Bulldogs comeback keys 33-20 win over Lancers

Colfax charged for 12 points in the last quarter for a 33-20 win over Liberty in Friday's homecoming game. The win advanced the Bulldogs record to 5-1 with another NE-South battle set here Friday against Asotin.

The Panthers Friday advanced their record to 5-0 with a 48-12 win at Kittitas in a non-leaguer.

With the win over Liberty, Colfax now stands at 2-0 in the league with Asotin set for this week and a trip to Reardan scheduled for next week.

Liberty booked a power start Friday against the Bulldogs and started to grind out the yards, but the Bulldog defense managed to get a few stops and the offense went into gear.

Led by Jacob Brown, who again topped 200 yards rushing, the Bulldogs rolled out a game of ball possession in the second half and collected the points for the win.

The NE neighbors locked in it up at 14-14 in the first half with Colfax scoring in the last 1:14 of the half.

QB Layne Gingerich hit Gavin Hammer for a 15-yard pass play and Jacob Brown kicked the point for a 7-6 Bulldog lead early in the second quarter.

Colfax scored again with 1:14 left in the half with Gingerich hitting Matt Hockett for a seven-yard TD.

Colfax took the lead in third quarter with Trentin Ensley scoring on a one yard plunge.

Asotin answered in the top of the fourth quarter, but they missed the point kick and Colfax had a 21-20 edge and the ball.

They started the drive with 11:20 left in the game and chugged minutes off the clock before scoring with with 3:50 left after Brown booked the TD.

Colfax gambled for two-points with a pass and missed. That left Colfax with a 27-20 lead, and the Lancers had 3:45 left in the game to erase it.

Colfax stopped their drive with freshman Garrett Dingman grabbing an interception.

Brown capped the Colfax night with a 75-yard escape for another TD and the 33-20 final score.

Coach Mike Morgan again credited the Bulldog line with making adjustments that slowed down the Lancers' ground attack.

On offense, the Bulldogs pulled out an old standard, the option attack. Coach Morgan noted junior QB Gingerich is extra efficient at working the option and it took a toll on the Liberty's defense.

Asotin, a team which has stopped Colfax short of state tickets in two of the last three years, will arrive after a 48-12 road win at Kittitas moved their win streak to 5-0.

Coach Morgan noted Asotin will travel to Colfax for the first time in five or six years. The last time Colfax hosted the Panthers the game was at Oakesdale because remodeling was underway on the Colfax track.

Dylan Landrus is the top running back for the Panthers, and QB Ethan Fugate keys the passing game.

The NE will wrap up the league campaign with the top four finishers from each side matched inversely for a crossover round Nov. 8-9. Winners of the four crossover games will get a slot in the first state playoff round.

Colfax 33-Liberty 20: 0/6 14/8 0/7 12/6

Colfax stats: 396 total yards with 41 for 293 rushing and 10-17 for 103 passing; penalties 3-25, possession time 24:22, first downs 24 with 17 rushing, 6 passing. Passing: Gingerich 10-17 for 103; Rushing: Jacob Brown 26 for 206; Gavin Hammer 6-33; Gingerich 5-28; Blake Holman 3-25. Receiving: Brown 5-49: Hockett 2-21, Hammer 1-15, Nick Klaveano 1-12, Holman 1-6; solo tackles: Hockett 7, Brown 5, Klaveano 5 Anthony Becker 3.

Liberty stats: 311 total years with 34-198 rushing, 9-19 for 113 passing; penalties 6-30: possession time 23:38, first downs 18 with 14 rushing, 4 passing. Rushing: Hayden Hardt 31-177, Wyatt Sego 1-17, Charlie Harrington 2-4. Passing Jake Carr 5-9 58, Hardt 4-10 55; Receiving: Jacob Holling 6-73, Kellan Watson 1-25, Cole Prince 2-15; Solo tackles: Watson 8, Hardt 7, Cassin Pittmann 3, Josiah Cwik 4, Sam Nelson 3.