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Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Last second field goal pushes Davenport past Reardan in rivalry thriller
Davenport senior Brenick Soliday (No. 10) tries to elude the tackle of Reardan junior Aidan Chilson (No. 42) Friday. Soliday kicked a game-winning field goal to lead the Gorillas past the Screaming Eagles 16-13.
DAVENPORT-He had shanked a 20-yard extra point attempt a quarter earlier, but the pressure of the clock winding down and the ball pushed back 12 yards farther than his previous attempt didn't shake Brenick Soliday. The Gorilla senior drilled a 32-yard field goal through the uprights with two seconds left to give Davenport a 16-13 win over the rival Reardan Screaming Eagles in the season opener Friday, Sept. 2.
The field goal broke a tie that had held since 1:21 remaining in the third quarter and put an end to Reardan's upset bid.
"That's what Friday nights are all about," Davenport head coach Justin Young said. "They always play us tough...but (we) put it together and made plays when we needed to."
Davenport, which is looking to return to the state playoffs after earning a berth in 2021, had to fight off a strong quarterback debut from Soliday's second cousin, Rysen Soliday, for Reardan.
Rysen Soliday's 85-yard catch-and-run connection with Shane Book on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter gave the visitors a 13-7 lead as the home fans began to sweat. The lefty Soliday threw two touchdown passes in his starting introduction.
Brenick Soliday got the scoring started when Davenport broke open its playbook on the first drive. This year's quarterback, Jaeger Jacobsen, pitched right to Evan Gunning, last year's quarterback converted to this year's starting running back. Gunning found an open Brenick Soliday for a 24-yard score down the right sideline.
Neither team scored until 2:09 left in the second quarter, when Rysen Soliday hit Aidan Chilson deep down the middle for a 35-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7.
After Reardan took the lead in the third quarter, the Screaming Eagles turned the Gorillas over on downs. However, Chilson fumbled and Trevor Lenocker recovered for Davenport.
The Gorillas took advantage of the good field position and tied the game 13-13 after Gunning ran in from five yards out.
Reardan was backed up to its own one-yard line on the ensuing drive thanks to a penalty and negative rush, but Chilson busted a 60-yard run as the third quarter wound down, with Jacobsen making a touchdown-saving tackle for the Gorillas.
A 30-yard field goal attempt went awry on a mishandled snap by Reardan, and Davenport retrieved possession on its own 20-yard line with 5:56 remaining.
The Gorillas methodically marched down the field to set up Brenick Soliday's winner.
"About the 50 (yard-line) in, I was playing (for a) field goal," Young said.
On top of the winning kick, Brenick Soliday finished with 80 rushing yards on 13 attempts and two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
His fellow Soliday, Rysen Soliday, completed five passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 34 yards on eight attempts.
Gunning was Davenport's leading rusher with 84 yards and a score on 18 attempts and leading receiver with four catches for 55 yards.
Jacobsen completed eight of 12 passes for 90 yards in his quarterback debut for Davenport.
Chilson led Reardan in rushing with 88 yards on 12 attempts. Book's 85 yards led Reardan on the receiving end.
The game was a thrilling introduction to the head coaching gig in Reardan for Matt Clouse.
"I loved it. These kids are awesome and they played their tails off," Clouse said. "We knew these guys had it in them to compete with anybody, but if you hear all the noise that Davenport's probably supposed to come in here and smoke us. Our kids weren't listening to the noise."
Davenport lost their team captain in middle linebacker/fullback Sam Schneider to a knee injury early, but Schneider is expected to play some snaps this weekend.
Davenport will next head to Oroville for a nonleague matchup Friday, Sept. 9, while Reardan has its home opener against Northwest Christian (Colbert). Both games kick at 7 p.m.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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