Coach Jeff Jacobs' game plan was to spread the Tigers out. "When you don't have size, you have to find ways to get kids in space, to give them room to make plays." And it took a while to do so, but the middle of the game was all Viks. Sophomore Jeff Williams worked wide, and QB Tyler Pirrie mixed in enough passing to push the Tiger secondary back off the line. That opened the flood gates, and both bolted to the end zone, Pirrie multiple times.

Pirrie observed "We have to deal with size issues a lot. And their DB (Conrad Ritchie) is excellent. So I tried to be careful, not take chances. And he still picked one off. But our line blocked excellent, and the defense played great."

Pirrie was the Qwest Player of the game, carrying only 7 times, but for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns, while completing 4 of , with that one interception, for 55 yards. The runs were after the Tiger defense was softened up, and as Pirrie observed, "I just cut off my blocks. On the 89 yarder, my center (Kody Wilson) got a block, and I only had one guy to beat!"

Jacobs noted "We brought Williams along slowy, and today, that talent produced." It produced 98 yards on 18 carries.

Pirrie and Jacobs both noted that the Viking passing game wasn't up to its usual standards, but it was just effective enough to keep the Tiger defense busy. And the Viking defense was able to prevent any consistency from the Tiger offense.

Jacobs concluded his remarks to the Vale faithful by reminding all the "Moms and Dads, feed these guys lots of good food!", hoping to grow some size, before facing Gold Beach or Rainier. "I haven't seen Gold Beach, so I'm looking forward to seeing them. Rainier I have seen, and they have a lot of weapons. Either way, it will be a challenge for us."

(Updated with photos.)

The Eastern Oregon League Champion #5 Vale Vikings (9-2), 20-6 winners over the Cascade Christian Challengers, came west to Cottage Grove to face another league runner up, as they seek their 11th. title in their 41st. time in the playoffs. This week, it is the #9 Clatskanie Tigers (11-1), runner up in the Lewis & Clark League, who claimed the trip to the high noon showdown at the Grove with a 30-22 win over the Dayton Pirates, in their first ever playoff win.

And afterwards, it will be Gold Beach and Rainier, going for the other ticket to Hillsboro.

It's a little foggy and cloudy, and not quite clearing, on a calm, cool, but not cold morning at the Grove. Perfect for playoff football.

Unsure if Vale actually showed up, or if it is Penn State. (Same white with blue.) Quite the contrast with the ALL-Red Clatskanie attire.

The Mid-Columbia association officials are on-hand, as are almost as many Viks as Tigers.

1st. qtr.

Clat wins the toss, and will receive, trying to take advantage of a BIG size advantage right away. Vale will defend the north end zone first.

Jacob Drabant brings the kickoff 23 yards out to the 47. After 2 runs, a pass on the right side is caught, but its not ruled a force out. Tigers punt; Vik ball at the 21.

A nice 19 yard toss to Russ Seals starts the drive off, and a pitch to Jeff Williams bounces , but right up to him, and he never breaks stride on the way to the Tiger 47. A corner route to Seals from Tyler Pirrie is broken up, and on 4th. & 13,Pirrie's sweep left gets only 8. Tiger ball at their 16, after a 12 play Vik drive stallls.

Clatskanie’s Trevor Marioni (3) breaks up the pass to Vale’s Russell Seals (7).

But a pass on the right sideline is picked off by Cam Anthony at the 43. He crosses the field, and takes it in the right corner, putting Vale up 6-0 with 4:40 left, after 3 tries at the conversion results in 3 penalties.

Vale’s Cam Anthony (40) takes an interception back for the game’s first touchdown.

First big break goes to the Viks.

Three Trevor Marioni runs come up 1 yd. short, but the Tigers gamble, and get the 4th. down conversion from Luke Meyer. Another completion takes it to midfield as the quarter winds down. The Tiger passing game is totally right handed, and that's going to draw coverage over eventually.

Plenty more penalties, but another right sideline pass puts the Tigers at midfield, but as the first quarter ends, a 6 yard loss leave Clat at their 44.

2nd. qtr.

And the next pass is picked off! Vale ball at their 38.

Pirrie's keeper right for 17 & Williams on a sweep left for 19, plus a facemask penalty, sets up a Williams 1 yard score. A fake kick fails on the conversion, but a holding penalty on the Tigers gives another chance, which Pirrie capitalizes on. Vale 14-0 8:56 before half time.

Jeff Williams (26) scores for Vale.

Vale is spreading things around to negate the size problem they have in the trenches. Clat is playing predictably, and paying the price.

Luke Meyer fumbles the first carry, and Jarrod Tucker recovers. But after driving to the 2, Pirrie fumbles it back, and Clat dodges a bullet with 7 minute left.

Another pass on the right side is almost intercepted again. Time out Tigers to calm things down. But another blitz produces a grounding penalty, which in the end zone, is a safety. Vale 16-0 with 6:01 left.

The free kick goes out of bounds at the Tiger 38, and Vale can blow it open.

Vik timeout with 5:13 left after yet another holding penalty. However, the endless penalties are good calls. Nerves are apparent. But not by Williams, whose wide runs set up a burst up the middle for a 36 yard touchdown by Luke Skerjanec. The kick makes is 23-0 Vale, and the Tigers have 5:05 to try to stay in the game.

Luke Skerjanec (46) sprints past Clatskaine’s Conrad Ritchie for a 36 yard touchdown for Vale.

