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By Drew Lawson
The Times 

Gorillas gut Colfax in season-opener

Davenport eradicates Bulldogs, 40-14

 

Last updated 9/16/2021 at 12:13pm

Jolene Sager | Whitman County Gazette

Davenport junior wingback Brenick Soliday takes off on a long run with the Colfax defense in pursuit. Soliday ran for 116 yards and one score in the Gorillas' 40-14 victory over Colfax in the season opener Sept. 3.

COLFAX – The 2021 fall football season got off to a roaring start for the hometown Gorillas Friday, Sept. 3. Davenport took a trip and trounced normal NE2B power Colfax 40-14 in the first game of the season.

The Gorillas dominated a Colfax line that lost 11 seniors to graduation and controlled the clock in a meaningful way. Davenport had the ball for 39 minutes and 51 seconds, to just eight minutes and nine seconds for Colfax.

The Gorillas ran for a whopping 396 yards on 50 attempts to 161 rushing yards for the Bulldogs.

"We didn't have any turnovers, and we were pretty physical," Davenport head coach Justin Young said. "Am I surprised the margin (of victory) was what it was? Not so much, as our line up front was so much bigger, which makes it hard (for Colfax) to win a football game. But Colfax is always well coached. I never feel prepared enough for Colfax."

The size and experience of Davenport's line was evident in the Gorillas' dominance in the trenches. Senior running back Marcus Delafield and junior wingback Brenick Soliday were the main beneficiaries of the push the line gave. Delafield ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns, while Soliday ran for 116 yards and a score.

Davenport came out swinging, getting on the board early when Delafield ran for a 45-yard touchdown three minutes into the game. Colfax had a chance to score and tie the game, but fumbled on the Gorilla six-yard line.

In the second quarter, junior quarterback Evan Gunning found senior tight end Jarrett Jacobsen for an 18-yard score. It was one of just two passing attempts Gunning made in the game.

Davenport had a 21-0 lead at halftime after Delafield scored from two yards out with 3:11 left in the second quarter. The lead extended to 33-0 in the third quarter with a five-yard touchdown run by Soliday and a one-yard quarterback sneak by Gunning.

Delafield scored his third touchdown of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter from six yards out. Colfax managed a touchdown apiece in the third and fourth quarters to avoid the shutout.

"We had a good scheme for Davenport. We were hitting them in the right spots," Colfax head coach Mike Morgan said. "It was just their size and experience that got the best of us."

The Gorillas were opportunistic in late down situations, converting going 2-for-3 on fourth down and 4-for-8 on third downs.

Soliday was all over the field defensively, racking up 11 solo tackles from his defensive back position. Middle linebacker Sam Schneider added seven solo tackles for the Gorillas.

Next up for Davenport is the home opener against Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, a matchup that could be very competitive. The youthful Broncos knocked off preseason top 10 NE2B Liberty 18-7 Sept. 3 and jumped to No. 9 in the state in this week's AP poll, promising a difficult challenge for the hometown Gorillas.

"LRS is another team that'll be well-coached," Young said. "They've been playing so well. It's going to be a challenge."

That challenge will commence at the football field at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10. The winner will move to 2-0 and have a solid head start in league play during what promises to be a tight-knit NE2B.

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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