With Rivalry Games Completed, its Back to Business as Usual

Gladstone made a statement with their 24-7 win over La Salle, and Stayton got their first league win in two years, a 34-21 win at Cascade. The win extended the Eagles' winning streak to three games, a three year high. And North Marion took care of business against their neighbors from Molalla, as none of the rivalry games were really that close. Solid margins did nothing to diminish the sweetness of any of the wins, though.

Estacada's 35-13 loss to Astoria dropped the conference to 12-9 for the year. I was 3-1, 17-7, on the season.

#2 Gladstone Gladiators (4-0, 1-0) at North Marion Huskies (3-1, 1-0). Easily the game of the week, with the winner already closing in on a playoff berth before October.

North Marion's 47-28 win over Molalla was easily their best offensive effort yet, which is good news for the Huskies, suggesting they may be able to score with the Gladiators. But the Indians also had more points than they had mustered in three weeks combined, which, on the heels of giving up 40 points to Scappoose, is not a good sign for the ‘dog's defense.

Gladstone's defense has been up and down, and the Falcons' offense is behind their defense, so don't read too much into the score about the Gladiators' defense. But read plenty into their offense, the second best behind Central's scoring machine in the state. The Falcon's defense is solid, so it is evident the Gladiators will continue to put up points.

Expect a high scoring affair, in which the Huskies won't be able to keep up.

Cascade Cougars (0-4, 0-1) at Estacada Rangers (2-2, 0-0). The pick of Cascade to win against Stayton was made before the ultimate length of the injury report became known. Every year some team gets a disproportionate amount of injuries. When that happens to a young team, such as Cascade, the losses start to pile up fast.

The Rangers' are a solid team, but the Astoria affair indicates their main deficiency, the lack of a dependable big play game breaker. No doubt that the Fish have one in Jordan Poyer. Against Cascade, that won't be as big of a problem. Expect another episode similar to last season's season finale, an effective playoff game, that sent the winner to the playoffs. The Rangers hammered out a 30-16 win then, and with the opportunity to start their conference season off solid, against a patchwork Cascade squad, the Ranges will work their way to the win.

Stayton Eagles (3-1, 1-0) at Molalla Indians (0-4, 0-1). The boss is so busy celebrating the Eagles' best start in three years we haven't heard from him! But while no one in the Eagle's nest is making post-Thanksgiving playoff travel plans yet, Coach Greg Nolan's team is quietly writing one of the good news stories of the first month of the season.

And there is reason to believe it will continue. The fly rushing game is still the Eagles' bread and butter, but while their passing game isn't anything special, contrasted with recent years, it is making a contribution, and more importantly, it isn't hurting them. As Nolan has noted, not throwing interceptions and not stalling in the red zone isn't disarming the Eagles' dangerous running game. And their defense is getting key interceptions on a weekly basis.

Molalla is making some headway, but without a two-dimensional offense, and with the worst scoring defense in the state, never mind the conference, the hill will still be too steep to climb. The Eagles fly away with another win.

Scappoose Indians (2-2) vs. #8 La Salle Falcons (2-1, 0-1). The game will be on the turf at Alder Creek Middle School. ‘Poose, from the Cowapa Conference, is actually in first place in the Capital Conference, with a 2-1 record, but are 0-2 against the top two teams in the state. La Salle is in the position of having to regroup, and probably making a run for a second place finish, after losing to the boys down the street on Happy Rock. Something Scappoose has also experienced.

The Indians were blasted by #1 Central 56-13, and gave up nearly 300 rushing yards in the process. That was possibly the result of a scheme that held Central's Grant Hedrick down, comparatively speaking, to only 165 yards and two touchdowns.

The Falcons were whipped solidly by Gladstone, but they did hold down the Gladiators better than anyone else, ‘Poose included, did. When rebuilding an offense as Coach Mike Fanger is in the process of doing, a solid defense is crucial. Look for ‘Poose to have more trouble than usual putting points up, and expect the Falcons to run with some effectiveness against them. And for a La Salle win, as they set up for that playoff run.

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