Gladstone, Estacada Set up for Showdown

Gladstone blasted Stayton 46-8, and Estacada outdistanced North Marion 30-21, setting up a showdown for the Capital Conference Championship. La Salle stayed in the playoff chase with a dominating 49-12 Homecoming win over Cascade at PGE Park.

I was 3-0, 29-9 for the season.

#2 Gladstone Gladiators (7-0, 4-0) at Estacada Rangers (6-2, 4-0). The Championship is at stake, in a game of contrasting styles. Gladstone's Taylor Taft threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Gladiators past Stayton in the first of consecutive games with first place at stake. Estacada's two pronged rushing attach of Jake Hyde and Alex Purcel both scored twice against the Huskies.

The difference is the Gladiators can also run, despite the loss of fullback Kris Ackerman for the season against Cascade to a broken ankle. Tyler Smith and Taft can both carry a game with the run if need be. The Rangers, in contrast, have essentially no passing game.

That will be the difference, as the Gladiators will hit a big play at some point that outdistances the Rangers, claiming their first Capital Conference Championship since returning to the league.

#8 La Salle Falcons (5-2, 2-2) at Molalla Indians (0-7, 0-4). The Indians are coming off a week off, which was their best week of the season. The Falcons cleaned up a six turnover debacle at Stayton, and pounded out 291 rushing yards, 208 of which were by Michael Becker. La Salle's Tommy O'Dell also completed 11 of 14 passes against Cascade, for a pair of touchdowns to Michael Swain, and more importantly, no interceptions, in a bounce back effort after Stayton had picked him off three times.

La Salle is battling for a playoff spot, while Molalla is already trying to put a disastrous season behind them. Falcons fly off with a going away win.

North Marion Huskies (3-5, 1-3) at Cascade Cougars (1-7, 1-4). Cascade's last league game and last home game. The Cougars can rival all but the best passing offenses, but injuries too numerous to enumerate have left them without a viable rushing game, or the ability to stop one. The Huskies have dropped four straight, but did finally get their offense back in gear against Estacada. Just in time to get a critical win, and set up a showdown with Stayton, part of a three way battle for the third playoff spot.

Stayton Eagles (5-3, 3-2) at Taft Tigers (1-7, 0-3). A non-conference visit to the Valco for the Eagles. Taft was taken apart in Sweet Home, as the Huskies ran all over the Tigers on their way to a 43-14 win. Stayton has struggled on both sides of the ball against strong  teams with dominating lines, but that's not an issue in this one. Taft has also struggled against productive offenses, and that is an issue, as the Eagle tandem of Tyler Mikolas and Kyle McGrath generally generate good yardage, even against the better opponents.

The Eagles will advance to the playoffs with a win in the last week against North Marion and an Estacada win against either Gladstone or La Salle. This is a tuneup for what the Eagles correctly regard as a playoff game. Stayton at the very least sews up a winning season, and repairs their confidence heading for the showdown.

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