Colfax does what it needs to win

If at first you don’t succeed … On its first two offensive football possessions, Colfax scored four times. Only one counted. It was an ongoing malady Saturday evening in the Bulldogs’ State 2B playoff game against Lind-Ritzville/Sprague at frigid Gonzaga Prep. The offensive fits and starts didn’t prevent a return to next weekend’s playoff semifinals as a 27-0 victory over the Broncos advanced Colfax (11-0) against Waitsburg-Prescott (11-0), tentatively at Martin Stadium in Pullman. Unyielding defense and enough big plays from the arm of quarterback Alex Teade proved enough for the victory. Penalties – 78 yards on Colfax alone in the first quarter – wiped out the three early scores. Turnovers – the Bulldogs lost four of six fumbles – thwarted them the rest of the way. “I thought at first we played sloppy. It wasn’t pretty, but what we did what we needed,” Bulldogs coach Mike Morgan said of the 21-0 halftime advantage. “Credit Lind-Ritzville tonight. Some of the fumbles were ours, but some were good strips.” Teade lost the handle on center snaps twice. The other lost balls came from hits following long plays. But Teade also was efficient throwing, particularly the long ball, hitting Tyler McNannay for a 64-yard score that completed the first-half scoring, and tight end Kellen Morgan for a 49-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the game’s final score. The veteran QB was 11 for 19 for 279 yards spread among six receivers. He also plunged 1 yard for the game’s first TD. “I had cold hands, I’ll take the blame,” said Teade of his two mishaps, playing on a night when the temperature dipped below freezing. “My linemen gave me all the time in the world to survey the field and pick my receivers.” McNannay led a rushing game that added 156 yards, with 93 on 18 carries and a touchdown. He also was one of numerous defensive stars who limited Lind-Ritzville/Sprague to 139 total yards of offense and six first downs. The Broncos’ season ended with an 8-3 record.