Third Time Will Be The Charm In SkyEm Rematch at Reser

But which charm will it be? Will it be a third State Championship for Retiring Sisters Coach Bob MaCauley? Will it be the third Title in the last three odd years for Marist? Might it be a Ring for the state’s all-time leading rusher Cory McCaffrey in his third playoff run? Could it be the first win for the Spartans in their third try against the Outlaws in the last two years? Will the Outlaws win by a playoff game by a whisker at the end for the third week in a row?

#5 Marist Spartans (11-2) vs. #1 Sisters Outlaws (13-0).

I was 1-1, due to the reverse psychology ploy, of picking against the Outlaws for the first time since redistricting, and am 12-6 for the playoffs. The reverse psychology approach of picking Ontario might have helped put Sisters over the top. As close as the Outlaw-Tiger game was, anything could have been the difference. After an out-come altering defensive play on the last play of the North Bend game, the Ontario game was another down to the wire affair. The original idea was first team to 60 wins, but a 2-0 first quarter, which would have short circuited any odds board, brought the total down. But once again, Sisters hit 50, for the tenth time this season, and fifth game in a row. And no one has yet hit 50 against them, though it’s been getting closer of late, as Ontario got to 49.

The decision of the game was the Ontario gamble to go for two more, and risk losing the game, rather than getting one, and forcing overtime. Given that the Tigers have a good kicker, who had hit 3 PAT kicks already in the game, the decision seemed strange, even before it backfired. Using a timeout with the clock stopped also meant Ontario gave up the opportunity to get the ball back. A PAT kick without a timeout would have meant the Outlaws couldn’t run the clock out, and the Tigers might still have gotten a chance to win it at the end. That’s an indication of the pressure that a game like unfolded Saturday, in a situation where the stakes are that high, produces. McCaffrey hit the nail on the head, observing “The difference at this point comes down to you have to keep your composure!"

After last year’s overtime loss, McCaffrey, and all the rest of the Sisters community, knows both sides of that. Having such experience could prove to be valuable when the Outlaws face Marist again, especially since the Spartans openly admit they are on a mission to get one more shot at Sisters, and, as Coach Rory Rosenbaugh said, “Let’s make this one count!”

That mission was mostly accomplished when Marist held off a too little, too late Central rally, and gained the 35-21 win. The mission was in jeopardy early, as the Panthers outplayed the Spartans in the first half, and only saw Marist pull into a 14-14 tie in the last minute before halftime. But Marist played much better in the second half, and capitalized on a lost opportunity when Central couldn’t cover a loose ball in their territory late in the third quarter. Two Spartan touchdowns ensued in less than three and a half minutes, and Marist joined both teams that have beaten them in playing for a title at Reser. Remember that big loss in the opener that Marist had? Turns out the 6A Sheldon Irish were one heck of a team too, and are the favorite to win the 6A title Saturday.

Sisters won at Marist on in-service Thursday, 53-36, as McCaffrey scored 4 times. Just as important, Marist had a couple of turnovers in the red zone, leaving enough points off the board to make it close, which could have caused a lot to happen differently down the stretch.

Marist is definitely dangerous, and has multiple weapons, which always makes a big difference, no matter how good your best weapon is. Their defense is definitely improved as well, as their ability to control Central’s Casey Connor, who had only 36 yards rushing, demonstrated. The junior tailback from Central isn’t McCaffrey, but he is a similar in his style of play, and is usually very productive. So the success against a similar type of player is a good sign for Spartan fans.

While the Tigers’ #2 in the state offense (behind the Outlaws) again caused concern for Coach Bob MaCauley, and his defensive coaches especially, Sisters did survive a better back in Loren Stewart than the aggregate efforts of the Marist rushing game will probably produce. Chad Swenson leads a good group of backs, but despite playing to eat yards and time the entire final quarter, the Spartans still only amassed 144 yards on the ground against Central. Marist is not the rushing machine the North Bend trio of Kale Forrester, Shawn Mitchell and Lane Seals, which, while severely taxing Sisters, couldn’t overcome them either, is.

Another positive sign for Sisters is the fact that a much bigger Ontario line, similar to Marist, was not able to do that much damage between the tackles. The worst damage, both Stewart’s running, and the Tigers’ ability to contain McCaffrey, was done on the edges, where Marist might not be quite as quick, offensively or defensively. When Sisters has the ball, it’s not so much of a deal, as Evan Eady, at 265 lbs., and Tyler Miller at 240, aren’t that outsized. No line is better prepared than the outlaws, under former long time NFL lineman Ken Ruettgers.

However, the Outlaw defense starts bigger people off the line than on it, so technique and tactics have to come into play. Ontario did a good job of attacking Sisters where they weren’t, due to the need for LB & DB support up the middle.

Marist will need to balance their attack, forcing Sisters to defend sideline to sideline, and deep as well as short, either preventing the Outlaws from gambling defensively, or capitalizing when they do. It worked against Central, negating one of the best blitzing teams around, but will be tougher to do against a deeper stable of talent the Outlaws utilize.

