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By Drew Lawson
The Times 

Gorillas football returns to gridiron with trip to Colfax

 

Last updated 9/2/2021 at 2:35pm

Roger Harnack

Junior Evan Gunning (No. 15) carries the ball past Wolfapack defensive linemen (No. 54) Theo Anderson and Noland Korslund (No. 74).

COLFAX – Football season...yes, a full, real fall football season...is finally back after a two year, COVID-19-laden hiatus. For the hometown, run-happy Gorillas, this season opens with a challenging matchup at the Colfax Bulldogs Friday night, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.

The Gorillas and Bulldogs haven't matched up since 2019, when Colfax eked out Davenport in Lincoln County 28-26. During last year's COVID-shortened season, Davenport finished 2-3, while Colfax went 3-2 with close losses to top league dogs Liberty and Chewelah.

Friday's matchup will be a fascinating chess match between the physicality of Davenport on the line and the skilled, experienced outside players Colfax will trot out.

The Gorillas will run their usual shotgun single-wing offense featuring a lot of running from running back Marcus Delafield, wing Brenick Soliday and quarterback Evan Gunning in an attempt to push the Bulldogs around and control the clock offensively.

"We're preparing to do what we do best: run the football," Davenport head coach Justin Young said.

"That is a very tough offense to prepare for," Colfax head coach Mike Morgan added. "Davenport, in Justin's offense, always gives my defensive coordinator nightmares."

Colfax, meanwhile, has senior experience in offensive skill positions and is led by senior quarterback Damian Demler, the signal-caller of a 2019 Bulldogs team that made the state playoffs. However, Colfax lost 11 seniors, including on the line.

Morgan will be starting all juniors and sophomores in the trenches, which could be to Davenport's advantage with a line that includes stars Willie Waters and Wyatt Telecky, as well as linebacker Sam Schneider.

Roger Harnack

Sophomore Maddox Schumacher (No. 22) stiff arms a Dayton-Waitsburg freshman safety Lucas VanHoose.

"Skill-wise, we have more experience," Morgan said. "But let me tell you, as a coach, you'd rather have the opposite: an experienced line, and more youth and skill on the outside."

Young said getting pressure on Demler while pushing around Colfax's youthful line and not allowing him to make easy throws will be a key.

"We have to pressure the quarterback. That will always be a key," Young said. "We have pretty good defensive backs that can stay with receivers, so we have to make sure they have a tough time on the line."

Before any games are played, it's difficult to know how good any team is, Young noted. The only film that exists on current squads is from jamborees. Chewelah is a largely consensus No. 1 pick to win the NE2B, but the race for second, third and fourth could prove interesting. That all starts for the Gorillas and Bulldogs Friday.

Davenport's home opener will be a week from Friday against Lind-Ritzville/Sprague.

Author Bio

Drew Lawson, Editor

Author photo

Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

 

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