Davenport opens state playoffs

DAVENPORT — The No. 12 Davenport Gorillas will play No. 5 Pomeroy at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the Class 1B state football playoffs.

The first-round game is at Lybecker Field in Pomeroy, according to the WIAA bracket and the Pomeroy School District.

Davenport is 8-1. Pomeroy is 8-2.

“The guys have really embraced the underdog role and are excited to go out, play free, and play without pressure,” Gorillas coach Trenton Briney said.

It is Davenport’s first season in Class 1B 8-man football after moving down from Class 2B for football only. The WIAA Executive Board approved Davenport’s request to join WIAA District 5 for 1B football Monday, Sept. 28, according to the board’s action summary.

The teams met last year at Pomeroy. The Pirates won 74-0 in a nonleague game Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.

Briney said he is familiar with Pomeroy and has followed the program. He said the Pirates are a run-heavy team that uses two quarterbacks and sometimes two wingbacks. That creates challenges with pullers and misdirection, he said.

“The key for our defense will be discipline — players doing their individual jobs to shut down the run,” Briney said.

“On offense, we’re going to stick to what got us here: run our system, execute, and play fast, physical football,” he said.

Davenport won its league title and finished 5-0 in league play. The Gorillas beat Chewelah 30-14 on Friday, Oct. 30, in their final regular-season game.

The Gorillas used a bye week to heal and work on fundamentals, Briney said. He said the team has stayed healthy and is not making major lineup changes for Friday.

Junior middle linebacker Daman Gale was named the league’s defensive player of the year, according to a list provided by Briney. Davenport had six first-team defensive selections and three on offense, the list shows.

Davenport and Manson shared coaching staff of the year honors, according to the list.

“Making state means a lot to these young men,” Briney said. “They are driven to carry on the rich tradition of Gorilla football here in Davenport.”

The game is scheduled to be streamed on the NFHS Network. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Friday or Saturday, Nov. 20-21.

ALL-LEAGUE HONORS

According to a list provided by coach Trenton Briney

Defensive player of the year: Daman Gale, MLB

First-team defense: Daman Gale, MLB; Shane Stiles, LB; Bennett Wagner, DE/OLB; Joel Odenrider, DE/OLB; Bryce Gustaveson, DL; Titus Lathrop, DB

First-team offense: Bennett Wagner, QB; Daman Gale, RB; Joel Odenrider, athlete/skill

Second-team offense: Titus Lathrop, WR; Bryce Gustaveson, TE; Colton Christerson, OL

Co-coaching staff of the year: Davenport and Manson