Asotin stifles Colfax for Homecoming football

COLFAX - The Asotin Panthers soured the Colfax Homecoming football game, defeating the Bulldogs, 35-13, on Friday, Sept. 20. Both teams came into the game undefeated.

"I was proud with how we played, we just couldn't finish and that's what we need to fix," Colfax coach Dave Cofer said. "I told these kids 'you know, losses like this are good things. They refocus us and recenter us.' Not that you ever want to lose but you learn alot from them. So we're going to correct some things and get ready for league play."

Colfax struck first with a 10-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper by sophomore Ryker Reed. Senior Tyler Peterson kicked the PAT and the Bulldogs took an early 7-0 lead.

However, it would be the last touchdown Colfax scored until the fourth quarter.

Asotin answered late in the first quarter with a 9-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Cody Ells. Sophomore Morgan Bunch kicked the PAT to tie the game, 7-7, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second, Asotin senior running back Peter Eggleston caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Ells to give the Panthers the lead. Halfway through the second quarter, Asotin junior wide receiver Cole Eller caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ells, but the kick failed, giving the Panthers a 20-7 lead.

The game could have gotten out of reach, but the Colfax defense made a big goal-line stop right before halftime to keep the score within range.

"I thought we moved the ball well offensively and we were in the right spots defensively, the biggest thing on both sides of the ball was we couldn't finish," Cofer said. "That's part of what we need to work on and improve."

Early in the third quarter, Eggleston made a 40-yard touchdown run, and Ells scored the 2-point conversion on a quarterback keeper to put the Panthers ahead 28-7.

The third quarter ended with Asotin leading, 28-7.

"We spread the ball out really well, all our playmakers did a good job," said Colfax senior Layne Johnston. "Our offensive line really held up against a bigger opponent. I'm really proud of my guys out there. Our secondary did a good job with the pass defense. We played a great game and we'll come back next week and make a comeback."

Early in the fourth quarter, Ells punched in a 3-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper to extend the Panthers lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Colfax senior John Largent caught the ball and ran in an 80-yard touchdown kick return for a touchdown.

"As a senior, this is a sad loss but it's what we needed to bounce back next week and make a run in the playoffs," Largent said. "We needed to meet a team like this. We worked together as a team at the very end of the game, we didn't get down on each other and we kept fighting, that's what I love about my team. The team is always fighting, we never quit at all."

Late in the fourth quarter, Asotin had the ball at the 2-yard line but opted to kneel and run out the clock instead of run up the score. The seconds ticked down and the Panthers won the game.

"We just don't give up at all," Johnston said. "When you get knocked on the ground, there's a guy there to help you back up. That's what football is about for us. We really play with heart and we love each other."

Colfax moves to 2-1 on the season. The Bulldogs will lick their wounds and come back for an away game against Davenport at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.

"We have to get in and focus on what they do," Cofer said. "We have to rebound. Championship fighters get knocked down, it's what they do after they get back up that makes a difference. That's going to be big for us this week. How do we respond when we get knocked down. That'll be the true ledger of who we are as a team."