In a game that felt more like two great boxers taking it the distance, top ranked and undefeated Lake Oswego hosted the third ranked Sheldon Irish and the two teams warmed an otherwise chilly crowd with some smoking hot action that didn't end until Anthony Yakovich busted through and blocked a Laker extra point attempt to give the Southwestern Champions a date in next weeks semi-finals after defeating Lake Oswego 28-27 in an overtime thriller on a clear, cold and breezy evening. It was a game that had the intensity and feel of a championship game. Hard hitting and for the most part, flawless action with great defense, no turnovers and very few penalties.

Sheldon took the opening kick but was stuffed by LO's tough defense. Then it was Sheldon's chance to turn back the high octane Laker offense led by senior running back Zach Young who racked up 164 yards on a whopping 37 carries. One of the keys to the game was the Irish keeping Young from ever really ever 'getting loose' on the night. Young's longest run of the night was 13 yards and he only had one other run longer than 10 yards. Both defense's were so in tune, the highlight of the first quarter was a Jared Van Hoon 62 yard punt after Sheldon had pinned LO down deep on their own 14 yard line. However, Sheldon finally got their offense untracked early in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Jordan Johnson moved the Irish downfield and got the nights first score on a six yard quarterback keeper with 9:36 left before halftime on a ten play drive. Lake Oswego answered the bell and started on the 22 yard line and manufactured their own 12 play drive that was a series of short Young carries that kept the clock running until Young plunged in from a yard out to tie it up at 7-7 with 4:03 left before halftime when both teams would head to the locker rooms knotted up.

The second half opened where the first half had ended, with suffocating defenses ruling the night.  LO marched the ball to midfield and punted to pin the Irish deep in their own territory. Then their defense would hold and Lake Oswego would get the first break of the night when they got a rush on Sheldon's punter who tried to run for the first down and failed and the Lakers were in business with the ball at Sheldons 18 yard line. The drive would consist of seven straight running plays to Young who would take it in from one yard out and the Lakers were up 14-7 with 4:31 left in the third quarter and seemed to have the momentum in their court heading into the final quarter.

Enter the sophomore duo of Johnson and White will be making defensive coordinators miserable for the next couple years when facing Sheldon.  Entering the fourth quarter, Johnson's passing stats looked fairly pedestrian at 4-7 for 28 yards. Curtis White, the 6'5 and 235 pound tight end who should have college scouts soon drooling on the doorstep didn't have a catch.  However the gritty field general from Eugene would get kick started and after hooking up with White for gains of 19 and 29 yards would hit Tyler Martell for a 6 yard touchdown pass and knot the score at 14-14 with 4:51 left in the game. LO sophomore quarterback Jack Lomax would rally his troops and march them downfield and facing a 2nd and 7 from the Sheldon 36 yard line would toss a perfectly thrown touchdown strike to Anthony Culver down the middle to retake the lead 21-14 with 2:22 left.  Not to be outdone, Johnson orchestrated a textbook drive that went 12 plays and covered 77 yards. Sheldon would get big runs from Zach Todd and big catches from White in which Johnson went 5 for 6 including coverting a big 4th and 5 with 1:08 left. With just 17 second left, Johnson would find White near the far pylon and with the touchdown catch and extra point the game was knotted at 21-21 and heading into the Kansas Plan of overtime.

Both teams get the ball at the opponents 25 yard line and Sheldon got the ball first. They would take four plays and after a tough 18 yard run from Todd that gave the Irish a first and goal from the seven yard line,  Johnson would duplicate the three yard toss to White near the pylon and the Irish were back on top 28-21. LO would take a bit longer but after Young pounded into traffic for nine yards and a first and goal at the eight, Sheldons defense stiffened and on a crucial fourth and goal, Lomax would hit senior wideout Jay Matthews on a swing pass and Matthews would need every inch of his 6'2 frame to get the ball across for the touchdown. The game would end with a breakdown on the usually reliable LO kicking game and the blocked extra point. Earlier in the third quarter, kicker Pat Barry just missed a 32 yard field goal that hit the right crossbar and fell short. 

For the fourth quarter, Johnson would complete 9 of 10 passes for 106 yards and 3 touchdowns. White, who didn't have a catch through three quarters, would nab two TD passes and haul in a total of 6 catches for 75 yards in the last quarter. With the game on the line Johnson knew the outcome. "We never stopped believing. They were the best team we've played but we never stopped believing in ourselves, said Johnson "plus throwing to White, he's just so tough."  So as the players and fans stormed the field a jubilant Curtis White hugged teammates and raced around with friends. "Just one more" White yelled. "Curtis. We got two more. Two more to go" corrected fellow sophomore lineman Drew Miner who smiled.

For Steve Coury and the Lakers, it was the sudden end to a great season.  Sheldon defended the Lakers as well as any team. They just hit a hot team at the perfect time. "We played our best game of the year said Johnson "and we have to do it two more times. This was just so much fun."  It seemed on this cold and chilly night, the only thing hotter than the coffee at the snack bar was Sheldon. If they can keep the flame burning, they could be the hottest team rolling into the Championship game in two weeks. On a cold and chilly December afternoon, there is nothing better than two hot teams playing for the trophy.