The key to the game will probably be turnovers, as Rosenbaugh admits. “We have to get some breaks, and some turnovers, to beat Sisters.” The problem with that could be in the passing game. Jarred Hasskanp, the Outlaws’ junior QB, has thrown 3 interceptions all year. Marist QB Ryan Bell served that many up in the Central game alone. And while Bell did throw for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns against Central, Hasskamp and offensive coordinator Dusty MaCauley delivered a clear message that McCaffrey isn’t the Outlaws’ only warhead class weapon. Hasskamp, threw for 440 yards and 3 touchdowns against Ontario. Sisters amassed 700 yards of offense (doesn’t count return yards) against the Tigers, who were the #2 defense in 4A until the Outlaws got a hold of them. Marist’s defense, though improved, is still not in the top 30.

Sisters is #1, and so far, only 1 #1 has been beaten in the postseason. 1A Mohawk and 3A Gold Beach both ran the table, and 2A Culver not only won the title, they beat an old rival in the process. 5A West Albany is undefeated, and favored to claim a title they lost in OT last year, similar to Sisters. Only 6A #1 Lake Oswego has lost a playoff game, to those Sheldon Irish, when a conversion failed in overtime. So much for the idea that the polls don’t mean anything, and the pollsters don’t know anything.

Marist’s offense is almost 2 touchdowns behind the Outlaws in point production per game, which is a lot, considering the Spartan defense is also about a field goal a game behind Sisters’ pace. It doesn’t appear Marist can substantially slow down the Outlaws, meaning they might have to have the offensive game of the program’s life, not just theirs, to keep up. Last year, it took one of the best defenses to play in the state at any level from Siuslaw to take down Sisters, and it was in overtime at that.

With #1 West Albany looking like this year’s Jesuit, as they take on #4 Glencoe, and #3 Sheldon shaping up as a solid favorite against unranked Tualatin, the 4A Championship might be the best game of the day, in the morning start lead off spot. This might be a shame of sorts, given the celebration that’s likely to follow if Sisters can avoid a 50th. career loss for Coach MaCauley, who is retiring to the High School Principal’s office exclusively after the game, concluding a 24 year career.

Breaking down the match ups, Sisters Offensive line against the Marist Defensive line, coaching (see above and below also) more than offsets a bit of a Spartan size advantage; advantage Outlaws. Marist Offensive line against the Sisters Defensive line, despite the fact that Sisters held up well enough against Ontario, size means advantage Marist.

Moving to running backs against linebackers, while Marist has RB depth, they don’t have the speed to match McCaffrey, or the LB speed to contain him as well as Ontario did. Edge Sisters both ways. Marist doesn’t have an advantage when they have the ball, and when Sisters does, they have the most productive back in the history of the state.

Looking at the passing game, the Spartans have a good group of receivers, and they should exploit the Outlaw secondary, which must support their front as well. The Outlaws have a similarly strong group, though, so that may shake out as even. However, Hasskamp has been emerging steadily over the last 2 seasons. The Outlaws have been specifically working to cultivate the passing game to take the defensive focus off McCaffrey all season. December is when that pays off. Passing game is an Outlaw advantage.

The kicking game is interesting. Best return man by far is McCaffrey, but Marist is dangerous, and the Outlaws have given up some big returns themselves. Marist appears to have the edge place kicking, while Sisters a slight edge punting. Therefore, while Sisters has the edge, it is potentially closer than you might think. Both teams may or may not spring a big play, and if one or the other hits a couple big plays on special teams (and I think some one will), be it points or a key stop, it could be very significant to the outcome.

Intangibles are a close call too, and not because there aren’t many. Quite the opposite. Sisters has the motivation of sending both McCaffrey and MaCauley out on top, and fulfilling a dream dashed the last two years, but only barely. The Outlaws will also be the popular choice, as, right or wrong, fair or not, Marist is not a popular program with some outside their own program. However, there is an upside to that. The Spartans are used to the situation, and so they won’t allow the atmosphere to be a distraction. Their championship winning performances in the last two “odd” years demonstrate that.

Coaching goes to Sisters on experience, but again, not by as much as those that haven’t read thru the program may think. Coach Rosenbaugh has assembled some experienced old war horses, and some recent talent from the next level too. Still, having NFL experience on hand never hurts. Coach MaCauley has quietly placed the Outlaws in the elite of their class for years by assembling both direct and indirect coaching and staff support that exceeds the means of almost everyone. Having a once in a lifetime star player has garnered the Outlaws a lot of attention, but the road to championships has gone thru Sisters most years for a long time.

Unless it snows a foot (not predicted, though that would actually be to the Outlaws’ advantage), Sisters firepower will outdistance a good Marist effort once again, and claim their sixth state title, and third in 11 man football in 10 years.

See you in Corvallis! (And check OregonPrepSports for the story of the State Championship Games.)

CC

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