Colfax again faces test at Asotin

Asotin’s Panthers, a team which has twice shut the door on any Colfax bid to get to the state playoff rounds, will again host the Bulldogs Friday in another key test. Both teams will go into Friday’s league tilt with 4-2 records.

Last year, after they shut down Colfax in the crossover round, Asotin advanced all the way to the semi-final round at state where they were stopped by Liberty 21-16. Liberty went on to finish second with a one-point loss, 27-28 to Kalama in the 2B championship game.

Colfax Coach Mike Morgan noted both teams have changed since last year’s closer, but Asotin still has a lot of talent back from last year’s semi-final team.

The Panthers last Friday rolled over Kittitas 54-12 in a non-leaguer.

Asotin running back Dyland Landrus led the Panther scoring with four TDs, three on rushing and one on a 13-yard pass from Panther QB Josh Wilkinson who hit three TD passes against the Koyotes.

Morgan credited the Colfax defense last Friday with putting a lot of pressure on Liberty QB Jake Carr, and they will have to apply the same type of pressure to Asotin’s Wilkinson.

Colfax Bulldogs last Friday posted a 20-15 win over Liberty after booking a 20-8 lead and fighting off a Lancer charge in the last quarter. Carr zeroed in on his passing game and led a Lancer drive which finished with a 10-yard TD shot to Justin King with just 28 seconds left

The Lancers then executed an on-side kick, but their charge ended when they ran out of time.

Morgan noted a big play for Colfax came early in the second half, when the bulldogs blocked a Liberty punt attempt. The ball was batted backwards and Caden Noha covered it in the end zone.

A two-point conversion pass from QB Layne Gingerich to Jacob Brown put the Bulldogs up 20-87 with 8:28 left in the third quarter, but their scoring stopped at that point.

Liberty actually topped Colfax by five more total yards on offense, but they needed 56 plays.

Colfax Friday chugged out 187 yards rushing on 36 attempts to take control of the ball game. Cameron Hiatt had another big game with 105 yards on 17 carries, and Jacob Brown covered 76 yards on 12 carries.

Liberty booked 173 of their 237-yard total on passing. Carr finished with 16 pass completions on 28 attempts for a total of 173 yards, but the Lancers had just 64 yards rushing.

Augie Allenbach led Colfax defense with nine tackles with credit for eight solo stops.

Hiatt score the first TD of the game in a six-yard run with 3:39 left in the first quarter.

Liberty came back with Carr hitting Justin King on a 12 yarder, and the Lancers took the lead, 8-6, when they picked up the two extra points.

Hiatt scored again with 6:12 left in the half, and Colfax had a 12-8 lead at the break.

Noha’s TD recovery bumped the lead to 20-8 early in the second half.

After two weeks on the road Colfax Oct. 19 will host Reardan for the last league game on the home field, They will have a bye week before the crossover round which will match teams, the top three finishers from the north and south sides of the league.

Reardan was a 24-14 winner over the Lind-Ritzville-Sprague Broncos Friday.

Colfax Statistics: 232 yards in 44 plays, 4 for 8 passing for 45 yards, 36 for 187 yards rushing, 12 first downs with 9 rushing, 3 passing, 22:57 possession time. Passing: Gingerich, 4 for 8 for 45 yards; Rushing; Hiatt 17 for 105 yards; Brown, 12 for 76 yards, Gingerich 7-6. Receiving: Brown 1-19, Dakota Hall 1-5, Hiatt 2-2l. Tackles: Augie Allenbach 9 with 8 solos, Brown 6 with 5 solo, Gingerich 4 all solo; Hiatt 5 with 3, Nick Klaveano 3.5 with 2, Noha 3.with 2.l, James Gilchrist 2.5 with 2.

Liberty Statistics: 237 yards in 56 plays, 16 for 28 passing for 173 yards, 64 yards rushing on 28 attempts, 5 penalties for 40 yards, possession time 25.03: Passing; Carr 16-28 173; Rushing: Austen Hubbard, 9-68; Matt Heer 9-31, Carr 10 for minus 33. Receiving: Logan Billington 2-50, King 6-49, Danner Holling 4-46, Herr 1-16, Evan smith 2-87, Jonah Cwik 1-4. Tackles: Cole Prince 8.5 with 7 solo; Charlie Harrington 6.0 with 45, Kellan Watson 4.0 with 3, Garrett Stentz 4 with 3, King 3 all solo.