And even after the Panther win, Gold Beach Coach Kevin Swift made the Panthers line up and do drills, because of a changed play call, and a mistake. It was an indication of the respect for the opponent that Swift had, describing Regis as "An outstanding team. We expect more than to make mistakes, which will lose games against the good teams." Swift explained to his players, and everyone else in the stadium, that "Its not about the scoreboard. Its about making the right plays all the time."

(Updated with photos.)

The Gold Beach Defense completely obscures Regis RB Jake Obersinner.

Regis Coach Doug Ieardi saw those mistakes as the key as well, saying "I never felt the situation was insurmountable until the end, but we had some execution issues. A pass bounced off the helmet of a halfback. The fumble at the goal line. Missing the receiver in the end zone. And the penalties, and the dropped exchange on 4th. down." Ieardi didn't feel that nervousness was an issue, noting "We had good practices. I'm not sure why we had the problems, but Gold Beach is too good to do that against."

Travis Moore, who rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, was the player of the game, as Ieardi acknowledged. "The Gold Beach system, with a strong back, and some option mixed in, limits your opportunities. We aren't afraid to go face mask to face mask with anyone, but they have some big players."

The Panthers used T. Moore and their system to shorten the game, which was played in under 2 hours, by keeping the running game, and the clock, moving once they got the lead. And Regis ran out of time before they could get going. The Rams were also a little hampered by a nagging shoulder injury that limited Hafner, as Ieardi knew "We needed him on defense, so we focused him there."

Both coaches also commented on the matchup of the top two teams in the quarterfinals. Coach Swift said "I'm from Southern California, where they seed the playoffs, and I prefer that. But it would be too hard to do here. We are 3 hours from anywhere, and to wait to announce the pairings would be too hard to arrange travel for. The OSAA does an excellent job, and we just have to play the good teams. Besides, they are all good at this point. Now we have to play Rainier, who is 11-1."

Ieardi also noted "There was a lot of talk about that this week, but we were just happy to be playing."

Swift, who finally won in his third try against Regis, wasn't happy with some of what happened, but was happy with the win, and observed "I don't want to have to play them again!"

Ieardi observed "We had a great season. Now, some of these guys will get ready for basketball, some for baseball. And we will work on getting back here again next year." Which is right where Swift expects to find them.

Live from Willamette University, the #1 Gold Beach Panthers (11-0) vs. the #2 Regis Rams (11-0). The winner will take on #3T Rainier (11-1), who defeated #7T Grant Union (8-3) 23-6 earlier today.

1st. qtr.

Regis won the toss, and deferred. Gold Beach will receive, and Regis will defend the south goal.

The Panthers go 3 & punt after a Jake Hafner sack of Jeffrey Knox.

The Rams’ Jack Hafner (42) closes in for the sack on Panther QB Jeffrey Knox (11).

The Rams eat 4 minutes, but turn the ball over on downs half way thru the quarter.

Ram QB Dylan Bochsler fires a swing pass to Jake Obersinner.

Knox's 48 yard completion on a go route on the left sideline to Nathan Moore to the Ram 22 sets up Travis Moore for a 6 yard touchdown. T. Moore is short on the conversion run, but the Panthes strike first, going up 6-0 with 4:21 left in the first quarter.

The Rams' option at midfield winds up on the carpet, and Tim Young recovers it for the Panthers. Knox immediately hooks up with David Bonotto down to the 12, but Bonotto was off to a rolling start, and it comes back. So the Panthers use 6 shorter plays to get to the 27 as the quarter ends.

2nd. qtr.

GB goes for it on 4th. down at the 22, and N. Moore is open at the 10, but drops it, and the Rams take over.

Justin Silbernagel makes a jumping catch of an overthrown Dylan Boschler pass at the 49. Ryan Tuss adds 20 on a stretch right run, and Jason Gower jitterbugs for 9 in traffic, the highlights of a 14 play, 79 yard scoring drive, capped by Tuss' 1 yard dive, and Derek Piete's kick, to put the Rams up 7-6 4:18 before the half. The drive was 6 seconds short of a 7 minute drive, and answered what should have been a 2 score Panther lead.

The Rams’ Jason Gower (3) gets close to the endzone. Ryan Tuss took it the rest of the way in on the next play.

