Wenatchee vs Davis Football Preview: Panthers Look to Bounce Back Against Resilient Pirates
The Friday night lights head to Yakima for Week 5 as a fascinating Wenatchee vs Davis football clash takes center stage. On Friday, October 2, at 7:00 p.m., the Panthers will look to shake off a tough loss and get back in the win column against a Pirates squad that is far more dangerous than their record implies.
Wenatchee Looks to Rebound After a Frustrating Second Half
Going into Week 5, Wenatchee sits at a strong 3-1. They are coming off a grueling loss to Moses Lake, an absolute powerhouse and one of the best teams in the state of Washington.
If you were in the stands last week, you truly felt for the Panthers. They showed up ready for a dogfight and proved they could hang with the heavyweights, dropping 22 points in a highly competitive first half. However, as Moses Lake began to pull away in the third and fourth quarters, you could see the frustration visibly setting in for Wenatchee. That emotion led to a snowball effect down the stretch, turning a hard-fought battle into a lopsided final score.
The major silver lining? The Panthers’ passing game didn’t miss a beat. All things considered, quarterback Rigo Garcia played a really good game under immense pressure, and his elite trio of pass catchers—Chase Ballew, Micah Knell, and Griffin Butler—looked as sharp as ever while making explosive plays against a top-tier defense.
The Pirates: A Battle-Tested 1-3 Squad
On the opposing sideline, the Davis Pirates enter the game at 1-3, but do not let that record fool you. This team could very easily be 3-1 right now, having suffered two heartbreakingly close losses (one by a single point, and another by just six points).
Davis is led by Head Coach Jay Dumas, a man who flat-out knows football. Taking over the program in 2019, Dumas previously served as the Davis offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2014 before taking a high-level job as the Wide Receivers coach for the Division 1 FCS Eastern Washington Eagles. He also holds the distinction of being the high school coach for central Washington/Davis legend Cooper Kupp. He has been relentless in trying to squeeze every ounce of potential out of his players for a program that hasn’t seen a winning season since 2015.
That effort is paying off in massive ways when it matters most (rivalry games). Coach Dumas and his Pirates are still riding high after beating their arch-rival Eisenhower for the third consecutive year, capped off by a thrilling 28-22 double-overtime victory earlier this season.
A big reason for their success vs. their archrival is quarterback Nigel Hernandez. Hernandez was the hero of the Eisenhower game, tossing four touchdowns on the night, including the game-winner in double overtime to secure ultimate bragging rights.
What to Watch Under the Lights
The blueprint for this game is clear. If Davis wants a chance to compete and protect their home turf, they absolutely must find a way to limit Wenatchee’s explosive passing game, a feat no team has fully accomplished this season outside of one half against Moses Lake. If the Panthers can channel last week’s frustration into early offensive execution, they have the firepower to light up the scoreboard.
Stay locked into the action all season long. Head over to our Wenatchee Panthers Football hub or Davis Pirates Football hub for the latest team coverage.