Grants Pass scored on a 10 yard pass from Zach Morgan to Dee Wiersma with 1:37 left and captured the lead for good with a 36-29 win over host Tigard in the first round of the 6A OSAA playoffs on a night where upsets fell like Friday's Oregon rain.

The British Intelligence Agency MI-5 was known for their ability to sew 'misinformation' in enemy territory and Winston Churchill would have been proud of Grants Pass Coach Tom Blanchard and his Freedom of Misinformation Act. First they lost the last three games of the regular season to give one the impression they were circling the drain. Then word got up into the Willamette Valley that Zach Morgan was struggling with decisions at quarterback and that star running back Criss Bowen was gimpy. They even graciously allowed the Tigers to get on the board first with a quick touchdown early in the first quarter and then quickly muffed a snap on the punt to allow Tigard a field goal and a 10-0 lead with 5:04 left in the first period. You almost felt sorry for those poor Caver's who'd have to get back on the bus and head back down I-5 for a long and melancholy drive to reflect on a promising season that started off 7-0 and took them up to sixth in the polls before their season was dashed on the rocks.

I'm not sure if the first drops of rain midway into the second quarter signaled the end of the Tigard run or if Grants Pass decided it was time to spring the trap. Either way, Morgan started hitting receivers with uncanny accuracy and the offense suddenly started clicking and midway through the second quarter, Morgan hit tight end Jennings Stewart in the endzone to cut the lead to 10-7. Disaster would hit Tigard right after the kickoff when they would fumble at midfield and again Morgan would hit 3 of 4 passes and cap the drive with a touchdown toss to stud utility man Buddy Saxon who seemed to play every postion on this night for the Cavemen including serving hot chocolate to the Gap fans who made the drive to support their players. Going into the half, Grants Pass racked up 10 first downs and 201 yards to Tigards 3 first downs and 117 yards.

To open the second half, Tigard got back to what they do best. Run the ball. Starting at their own 28, they ran 13 plays, most hand offs to their bruiser Ryan Gorton or the speedy Scott Grady. On 4th and 6 on the Cavemen 19, Gorton would roll out and slip on the slick turf and turn the ball over on downs. It took Grants Pass one play thanks to Criss Bowens 81 yard touchdown run. Suddenly it was 21-10 and it looked bleak for the Tigers. However, Mitch Sanders squad wasn't about to give up. With a couple of crucial runs by fullback Tim Beckman, the Tigers would pull back to 21-16 after the two point attempt failed. Again, it was Criss Bowen taking all of one play to take it 71 yards in for the score and just like that the lead was back up to 28-16 with 1:12 left in the third quarter.

Again the Tigers would answer the bell. This time Gorton would do the yeomans work with the payoff being a 26 yard touchdown catch from Kyle Gustafson to close to 28-22 when they failed to convert a two point conversion. However, it just seemed Tigard had reclaimed the momentum and their defense finally came up with a big stop and forced the visitors to punt for the first time since early in the first quarter. This time it was Scott Grady, who had been contained and quiet for most the evening, to come alive as he accounted for 74 of the 77 yards, including a 52 yard run down the home sideline and ran it in from five yards out and with the extra point and 5:34 left in the game, Tigard was on top 29-28. Grants Pass was not to be denied on this night.

Starting from their own 24 yard line, Morgan would engineer a 10 play drive and go 4-6 for 68 yards that was topped off with the toss to Wiersma. For the night, Grants Pass was 16-23 for 228 yards with one interception and three touchdowns. Bowen would top 200 yards rushing for the night until he was tackled for a 4 yard loss late in the game to finish with 198 yards. For Tigard, Gorton would rush for 128 yards and Grady would finish with 120 yards.

Grants Pass moves on to take on Mt. Hood League Champion Central Catholic. Just remember the Cavemen have a gimpy running back, a ditzy quarterback and have lost three of their last four which means they're circling the drain. Again. (que up evil laugh)