Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
First game is Sept. 3 versus Davenport
The Colfax Bulldogs in a game against Liberty (Spangle) last season.
COLFAX - Weightlifting ends early because harvest started early.
Colfax High School football players finish at 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday weights workouts this week, unless they are already lost to working in the fields.
The team reconvenes on Aug. 18 for two-a-days practices.
"I told them, as I do every year, get out of the truck, run to the top of the hill, do push-ups, do sit-ups, don't just sit out there," said Colfax Coach Mike Morgan.
Once back on grass and out of the stubble, football practice runs two hours in the afternoon and two hours in the evening, the first three days are without pads.
Morgan, in his 24th year as head coach, expects 36 kids trying out for the team, including up to six from Oakesdale, which should deliver at least two starters in veteran defensive back and tight end Garrett Dingman and receiver and defensive back Ryan Henning. Both are seniors.
The Bulldogs should have eight returning starters, led by senior quarterback Damien Demler and junior fullback Mason Gilchrist, who moves over from running back after the graduation of Jacob Brown. Senior Trentin Ensley returns at linebacker and running back and Grayson Riddel-Riggs, another senior, anchors the young, inexperienced offensive and defensive lines.
"Our senior class has one lineman in it," Morgan said.
Junior J.D. Peterson is back to start at wide receiver and sophomore J.P. Wigen returns on the offensive and defensive line.
Competing with Demler at quarterback is sophomore Seth Lustig, who was last seen dunking as a freshman in the district championship basketball game in June.
"Both of these quarterbacks are super talented. It'll be a dogfight," said Morgan. "Damian has the upper hand. He has the experience."
Demler and Lustig take over after Demler shared time with and backed up Layne Gingerich the past two years.
"I don't see us taking a huge dip when it comes to our backfield and offense," Morgan said.
In two-a-days, the team looks to perfect their timing in the Wing-T offense.
"We've got to get that down," the coach said. "We'll start with that then we'll get that defense as stingy as possible."
New contributors for varsity in 2021 include senior fullback, tight end, and linebacker Wyatt Bodey.
"A journeyman, he's played a lot of positions," Morgan said.
Junior Jude Hahn is on the offensive and defensive lines, along with new student Canyon Pierce, who came over from Pullman last year for in-person learning, and decided to stay in Colfax for his senior year.
The Bulldogs finished last year 3-2 in the abbreviated March-April season, losing to Jenkins and Liberty. No playoffs were held.
Colfax starts the new season with a jamboree on Aug. 27 followed by their first game on Sept. 3 at home against Davenport.
"I think we'll be in the hunt again, I really do," Morgan said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)