Asotin defense smothers Colfax

PULLMAN – Even on the rare occasions when Colfax found a clearing in the dense fog, the Bulldogs still had to contend with Asotin’s defense.

That unit, as it turned out, was far more troublesome than anything Mother Nature could produce.

Asotin smothered Colfax on Saturday, earning a 26-9 victory in the Washington State 2B football playoffs. The semifinal showdown was plagued by light rain and thick fog that obscured much of Martin Stadium.

“I thought their line was absolutely dominant today,” Colfax coach Mike Morgan said of the Panthers. “We haven’t run into anybody who hit harder or was more aggressive.”

The Bulldogs managed just 197 yards of offense and were held to their lowest point total of the season. They had been averaging nearly 34 points per game.

“We saw it coming and we did our very best,” Morgan said. “They are just a better ballclub.”

Colfax finishes its first season at the 2B level with an 11-1 record. Asotin, meanwhile, improves to 12-1 and will face Napavine in the championship game Friday at the Tacoma Dome.

“It was two great teams, two great programs going at it,” Asotin coach Sal Lopez said. “You basically just draw a line and say: ‘You’re not going to cross this. If you do, we’re going to hit you.’ And there were a lot of shots going back and forth.”

Asotin struck first, when Zane Earl scampered 66 yards for a touchdown on the fourth play from scrimmage.

Colfax responded on the ensuing possession with a 17-play drive that consumed 8:47 and ended with a Tyler McNannay field goal.

The teams spent much of the second period exchanging turnovers. The Panthers and Bulldogs each coughed up two, but none resulted in points.

“Turnovers were the result of good hits,” Morgan said. “We were whacking each other.”

Asotin scored right before halftime when DJ Darnall capped a 12-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Panthers a 13-3 lead.

Quarterback Creighton Alford was especially sharp during the possession, completing 5 of 6 passes for 54 yards.

Asotin’s defense dominated the third quarter. The Panthers forced two punts and intercepted a Kellen Morgan pass after Colfax had moved past midfield. It was the Bulldogs’ third turnover of the game and resulted in an Asotin touchdown.

“We were really excited to play defense,” said Darnall, an Asotin linebacker/tailback. “It just seemed like we wanted it more.”

The Bulldogs trailed 19-3 until Alex Teade hooked up with Nick Gfeller for a 43-yard TD to cut the deficit to 10 with 11:13 to play.

Colfax would get no closer, though, turning the ball over on downs on its final two possessions.

The Panthers utilized their speed on the defensive line to hold Joe Cammack and Ethan Smith to a combined 60 rushing yards. The Colfax running backs came into the game with nearly 2,000 yards between them.

Teade, meanwhile, managed only 7 yards on the ground and was sacked three times.

Asotin will play Napavine (11-2) for the state championship Friday in the Tacoma Dome.