week when they blanked the LRSW Broncos 21-0.

Davenport is now 5-1 in the league race, and Colfax is among four teams with 4-2 marks.

Under Coach Justin Young, the Gorillas roll out the single wing offense. They normally pull three linemen to lead on the blocking assignments.

Morgan notes the league’s crossover round Nov. 3 will match the top three finishers against the next three in inverse order. The aim now is to nail one of those top three slots to get a home game in the Nov. 3 crossover round against a foe which finishes lower in the league standings.

Friday at Colfax, Heer scored after booking a big turnover late in the first quarter. Colfax defense had held the Lancers to a fourth down and then blocked Liberty’s punt. But Heer scooped up the blocked ball and ran it about 20 yards for a first down. He scored the first TD with 5:39 left in the first quarter.

Heer scored the next three TDs in the second quarter with the last TD booked in the final 39 seconds of the half on a 14-yard scamper. Lancer QB Alec Fletcher, who hit 12 of 17 shots for the night, linked up with Justin King for a two-point conversion and the Lancers led 20-0 at the break.

After the trip to Davenport Friday, the Bulldogs will hit the road again to Springdale. The Chargers Friday sustained a 6-26 loss to Wilbur/Creston.

Other scores in the league were Reardan 33- Northwest Christian 30, and Asotin 49-Kettle Falls 8.

Colfax stats: 179 yards with 27-166 rushing and 4-13 passing. Penalties 10 for 100 yards; fumbles-2, both lost; time of possession 19:18, first downs 7. Passing Brett Kincaid 4-15 for 13 yards. Rushing: Ben Ahmann 16-120 yards; Christopher Jones 8-42, Matthew Neu 2-4, Kincaid 1-0l receiving; Gabe Ahmann 2-7 yards, Jones 1-3 yards. Mason Miller 1-3 yards. Tackles: Dane Hall 6, Augie Allenbach 3, Nick Klaveano 3, Blake Bodey, Riley Wuestney, B. Ahmann, Neu each 2.

Liberty stats: 333 yards with 43 for 189 yards rushing, 12-20 for 144 passing; fumbles-2, first downs 15, time of possession 28:42, penalties 7-60. Passing Alec Fletcher 12-20 for 144 yards. Rushing James Heer 28-151, Brandon Holling 1-13, Justin King 6-13, Jawuan Nave 6-9, Fletcher 1 minus 8. Receiving Heer 6-64, Holing 3-43, King 2-34.