Colfax stingy in win over Warden

Just like they did last year, the Colfax Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the State 2B playoffs with a win over Warden.

Alvin Li scored two touchdowns and Colfax’s defense flexed its muscles in a 22-7 win over the Cougars on Friday night in Colfax.

Li finished with 80 yards on 18 carries and two scores and Jamie Bledsoe added 87 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Warden scored on a passing touchdown in the first quarter but was shut out the rest of the way. The Bulldogs held the Cougars to minus-12 yards rushing for the game.

Colfax beat Warden 54-7 in the first round last year.

The Bulldogs (10-0), who’ve lost in the state title game the past two seasons, travel to play White Swan next weekend in the quarterfinals.

Connell 26, Freeman 7: The Scotties’ hope of a deep run at state ended with a loss at Connell in the first round of the State 2B playoffs.

The Eagles got two field goals in the first quarter and two touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 20-0 halftime lead.

Hayden Laabs caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Smith in the third quarter for the lone score for Freeman (9-2).

Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 34, Manson 7: Led by their defense, the Broncos (9-1) advanced to the quarterfinal round of the State 2B playoffs with a rout of the host Trojans.

With Lind-Ritzville/Sprague leading 6-0, Matt Fryberger opened the second half with an 85-yard kickoff return that put the Broncos ahead 14-0. Manson got its only score on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos play either Brewster or Waitsburg-Prescott next weekend.

Pomeroy 72, Northport 28: With a shot at their first state appearance since 2004, the Pirates (9-1) didn’t take any chances in a dominating win over the Mustangs (6-5) in a State 1B play-in game at Pomeroy.

Pomeroy returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and one punt for a touchdown. The Pirates also scored three touchdowns on defense.

Tory Knebel scored three touchdowns to lead the way. Knebel returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score and later added a 91-yard kick return and a 93-yard run for touchdowns.

Pomeroy’s last state appearance came in 2004, when it lost by a point to La Salle in the State 2B playoffs. The Pirates will host Wellpinit in the first round next weekend.

Wellpinit 62, Garfield-Palouse 40: The Redskins (9-2) clamped down in the second half and beat the visiting Vikings (4-6) in a State 1B play-in game.

Wellpinit junior A.J. Kieffer racked up 448 total yards and scored five touchdowns – four rushing and one receiving. Kyle McCray added 137 total yards and three scores – two receiving and one rushing.

The Redskins led by eight points at the half, but limited Garfield-Palouse to just six second-half points.

Odessa-Harrington 46, Colton 30: Jared King ran for 191 yards and accounted for seven touchdowns as the Titans (7-3) beat the Wildcats (9-2) in a State 1B play-in game in Odessa.

King ran for five scores and threw for two more.

Odessa-Harrington plays at King’s Way next weekend.

Kendrick 36, Wallace 24: Kendrick scored 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the Miners in an Idaho 1A Division I semifinal game at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

Kidman Cook and Casey McKinnon scored two touchdowns apiece to lead Wallace, which finished 9-2.