The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Cardinal football team saw its season come to an end Friday night after a 32-19 loss to Davenport in a District 7/9 play-in game here.

The Gorillas did almost all their damage on the ground, rushing for 476 yards on 56 carries. Davenport attempted only three passes, one of which was completed for 22 yards. Gorilla running back Loran Boggs rushed for 308 yards on 38 carries.

After a scoreless first quarter, Davenport and Waitsburg traded touchdowns in the second, with the Gorillas taking a 16-7 lead into halftime. The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the second quarter on an eight-yard pass from quarterback Jacob Dunn to Jason Carter.

Davenport scored two more unanswered touchdowns in the second half to build a 32-7 fourth-quarter lead.

The Cardinals scored two late touchdowns in the fourth, but they weren't enough. The first came on a 52-yard run by running back Travis Crockett and the second on a Jacob Dunn one-yard plunge.

Of Davenport's running game, Waitsburg Coach Troy Larsen said, "We were able to get some stops, but to Davenport's credit they kept adapting to our adjustments and the next man stepped up for Davenport as they were able to keep moving the ball and eating up some valuable time on the clock."

For the game, Crockett rushed for 149 yards on 20 carries, with one TD. Dunn was eight for 17 passing, for 123 yards. Carter had three catches for 37 yards and one touchdown. Crockett added two receptions for 29 yards to his game totals.

"Davenport did teach us some valuable lessons about playing with heart and being a physical team," Larsen said. "We talked pre-game about being the hammer or being the nail, Davenport made us the nail, and I give them a lot of credit for that."

Eight Cardinal seniors ended their careers Friday night. They are Zion Branson, Jason Carter, Reshaun Crockett, Levi Hatfield, Kenny Miles, Mark Montgomery, Tristan Newman and Brandon Penner.

I really would like to thank the seniors for being strong men, and good leaders for me in my first year as head coach at WHS. I knew when I showed up at the gym I would always be meant by smiles, advice, ideas, and jokes from them, it made each day a lot of fun watching them have a love for not only the game, but the school, their classmates, and this community. They will be missed but I will carry their passion on for years to come.

Davenport 32, Waitsburg 19

Davenport 0 16 8 8 - 32

Waitsburg 0 7 0 12 - 19

Dav Waits

First downs 17 10

Dena Wood

Crockett ran 52 yards for a score on this play. Above right: a Waitsburg defender wraps up a Davenport runner.

Rushes/yards 56-476 27-139

Passing yards 22 123

Passes (att-comp-int) 3-1-0 17-8-0

Punts 2-31.5 3-40.7

Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 13-123 8-60

Individual Statistics:

RUSHING - Dav: Plasencia 14-175-3, Boggs 38-308-1, Flett 1-2, Smith 1-1, Team 2-(-10); Waits: Crockett 20-149-1, Dunn 2-0-1, Jarvis 1-7, Penner 1-(-2), Team 3-(-15).

PASSING - Dav: Flett 1-3-0, 22 yards, 0 TDS; Waits: Dunn 8-17-0, 123 yards, 1 TD.

RECEIVING - Dav: Buchanan 1-22; Waits: Penner 2-50, Carter 3-37-1, Crockett 2-29, Jarvis 1-7