Bulldogs will get grid sample Friday at LRS Broncos' jamboree

 

August 29, 2019

Colfax linemen attack the blocking pads at Monday's practice sessions at Schmuck Park. Assistant Coach Phil Morgan is at right.

Colfax coaches expect to get an inkling of what the new season will hold when the team travels to Ritzville Friday for the Broncos' jamboree. Coach Mike Morgan said they won't know until later in the week what teams have been booked into the event and which ones Colfax will face.

Liberty is also hosting a jamboree, so the NE entrants are expected to be divided between the two events.

Morgan said this year's team has a strong turnout of seniors and juniors who put in a lot of time in last year's run. The upper class men learned a lot last year, and they return with more experience and size.

Seven seniors graduated off the team last year. Among the missing are Cameron Hiatt and Gabe Ahmann, two top speed backs for the club who clocked up a lot of yards.

Hiatt and Ahmann wrapped up their CHS sports careers at the state track meet last spring at Cheney.

Also gone is Augie Allenbach who anchored line play last year and finished with the team's MVP honor.

Other grads were Dakota Hall, Blake Bodey, Mason Miller, Chayne Aeschilman, and Isaiah Buri.

The Bulldogs last year rolled up a 2-2 mark in league action and a 2-2 in non-league action. They were stopped by Chewelah in the crossover round to finish their run short of the state payoff grid.

Coach Morgan noted the Bulldogs had a successful outing at the summer football camp at Central Washington University this year, and that seemed to set them up for a fast start for this season.

Back this year as a junior will be Jacob Brown who took over the power back role for Colfax last year as a sophomore. Brown has gained size and power and figures to be a tougher stop for opponents in the upcoming season, Coach Morgan noted.

Also back as a junior will be Layne Gingerich who booked the team's most improved honor last year as quarterback. Gingerich, who played summer baseball this year, has also added size which should help the squad.

Oakesdale's Matt Hockett, also a state track finalist last spring, returns as a senior. Hockett was on the sidelines for almost all of last season with injuries.

Coach Morgan sees Hockett and Nick Klaveano, also a senior, as two top receivers this year for the Bulldogs.

Gavin Shrope, now a junior, and Garrett Dingman, sophomore, are also Oakesdale recruits on the team this year.

Another plus for the season was the return of Blake Holman who has moved back to town. Holman played here as a freshman before he moved. Coach Morgan expects to use Holman as a running back for the upcoming season.

Coach Morgan said teams at the jamboree will be limited to 40 plays which includes both offense and defense.

Colfax, which now has a total player count of 29, will have a jayvee team in the mix at the jamboree but the ranks are pretty thin with late harvest priorities taking a toll on practice session logs.

Coach Morgan has the same crew of assistant coaches working with the team. Jason Cooper, Todd Kinley, Mark Brown, Phil Morgan and Zach McBride have been present for the two-a-day practice sessions which wrapped up Monday. Also joining the coaching ranks is Cory Alcantar, an EWU football grad who is now a member of the Colfax police department.

Head Coach Mike Morgan, above, issues a few instructions during a passing drill at Monday's practice session.

After the jamboree at Ritzville, the Bulldogs will tune up for the Sept. 6 game with Wahkiakum at Liberty to start the non-league season. They will host Freeman the following week in another non-leaguer.

Wahkiakum's Mules blanked Colfax 14-0 in the opener last year when the Bulldogs made the long trip to Cathlamet.

 

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