T. Moore is the driving force as the Panthers drive to the 27, and Regis calls time with 1:34 in the half. Moore adds 14, and after a personal foul, Knox completes the drive with a 4 yard keeper around right end. An option to Herbie Smith around the left end outside containment on the conversion makes it 14-7 Panthers at the half.

Regis dodged a major bullet, and fired one themselves, but GB has the upperhand, meeting almost no resistance to their rushing game.

At the half, T. Moore has 83 yards on 14 carries for the Panthers, and Tuss leads the Rams, with 61 yards on 11 carries.

3rd. qtr.

Regis gets the ball, and starts from their 21. T. Moore tips an underthrown pass over the middle, and the Rams stall, and the punt puts GB at their 23. Three plays later, Smith takes an option up the left sideline, and cuts back thru the middle of the field to the right corner of the endzone for a 79 yard score, and a 20-7 Panther lead 3:08 into the second quarter.  The play is a repeat of Smith’s option conversion from the second quarter, but this time, there is room to work back across the field as well.

The Panthers’ Herbie Smith (22) cuts back past Ram Jason Gower (3), headed for the touchdown.

Gower answers with a 41 yard kickoff return to the Panther 49. The Rams drive to the 9, but on 4th. & goal, Boschler's pass is out the back of the endzone, and with 4:32 in the third qtr., the Panthers take over.

GB goes 3 and punt, and Gower calls a fair catch at the GB 37. Gower's 12 yard counter picks up a 4th. down, and the quarter ends with the Rams on the 10.

4th. qtr.

The Panther defense is making the Rams work hard (and long) for yardage, and the clock is already a factor.

The Panthers’ Robert Phillps (53) contains the Rams’ Ryan Tuss.

Tuss takes it to the 6, and then to the 1, but fumbles going in on a hit, and N. Moore recovers for the touchback. BIG turnover!

The Panthers drive to midfield, but have to punt, and the Rams have 8:29 to score twice. A personal foul on GB puts the Rams on the Panther 34. Aaron Cervantes smells out a crossing screen, and then the Rams try a WR pass, but Derek Piete's pass from the left side to the right corner is incomplete, Brandon Harding dropped the interception.

Boschler's pass goes off 2 receivers to bring up 4th. down, and the snap is fumbled on the 4th. down play. Gold Beach takes over, and on 4th. & 1, T, Moore is stopped, but second effort picks up the first down, and the clock winds under 4 minutes.

The Panthers face 4th. & 1 at the 18, but jump off side. The 35 yd. field goal never gets off due to a low snap, and Regis takes over with 1:20 to go at the 28. Time out Regis with 14 seconds left, 4th. & 1 at the wrong side of the 38.

A screen pass to Joe Obersinner gets to the GB 47, but after a spike, Jack Hafner is forced out at the 42, and the Panthers win, 20-7.

(Check back later for photos.)

1^st. qtr.

Gold Beach – Travis Moore 6 yard run (run failed) 4:21

2^nd. qtr.

Regis – Ryan Tuss 1 yard run (Derek Piete kick) 4:18

GB – Jeffrey Knox 4 yard run (Herbie Smith run) :48

3^rd. qtr.

GB – Smith 79 yard run (run failed) 8:52

Rushing

Gold Beach – 43-273, 3 TDs – T. Moore 25-155, 1 TD; Smith 6-80, 1 TD; Knox 10-31, 1 TD; Nathan Moore 1-4; Anthony Simera 1-3.

Regis – 45-188, 1 TD – Tuss 17-96, 1 TD; Jake Obersinner 13-50; Jason Gower 7-31; Dylan Boschler 6-19; Jake Heffner 5-18; Joe Obersinner 3-(-7).

Passing

Gold Beach – Knox 1-2, 0 TDs, 0 Int., 48 yds.

Regis – Boschler 4-8, 0 TDs, 0 Int., 60 yds.; Piete 0-1, 0 TDs, 0 Int., 0 yds.

Receiving

Gold Beach – N. Moore 1-48.

Regis – Jake Obersinner 1-16; Joe Obersinner 1-16; Gower 1-15; Justin Silbernagel 1-13.

Returns

Regis – Gower 1-41; Joe Obersinner 2-31; Jake Obersinner 1-4.

1^st. downs

Gold Beach – 9

Regis – 16

Punts

Gold Beach – 3-76.

Regis 1-41.

CC

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