After 8 plays, the Tigers can't cross midfield, and Vale calls time with 1:08, to force a punt, and get one last chance.

Clatskanie’s Jesse Oblack (21) stretches to the Tiger 43.

Vale’s Lance Erickson (21) joins some other Vikings in dropping Clatskanie’s Luke Meyer at the 45.

A pass out of a fake punt is tipped by 2 Tigers, but is ruled to have fallen to the ground. But a roughing the passer penalty gives the Tigers the first down. 3 incompletions are followed by a 29 yard completion to Conrad Ritchie, but a holding penalty wipes that out.

Clatskanie’s KC Taylor (28) throws deep, but the hand on the side is about to be a hold.

The Tigers finally punt, but Vale's deep pass on the right side in intercepted by Mitch Ryan with 14.4 seconds left.

The wild end of the half finally ends, and Vale is still up 23-0.

The Tigers finally went to their left side with some success passing, but no consistency yet. Vale has found even inside success by spreading it out.

Lakeview & Heppner are 0-0, and Crane & Mohawk are 14-14, in closer contests.

The Tigers are only successful when taking risks, and those aren't always working for that reason. The Viks can control the clock to control the outcome, with such a large margin. Expect to see much more of Jeff Williams, who has already made the most of the situation for the Viks, with 11 carries for 75 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

Mohawk has jumped to a 26-20 lead at the half!

3rd. qtr.

The Tigers have to give the Viks the first chance in the second half too.

A chop block penalty brings up 4th. & 23, but a swing pass to Lance Ericksen gets 21 of them, and on 4th. & 1, Pirrie picks it up. An offside penalty with Vale in punt formation gives the Viks another free first down, and that results in a 38 yard Pirrie scramble score, and a 30-0 lead after eating 4:47 off the clock in a 10 play drive.

Tyler Pirrie (5) scores on a 38 yard scramble for Vale.

Luke Meyer is taking on the entire Vale team, and half their fans it seems, as its taking bunches of tacklers to take him down.

Luke Meyer (32) battles for yardage for Clatskanie.

Eleven Vale Viking defenders converge on the Tigers’ Luke Meyer (32).

But its taking a long time, as the Tigers dirve into Vik territory at the 20. But he is 1 yard short of a first down with 2:27 left, and Vale takes over with 2:27 left. Pirrie takes it 89 yards for the kill shot, and Vale is up 37-0 with 2:14 left in the third qtr.

Vale’s Tyler Pirrie (5) pulls away from Clatskanie’s Mitch Ryan (5) on his way to the 89 touchdown.

The Tigers start at their 39, after Meyer's 29 yard return, but a fumble forces a punt, and Vale has the ball at their 36 as the quarter ends.

4th. qtr.

Tiger time out before we start. Another Vale chop block and a Clat personal foul offset. Viks 3 & punt; Tigers at their 24, with 9:58 to go. And Meyer is shaken up after a hard hit.

Clatskanie’s Jesse Oblack (21) & Dustin Hastings (89) bring Vale’s Jeff Williams down.

Jessie Oblack's 16 yard scamper gives the Tigers a spark, but its looking to be too late. Vale is trading yards for time, until they can force a fumble, which Matt Robertson covers, and the Viks send in the subs.

Jesse Oblack (21) cuts between Vale’s David Lemer (68) & Logan Butler (70).

Trevor Marioni takes the ball away at the 34, and takes it back to the 8. Ritchie grabs the pass, but comes down out of bounds. So Oblack takes it in, and Vale doesn't get the shutout. With 5:59 left, its 37-6.

Vale winds 2:10 off, and gets a 49 yard from Scott Bowen. Most subs send the game to the books a 37-6 Viking win.

Vale 6 17 14 0 - 37

Clatskanie 0 0 0 6 - 6

1st. qtr.

Vale - Cam Anthony 44 yard Interception return (kick failed) 4:41

2nd. qtr.

V - Jeff Williams 2 yard run (Tyler Pirrie run) 4:41

V - Safety (intentional grounding in end zone) 6:01

V - Luke Skerjanec 36 yard run (Darin Johnson kick) 5:05

3rd. qtr.

V - Pirrie 38 yard run (Johnson kick) 7:13

V - Pirrie 89 yard run (Johnson kick) 2:14

4th. qtr.

Clatskanie - Jesse Oblack 8 yard run (kick failed) 5:59

Rushing

Vale - Pirrie 7-144, 2 TDs; Williams 18-98, 1 TD; Skerjanec 7-53, 1 TD; Anthony 2-23; Jarrod Tucker 3-5; Kyle Barras 1-1; Garrett Brown 1-(-5).

Clatskanie - Luke Meyer 16-66; Oblack 9-49, 1 TD; Jaron Cruz 6-21; Asa Meyer 3-19; Mitch Ryan 2-18; Trevor Marioni 6-6; Taylor Sluder 3-6; Jacob Drabandt 1-5; KC Taylor 4-(-2).

Passing

Vale - Pirrie 4-6, 0 TDs, 1 Int., 55 yards.

Clatskanie - Taylor 3-15, 0 TDs, 2 Int., 11 yards; Marioni 0-1, 0 TD, 0 Int., 0 yds.

Receiving

Vale - Lance Erickson 1-22; Russell Seals 1-18; Skerjanec 2-15.

Clatskanie - Conrad Ritchie 2-19; L. Meyer 1-(-8).

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