The Panthers blew it open after the half, behind balanced rushing from Herbie Smith (77 yards) and Travis Moore (78), which set up big plays by Jeffrey Knox, who rambled for 143 yards on 12 carries.

Coach Kevin Swift remained frustrated with the Panthers' run stopping, and said "We were concerned at the half! Rainier is a good team." However, the Panther defense stiffened after another Swift halftime address in the end zone, and once Gold Beach got rolling, it forced the Columbians to throw, which, despite the late scoring toss, satisfied Swift, who noted "Throwing goes right into our strength."

Luck figured in a little, as the speedy Smith saved a couple bad pitches without even breaking stride. "That was just lucky; we don't practice that!" Smith explained, observing "The ball just popped right up!"

(Updated with photos.)

Smith had "One of his best games.", according to Swift. The 39 points the Panthers put up was the most anyone got on Rainier all year, and the Panther balance produced that. With 3 touchdown carries, Moore was named Qwest Player of the Game, but it could have been any of the 3 in the GB backfield, as the Panthers collectively picked apart the normally strong Columbian defense. Smith noted "We just took what they gave us. We came out expecting to play our best, expecting to do what we could."

Swift never thinks his defense has done its best, observing "We came out slow defensively. We have to correct that, or Vale will make it a very long week."

And in the end, the Panthers will face the best 2A defense in Vale, taxing the "Explosive (Panther) offense, that minimizes our defense's difficulties against the run.", according to Swift. That defense did limit Rainier to 173 yards, though

And before focusing on Vale, Coach Swift told his team to "Go talk to family!", as he enjoyed hugs from his own family.

* * * * * * *

The #3 Rainier Columbians (11-1), undefeated except for their visit to the undefeated, two time Alaska State champion Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears, meet the top ranked Gold Beach Panthers (12-0).

The Lewis & Clark League champion Columbians rolled into the semifinals with a 23-14 home win over the Grant Union Prospectors. The Sunset 7 Champion Panthers knocked off #2 Regis 20-7 in their first visit to the valley last week.

Its still only partly sunny, and will soon be mostly dark. High 40s, and no wind greet the crowd gathered to see who gets the other ticket to Hillsboro. The crowd for both sides is larger than earlier.

The Panther Revs Up the Crowd.

Kylie Sigman of Gold Beach leads us in the National Anthem.

1st. qtr.

Gold Beach will get the ball first, and Rainier will defend the south goal.

David Bonotto takes the kickoff 48 yards back to the Rainier 34. Travis Moore and Herbie Smith take turns taking it to the 10, and Jeffrey Knox picks up the 10 yard touchdown, making it 6-0 GB when the kick is into the line, with 2:16 gone.

Jeffrey Knox (11) Scores for Gold Beach. 

Hazze Walker walks the kickoff out to the 45. A fumble on the second carry gives it back to GB at their 49.

Three Columbians converge on Panther Herbie Smith.

But a bad pitch forces a punt; Rainier goes to work from their 34.

Rainier’s Andrew Allen follows his blockers.

Rainier’s Variation on the Double Wing Offense.

Rainier’s Austin McGlone (34) sweeps left against the Gold Beach defense.

And they march to the 9, but fumble the exchange, and Mitch McDonald and Travis Moore are both there. GB ball at their 10. Crucial turnover!

But GB can't move it, so Bonotto's rugby style punt is good for 47 yards. The quarter ends with Rainier at their 45, facing 4th. & 1.

2nd. qtr.

Branden Staeheley almost breaks it on the sweep. Andrew Allen does for 43 and the touchdown down the right side. Walker's kick puts Rainier up 7-6 32 seconds into the quarter.

Andrew Allen (2) scores for Rainier.

The Columbians are pounding GB's line, and an unsportsmanlike penalty on GB moves the kickoff into GB territory. And Jesse Renoude recovers the onside kick at the GB 30. Austin McGlone pounds GB for 13 more, and the Columbians are down to the 12, and take time out.

The drive stalls, and Walker's 28 yard FG attempt is blocked and recovered by Mackenzie Burdett.

Knox for 33, and Smith for 7 off a bounce pass pitch starts the GB drive off right. An 18 yard Smith sweep has GB at the 6, and Rainier calls time with 6:13 showing. GB has answered the Rainier punches with some of their own. It takes Moore 4 tries, and second effort on 4th.down, but he hammers it in with 4:27 left. Knox sweeps for the conversion, and if he was stopped, it was by inches. GB 12-7. It is wicked hand to hand combat on the line in this one.

Gold Beach’s Travis Moore (44) is stopped inches short of the end zone by the Columbian defense.

So on 4th. down, T. Moore bangs his way into the endzone.

Rainier pounds right back.

Rainier’s Jesse Renoude (16) looks left, and would get a first down.

Despite open receivers on a rollout, Renoulde keeps it on the ground to the GB 36. When they reach the 30, with only 1:05 left, the Columbians call time. GB is playing clock against the Rainier run.

And a roll out right gets a first down completion to Walker.

Jesse Renoude (16) eludes Panther Mackenzie Burdett (9), and completes a pass to Hazze Walker for another first down.

Tim Young bats down a screen pass for GB. An illegal forward pitch over the line negates a gain, and forces a 42 yard field goal by Walker, and he DRILLS it with 12.9 seconds left, pulling Rainier within 2, 12-10.

The kick bounces off Smith at the 18, but the officials don't see it. GB ball at the 35, Knox's keeper on the right side reaches the 46, and GB calls time with 3.2 seconds left.

