Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Bulldogs continue to search to the taste of victory
Ryker Reed attempts a run against the Screaming Eagles defense.
REARDAN-A visit to Joe B. Johnson Field by the Colfax Bulldogs turned into not much of a contest, as the Screaming Eagles dominated their visitors 47-16 for their first league win of the season Friday, Sept. 22.
The win improved Reardan's record to 2-2, while Colfax is still searching for the taste of victory at 0-4.
Colfax was able to move the ball offensively in the first quarter, but its opening drive met disaster for the visitors and triumph for the hosts as Jakari Singleton snuffed out a screen pass and intercepted Seth Lustig's attempt before running it back 69 yards for the opening score.
After a missed extra point, Reardan led 6-0.
Singleton got the better of the Colfax offense again on the ensuing drive, sacking Lustig on fourth down after the Bulldogs got into the endzone.
But Reardan's offense stalled, and a large issue for the Screaming Eagles this season reared its head again when Colfax blocked the punt attempt and recovered at the Reardan 1-yard line.
Colfax was pushed back 10 yards in the next three plays, but still got into the endzone when Lustig hit Ryker Reed on a middle slant from 11 yards out on 4th-and-goal and J.P. Wigen on the 2-point try to give the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead late in the first quarter.
It was all Reardan from there. The Screaming Eagles used a dominant push from their offensive line and strong running from Aidan Chilson to take control of the clock, trenches and game.
"Aidan Chilson, Zander Thornton, Tate Nelson and Evan Krupke all ran extremely hard and blocked hard for each other," Reardan head coach Matt Clouse said. "Chilson was the workhouse gaining the tough yards inside. Thornton, Nelson and Krupke would then get the yards on the outside."
A 61-yard drive following the Colfax score featured all Chilson runs until Reardan got to the 6-yard-line, when Zander Thornton finished the job by taking a counter right in for a score to give Reardan a 14-8 lead.
The strong running opened the play action, as Rysen Soliday found Evan Krupke on a play action corner route from 12 yards away. Tate Nelson ran in a 1-yard score late in the second quarter, and Reardan suddenly led 28-8 by halftime.
The dominant rushing attack continued in the third quarter. Thornton ran in his second six-yard score to open the period, then Soliday ran up the middle practically untouched for a 55-yard touchdown run.
"A lot of it was just Coach Clouse and his play calling," Soliday said. "If something works, we're just going to run it again until you can stop it."
By this point, Reardan led 41-8 and put mostly J.V. players in the game. Lustig ran in a 12-yard score for Colfax, and Joey Hickman carried the pile into the endzone for a 5-yard score for Reardan to bring the final score to 47-16.
Soliday finished with 79 yards and a score rushing, while Chilson had 56 yards on 20 attempts. Thornton added 42 yards and two scores. Reardan outrushed Colfax 247-71.
Krupke's 12-yard touchdown reception was Reardan's lone completed pass.
Colton Kneale led Colfax with five receptions for 47 yards, while Reed caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Reardan has a bye week this week before Asotin comes to town at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. Colfax hosts Tri-Cities Prep at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29.
Drew Lawson is a reporter and sports writer for Free Press Publishing, including the Cheney Free Press and Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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