Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Gorilla defense pitches shutout as offense sings familiar rushing tune
Davenport junior running back Jayvee Fudurich breaks away for a seven-yard gain in the first quarter of Thursday's game against Asotin, which the Gorillas won 19-0.
DAVENPORT--It took an extra 30 minutes for Thursday's Gorilla home game vs. Asotin to get rolling due to lightning in the area, and rain was steadily pouring throughout the first half while remaining a light drizzle through the entirety of the contest. Those conditions ultimately favored the home team, as Davenport's defense pitched a shutout while spotting its offense solid field position throughout the game en route to a 19-0 victory.
The Gorillas improved to 3-1 in NE2B play and 4-1 overall with the win. Davenport improved to No. 6 in the WIAA RPI rankings amongst Washington 2B schools with the victory, with Lind-Ritzville/Sprague remaining the only league team ahead of the Gorillas.
The wet conditions contributed to a clunker of a first three quarters for fans of offensive football, but a dream of a game for defensive fans. Davenport got solid field position on the opening kickoff when junior fullback Sam Schneider returned a squib kick to the 45-yard line, setting a theme of good starting field position throughout the game for the home team. The Gorillas took advantage, driving 55 yards in six plays, capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by junior running back Jayvee Fuduruch.
Davenport led 6-0 after a failed two-point attempt.
"It's hard, when you're a running team, in wet conditions," Davenport head coach Justin Young said. "Asotin played us well, and we kind of struggled with them a little bit. But we have to clean up some things. It seems like we're seeing some of the same things week in and week out, like balls on the ground and penalties."
Neither team scored for what amounted to almost three full quarters after that. Davenport's defense didn't allow Asotin to find the end zone or get into field goal range. Asotin's opening drive in the second half ate up six minutes of game time, but the Panthers failed a fourth-down attempt at the Davenport 22-yard line.
"The defense played really well. Any time you can hold a team scoreless, you're doing something right," Young said.
The Gorillas finally extended their lead in the fourth quarter. Junior quarterback Evan Gunning converted a fourth-and-four attempt from the Asotin seven-yard line by rushing to the half-yard line, but Davenport went backwards the next two plays to the five-yard line. Junior wingback Brenick Soliday then found the end zone from that spot. After another failed 2-point attempt, Davenport led 12-0.
Asotin then almost suffered complete disaster on the ensuing kickoff, with the returner getting tackled at the Asotin half-yard line. The Panthers went three-and-out, and Soliday returned the ensuing punt 10 yards to the Asotin 35-yard line.
Senior running back Marcus Delafield capped that drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 3:10 left. This time, Young elected to kick an extra point, which Soliday converted.
During the drive, Asotin junior defensive lineman Gavin Wood was ejected for punching Delafield while the Davenport senior was on the ground after being tackled.
Asotin fell to 2-3 in league play and overall with the loss, slipping to 6th place in the league.
The wet conditions meant both teams preferred a ground game almost exclusively. Davenport rushed for 257 yards and passed for five, while Asotin ran for 106 yards and netted six yards passing.
Delafield continued his stellar season on the ground, rushing 20 times for 90 yards and a touchdown. Fuduruch, who appears to be a newfound rushing option for Davenport after he was thrust into more snaps following an injury to Soliday two weeks ago, had 69 yards and a touchdown on seven attempts. Soliday continued to receive limited touches as he recovers from his shoulder injury, but made the most of his opportunities by gaining 52 yards and a touchdown on five attempts.
Senior running back Cam Knight ran for 59 yards on 12 attempts for Asotin.
Davenport, which currently sits in third place in the league, has the opportunity to move up in the standings tonight. First-place LRS and second-place Chewelah face off, and an LRS win would put Davenport ahead of Chewelah with four games left in the regular season.
Davenport hosts Chewelah on Senior Night Oct. 22.
Since the WIAA announced this year's 2B state playoffs would be just 12 teams instead of the usual 16, and just two teams from the NE2B would make state instead of the usual three, the race between Davenport, LRS and Chewelah has heightened importance.
"Every league game is going to be huge," Young said. "It could be anybody's game every night, like tonight. Asotin had a good chance being down 6-0 at halftime to possibly do something and win this game, but kudos to our kids for hanging in there and finishing it. But every game is important in this league."
Next for Davenport is a trip to Spangle to take on the Liberty Lancers. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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