Bulldog football staff looks to fill back slots

Colfax Coach Mike Morgan and staff greeted 34 football players for the start of practice season which has been hampered by smoke conditions. The Bulldogs Monday opted for light practice in the gyms at JES, but were back out on the field when skies cleared Tuesday.

The smoke conditions could also be a factor Friday when the Bulldogs are slated to make a traditional season start at the Ritzville Jamboree. A predicted change in the weather at the end of the week looks like the skies will clear enough to get the early season sampler played.

Colfax had nine seniors on the team last year. The Bulldogs rolled up a 6-3 mark in the NE campaign and were stopped short of playoff action again by a loss to Asotin in the league crossover round.

Among the grads were quarterback Brett Kincaid, who finished his career with his best game in the Asotin battle, and running backs Chris Jones and Ben Ahmann.

"We've got most of our receivers back, but we'll need to find a quarterback and running backs to put it back together," Coach Mike Morgan commented.

Morgan is starting his 21st year as head coach in his 27th year at Colfax. He was an assistant under Doug Curtis for six years.

Working out the QB slot early in the season are Gunner Aune, now a junior, and Layne Gingerich, a sophomore who has been recruited from the baseball ranks.

Among the recruits for running back is Matt Hockett of Oakesdale, who wrapped up his sports season as a sophomore entrant in the state 1B track finals at Cheney.

Caden Noha, a sophomore, has moved here from St. John and could also be in the mix for a running back slot.

Among the returnees in the receiver crops are Gabe Ahmann, Dakota Hall and Mason Miller, all seniors, and Nick Klaveano, a junior.

New recruits Brandon Lustig, a junior, and Mark Morgan, sophomore could also be in the picture.

Augie Allenbach, one of the stalwarts in the line last year, is back as a senior, but Riley Wuestney graduated. Leo Huels, the German exchange student who tried all sports when he was here last year and had part of the line action and kicking for football, has returned to Germany.

Other grads who departed were Morgan Rogers, Tucker Gleason, Zach Jarosh and Derek Ward.

The team has also added Cameron Hiatt, who moved here from Moscow last year, and Isaiah Buri, a former resident who has returned to town.

Caden Brown, who missed the season last year with an injury, is also back in action on the line this year as a junior.

Assistant coaches returning are Mark Brown, Jason Cooper, Todd Kinley and Phil Morgan.

Zach McBride, a WSU freshman who played at Issaquah, is helping out, and Matt Morgan, who was raised in Pullman, is expected to assist with the junior high team this year.