Estacada Claims Championship; Eagles Go Playoff Hunting

Estacada overcame Gladstone 24-17, despite a 54 yard touchdown by Tyler Smith on the games opening play, to claim the Capital Conference Championship. Alex Purcel carried 30 times for 164 yards, and two touchdowns, and Jake Hyde capped a second Ranger comeback with a 14 yard scoring run with 2:19 left. Estacada finally finds themselves ranked, as they have posted consecutive seven win regular seasons, and trips to the playoffs.

North Marion held off Cascade 20-18, in a game decided by the Huskies' ability to make conversions. La Salle stayed alive in the playoff hunt with a 42-17 win in Molalla.

And Stayton tuned up for a run at the playoffs with a 19-6 win in Taft.

I was 3-1, 32-10 for the season.

Stayton Eagles (6-3, 3-2) at North Marion Huskies (4-5, 2-3). Stayton claims the third playoff spot with a win, so expect another focused, workman like effort from the Eagles. This approach, built on a tough defense, and steady if not spectacular offense, has served Stayton well in their resurgence.

North Marion will counter with Jordan McCain, who had 39 total touches, for 249 yards of combined offense, and three touchdowns.

North Marion has struggled against teams that can run the ball, and while not the battering ram that is Estacada, the Eagle tandem of Tyler Mikolas and Kyle McGrath means no keying on a single rusher. The biggest wildcat could be the weather. With showers in the forecast, bad weather could hamper the Eagle fly offense more than it bothers McCain.

Look for a Husky raindance, but also look for the Eagles to earn a hard fought win on the motivation of the ticket to the playoffs.

#8 Estacada Rangers (7-2, 5-0) vs. #9 La Salle Falcons (6-2, 3-2) at PGE Park. Early kickoff game at 5 PM, part of another doubleheader with Central Catholic. The Rangers mounted an 18 play, 73 yard drive, and another for 12 plays, and 68 yards, for scores against the Gladiators. The same Ranger pounding rushing game will be used on the Falcons.

If Stayton stumbles, La Salle will take the third playoff slot with a win over the Rangers, who will have nothing but pride to play for. Should both the Eagles and the Falcons fall, a three way tie will result, and a point system that considers both wins and strength of schedule in both league and non-conference games will be used to decide the last playoff slot. La Salle has the inside track, depending on events in the FarWest and Cowapa. North Marion has no mathematical shot.

Don't expect Estacada to risk losing their momentum going into the playoffs, though. Coach Brigham Baker has kept the Rangers well grounded emotionally, as well as in terms of their play calling. And their ball control, clock control style, and a decent defense, makes them less vulnerable to a trap game than a team that counts on big plays.

Rangers treat this as a playoff prep, and take care of business.

Molalla Indians (0-8, 0-5) at #6(T) Gladstone Gladiators (7-1, 4-1). Gladstone still gets the second playoff seed, regardless of what Molalla does. Assuming they actually do anything. The Gladiators lost the game of the year in the conference, but can still make some noise in the postseason, so this will be a get-well tune up session. Gladiators roll.

Cascade Cougars (1-8, 1-5) at Illinois Valley Cougars (1-8, 1-3). The first ever meeting of the Cougars. And in what has been a disappointing season for both teams, who came off winning seasons last year, before both were hit hard by graduation, the Cougars will win, and go into the post season on an up note. But which ones?

Illinois Valley fell on the road to Henley 25-7, in a game that would have put them into the playoffs.

Cascade's Bryce Petersen torched the North Marion secondary for 307 yards, and two touchdowns. Illinois Valley hasn't seen anything like the Cascade passing offense, and playing in a run dominated league, will have a hard time preparing for such a different challenge.

That difference will be the difference, as Petersen ends his career with one last big night throwing, and throws Cascade to the win.

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