Gold Beach’s Herbie Smith (22) blocks for Jeffrey Knox (11).

But a Knox keeper fools no Columbians, and its halftime, with GB up 12-10.

A much better battle in the night cap, this heavy weight fight will probably go to the team that lands a haymaker, among the body blows. The Columbians do have better distribution, but the GB group has enough horses. The difference could well be a pass play, as the running games are brutalizing each other, but negating each other as well.

GB, oddly, hasn't gone to the locker room, preferring to stay in the endzone in the chilly temperatures.

3rd. qtr.

Rainier gets the ball first, but go 3 & punt.

Panther Aaron Cervantes (75) gets around Dalton Earlywine’s (78) block, as Mitch McDonald brings down Jesse Renoude.

Rainier tries some power football, but Gold Beach’s defensive adjustments shut the Columbians down.

Knox immediately gets 29 of the 30 yd. punt back with a slant to the right. Smith adds a 15 yard sweep left, and GB calls time @ 7:59 on the 15. This is a critical sequence, worth burning a time out so early in the half. Good idea; Moore up the middle for the TD! Knox is knocked down short on the conversion, but GB extends to an 18-10 lead 4:05 into the qtr.

Rainier gets away with a gamble on 4th. down, but the next one requires a punt. Which Walker can't get off, due to a bad snap. GB gets it at the 34, and Knox hits Rosa Hugo for 18 yards. Moore and Smith finish the drive off, with Moore's 3rd. TD from 7 yards out. Garrett Wol ford adds the conversion for a GB 26-10 lead with 2:19 in the qtr.

And GB gets the onside kick at the Rainier 44, thanks to James Davis! GB is looking for that knockout blow, but, they can't move it, and punt. Rainier takes over at their 20 with 3.4 seconds left in the 3rd.

4th. qtr.

Rainier must answer, or GB will be able to squeeze the clock away.

Renoude completes consecutive passes, the best for 26 to Walker, have Rainier on the GB 40.

Jesse Renoude (16) throws for Hazze Walker,

And Walker makes the flying catch for 26 yards, and a first down.

But 4th. & 15 at the 33 arises, as the Rainier run isn't as effective, and the Columbians call time with 7:41 left. Down 16, this might already be the game here.

The deep pass on the right side is intercepted at the 3 by Brandon Harding. He should have batted it down; the catch cost 30 yards. But Moore and Knox get it all back.

Gold Beach working on a 97 yard, 3 minute and 20 second drive to put the game out of reach.

And with the assistance of a face mask penalty, and an unsportsmanlike penalty, the Panthers drive 97 yards for the knockout punch, on a Smith sweep left for 13 yards. A bad snap stops the conversion, but its 32-10 Panthers with 4:13 left.

Walker brings the kick out to the 44, and Rainier will have to go for broke.

Renoude's pass is complete for 26 yards, but is also fumbled, and GB has it back at their 30 with 3:54 to run off. A completion to Moore gets a first down at the Rainier 41, but a personal foul on the Panthers wipes that out.

Panther QB Jeffrey Knox (11) fires a bullet pass to Travis Moore, but a personal foul negated it.

GB fakes the kick, and Bonotto is dropped for a 4 yard loss. Rainier at the GB 45 with 1:22 left.

A deep sideline route to Walker reaches the 15. And with 1:00 left, Walker's 15 yard catch cuts it to 32-18 when Stahhely grabs the conversion toss. Onside kick coming.

And Rainier gets it at the GB 49! But Mitch McDonald picks off the pass on the left side at the GB 41, and takes to the house! Martin's kick makes it 39-18 with 48.8 left. Game to the Panthers!

Gold Beach’s Mitch McDonald (6) takes an interception back for a touchdown.

Rainier throws another bomb, and Nathan Moore picks that off, and takes it to the 20.

Nathan Moore (82) intercepts the Rainier last gasp pass.

GB ends it on a kneel down. GB 39-18.

Rainier 0 10 0 8 - 18

Gold Beach 6 6 14 13 - 39

1st. qtr.

Gold Beach - Jeffrey Knox 10 yard run (kick falied) 9:44

2nd. qtr.

Rainier - Andrew Allen 43 yard run (Hazze Walker kick) 11:28

GB - Travis Moore 1 yard run (run failed) 4:27

R - Walker 42 yard FG :12

3rd. qtr.

GB - Moore 15 yard run (run failed) 7:55

GB - Moore 8 yard run (Garett Wolford run) 2:19

4th. qtr.

GB - Herbie Smith 12 yard run (run failed) 7:55

R - Walker 15 yard pass from Jesse Renoude (Brandon Staehely pass from Renoude) 1:00

GB - Mitch McDonald 59 yard interception return (Todd Martin kick) :48

Rushing

Rainier - Renoude 12-58; Staehely 9-49; Allen 14-43, 1 TD; Austin McGlone 10-23.

Gold Beach - Knox 12-143, 1 TD; T. Moore 21-78, 3 TD; Smith 14-77, 1 TD; David Bonotto 1-(-4).

Passing

Rainier - Renoude 7-13, 1 TD, 3 Int., 117 yds.

Gold Beach - Knox 4-4, 0 TDs, 28 yards.

Receiving

Rainier - Walker 4-78, 1 TD; Staehely 1-25; Blake Zytniowski 1-11; Allen 1-3.

Gold Beach - Brandon Harding 1-18; Nathan Moore 2-7; T. Moore 1-3.

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