Overtime Games and Impressive Performances Highlighted Last Week

The Conference won five of seven games, improving to 7-6 on the season, behind strong wins by last year’s top two teams, La Salle and Gladstone. Stayton gained their first win of the season, and a pair of games went to overtime. I was 4-3, 9-4, on the season.

#6 La Salle Falcons (1-0) @ Banks Braves (2-0). The Falcons dominated the visiting Siuslaw Vikings 35-14, answering many of the questions that lingered until La Salle’s late season opener about whether Coach Mike Fanger had the players to reload after graduation took most of the top players off last year’s team that was undefeated in the regular season.

The Braves outdistanced a former Cowapa Conference foe in the 3A Rainier Columbians 34-22, as Gabe Linehan threw for three touchdowns and a two point conversion, and snuck in a rushing touchdown as well.

The game of the week in both the Capital and Cowapa, the game shapes up as a shootout. But while Linehan is more experienced than La Salle’s Tommy O’Dell, the Falcons have the deeper stable of talent, and that will make the difference. Falcons fly home minus a few feathers that will decorate some Braves’ headgear, but with the win.

#2 Gladstone Gladiators (2-0) @ Newport Cubs (1-1). The Gladiators blew the visiting Scappoose Indians off the field with a 28 point second quarter, on their way to a 42-6 win. Quarterback Taylor Taft threw for one of his two throwing touchdowns, and ran for two more touchdowns in the big second quarter.

The Newport Cubs saw their chances to end a losing streak to the North Bend Brown Bulldogs slip away 21-20. Golly, gambling for the win and missing on a PAT opportunity can really hurt your chances when you get into close games against tough opponents.

The last time Gladstone ventured to Newport, in the 2006 playoffs, the Gladiators upset the Cubs 19-14. This time, it will be no upset. Gladstone is one of the best offenses in 4A, and will put enough pressure on the Newport defense to put too much pressure on the Cubs’ offense.

Cascade Cougars (0-2) @ Cottage Grove Lions (0-2). Cascade lost a back and forth fight with Junction City 28-21 in overtime, despite Tyrell Williams’ six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, and Ethan Kath’s 112 yards of total offense.

Cottage Grove joined Cascade as a victim of Astoria’s Jordan Poyer, as the Fishermen built a 23-0 first half lead, on their way to a 26-7 win. Poyer ran for a pair of scores, and threw for another, before Dustin Hurd found David Black for a touchdown toss, and the Lions’ only points of the night.

The young Cougars have moved the ball in both games, only to see mental mistakes undo opportunities. The Lions have only scored once while there was much question about the outcome of their games so far. Look for the Cougars to again get off to a fast start, and have to hold off the Lions. This is the first road trip for the Cougars, and the first home game for the Lions, further tightening things up.

Turnovers will be the key. If Cascade eliminates them, they will get far enough ahead to hold off the relatively offensively challenged Lions. If not, the Lions’ ability to win the battle at the line of scrimmage will make the difference. One bunch of big cats will get their season turned around here. Look for a turnover to be the key to the Lions being the ones to break into the win column.

Molalla Indians (0-2) @ Siuslaw Vikings (0-1). Molalla was run out of Monmouth by the #1 Central Panthers 62-0. And it wasn’t that close. Grant Hedrick ran for a pair of touchdowns, and then threw for two more, as the Panthers built a 35-0 lead in the first quarter, and built the lead to 56-0 before halftime. It could have been a triple digit defeat had Central wanted to keep the hammer down. The Indians have been outscored 82-7 so far, and have essentially no offensive threats while the opponents are still playing their first string. Which isn’t for long.

Further, this is the third consecutive road trip for the Indians, who only have three home games all season.

Siuslaw has seen serious graduation losses two years in a row, but still has a two year starter at quarterback in Jacob Mitchell. And that will produce all the points the Vikings need to right the ship, while it will continue to be a very long trail this season for the Indians.

Scappoose Indians (1-1) @ North Marion Huskies (2-0). The Indians’ tribal win over Molalla on opening night is looking less significant, and the total domination Gladstone demonstrated over them highlighted the problems facing ‘Poose’s smallest squad in modern memory.

The Huskies handed Taft a 33-17 defeat, with 26 unanswered second half points, including a 20 point fourth quarter. The comeback overcame an early 14-0 Tiger lead, and a 17-7 halftime deficit.

North Marion also had to scramble against Woodburn, and while ‘Poose isn’t as strong as some times seen, another slow start is something that the Huskies can’t afford. It’s the third of six home games for the Huskies, and that will just keep the Huskies going, in the first of back to back games against Indians (Molalla is up next).

Sweet Home Huskies (0-2) @ Stayton Eagles (1-1). The Huskies dropped their second straight heartbreaker, 42-41 against Estacada. Despite four touchdown passes, three by Kennan Martin, Sweet Home, who had lost with 19 seconds left the previous week in Sisters, saw Estacada score 14 fourth quarter points to force overtime. The Huskies scored first, and kicked for their conversion, only to see Estacada answer, and snatch the win with a successful two point conversion.

Stayton got a 22-7 win over Seaside. It was the Eagles’ first win since the 2007 season opener, behind better offensive balance, and some defensive stops. Sophomore quarterback Sawyer Clark supported the Eagle rushing game with eight completions out of 13 passes, for 71 yards, and a touchdown. And even more importantly, according to Stayton Coach Greg Nolan, “Zero interceptions.” The Eagles’ defense didn’t allow a score (the only Gull points were on a kickoff return), gave up only 119 yards, and made two second half red zone stands. A Gull drive ended with an Eagle interception in the end zone, and another was stopped at the 10.

It’s a big game for the Eagles, as they open their abbreviated, four game home schedule against their former Capital Conference rivals from Sweet Home.

Sweet Home could just as well be 2-0 but for game ending heroics, and the Huskies will finally prevail, as they have too much offense for the Eagles to handle. Plus, historically, the Huskies have owned the Eagles.

Yamhill-Carlton Tigers (0-2) @ Estacada Rangers (1-1). In a playoff rematch from last season, the Rangers will look to avenge the Tigers’ 36-3 win. YC was walloped by the Philomath Warriors 35-6. It was the second week in a row the Tiger defense has given up 35 points.

Estacada’s dramatic win, which saw the Rangers come from behind three times in Sweet Home, was all about Jake Hide. Hide had 34 of the 42 Rangers points, rushing for four touchdowns, including a 25 yarder in overtime, and also caught a touchdown pass. Hide also had a pair of two point conversion carries, including the walk off game winner.

The Tigers are very young, and just aren’t able to score enough points to overcome their porous defense. The Rangers are experienced, deeper, and have a go to gamer running back in Hide. Estacada, who has opened with a pair of road games, is starting a four game home stand, and will do it in style, and get revenge for their playoff loss last season.

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