Casey Connor Carries for Six Scores

Gladstone scored first, and even took a second lead, but the sixth ranked Gladiators couldn't keep up with top ranked Central, and especially the Panthers' star running back Casey Connor. Connor romped for six scores to lead the Panthers (12-0) to a 54-32 quarterfinal win, and a semifinal showdown with second ranked Astoria (12-0), 46-7 winners over North Bend. Central scored on their first six possessions, and Grant Hedrick chipped in a pair of touchdown tosses in the offensive onslaught.

(Updated with photos.)

First quarter

Gladstone's own dynamic duo of Taylor Taft and Tyler Smith started the fireworks in the rain, as Gladstone needed only 38 seconds to jump to the first lead. Smith's 41 yard run set up a six yard Taft keeper for the game's first touchdown, and Austin Cote's kick put Gladstone up 7-0 before the crowd even settled in at Western Oregon University.

Hedrick's 45 yard run keyed Central's response, and Connor capped an 81 yard drive that took just over two minutes with an 18 yard run. Roman Daberkow's extra point tied it at 7-7, and the firefight was on.

Taft answered with an 84 yard touchdown bomb to Austin Foteff on the next play from scrimmage, only to see Central proceed to march 94 yards to tie the game at 14-14, with still 5:33 left in the period. The total yardage from scrimmage was already over 300 yards, as Hedrick got most of the drive with an 81 yard pass and run play to JT Tirado.

Central’s JT Tirado on his way to an 81 yard touchdown.

Gladstone was finally stopped, and forced to punt, and Central took over at their 23 with 4:10 left in the period. The Panthers took the lead for good as the period ended, on a 32 yard breakaway by Connor. Daberkow's kick gave Central a 21-14 lead, and the total yardage had passed 400 yards by the end of the first quarter.

Central’s Casey Connor had 108 yards in the first quarter.

Second quarter

Gladstone had to punt again, and Central proceeded to pour it on. Connor's 52 yard run keyed a 62 yard drive, and he capped the series with a one yard smash for the score. The kick sailed wide, but the Panthers had opened a 27-14 lead.

Central’s Casey Connor (10) escapes Gladstone’s Jonte Brannon (3) and Austin Cote for a 52 yard run.

The Gladiators battled back, as a 45 yard Smith run keyed a five minute, 86 yard drive that kept Central's offense safely on the sideline for a while. Taft found Foteff for the 24 yard touchdown, but a bad snap on the conversion left Gladstone still seven back, at 27-20, with 2:08 until halftime.

Gladstone’s Tyler Smith (27) runs for 45 yards to spark the Gladiator drive.

Hedrick's 51 yard play action pass to Eric Phillips deep on a post route started the drive, and a nine yard pass to Ricardo Cedillo with 49.5 seconds left opened the lead to 33-20. Hedrick's keeper on the conversion opened a 15 point lead at the half, as Gladstone ran out of time after driving to the Panther 38.

Ricardo Cedillo (32) scores for Central 49.5 seconds before halftime.

Third quarter

Phillips took the second half kickoff out 21 yards to midfield for Central, and Hedrick's 12 yard keeper overcame a holding penalty, setting up Connor's 30 yard fun for his fourth score of the game. The continuing rain led to another failed conversion due to a poor snap, but Central still had a three score lead, up 41-20.

Central’s Grant Hedrick (9) gains 12 yards.

Taft led another long, 11 play drive down the field, keeping Central's defense busy for 5:40. Taft's nine yard touchdown on a fourth down and four kept the Gladiators within sight, but PAT kick was short. The 41-26 score held until the end of the period, ad Central was finally stopped for the first time in the game.

Fourth quarter

A 22 yard Smith run just before the third period ended set Gladstone up at the Central 23 as the fourth period started. The Gladiator defense stiffened, forcing a fourth and goal at the five, but Smith powered into the endzone to cut the deficit to nine points. A pass to try to make it a one possession game fell incomplete though, and Gladstone never got any closer.

Tyler Smith (27) ran for 190 yards for Gladstone.

Michael Hamilton's 32 yard kickoff return set the Panthers up at the Gladiator 47, and Connor capped the drive with a three yard score just before the midway point in the final period. Central tried to extend the lead to 17 with a two point conversion, but Hedrick was stopped short.

Needing two scores, the last thing Gladstone needed was a turnover, but they suffered the only one of the night, as Spencer Cole broke thru the Panther line on the first play of the next drive, but then fumbled. Cedillo recoverd at the Gladstone 43 for Central, and Hedrick immediately connected with Hamilton for 30 yards to the 13. Connor carried to the five, but fumbled. However Jacob Girard grabbed the lose ball for the Panthers, and Connor atoned with a five yard touchdown run on the next play. Daberkow's kick capped the scoring with 4:54 left, making it 54-32.

Casey Connor (10) follows Central blockers. Two fourth quarter TDs capped the Panther win.

Gladstone couldn't overcome the slick field, as Foteff slipped down on a reverse, and Taft suffered a sack. After forcing a punt, Central ran out the clock for the win. Gladstone finished the season 9-2.

Connor credited the victory to "A great week of practice. We worked on many formations, so when they keyed on stopping the pass, we could make the run work. We work all season so that if one thing isn't working, we can move to another."

Coach Shane Hedrick observed "Everyone was on their "A" game. And Casey is a quality running back. He can run after he gets hit." Coach Hedrick also credited the Panthers' multiple weapons with their ability to pull away, explaining "Casey pounded them, and that set up the play action pass. That score just before halftime was huge. This offense is exciting when we are able to do that."

Hedrick was pleased with the weeks progress, noting "Against Ontario, we were one player off a lot. Credit Ontario for some of that, as they played well, really well for a young team. They will be a force to be reckoned with next year."

The individual numbers of the two teams' dynamic duos were a reflection of the game overall. Smith led Gladstone with 190 yards on 15 carries, while Connor carried 28 times for 268 yards, and the six scores. Taft completed five of eight passes for 124 yards, but Hedrick was sharper, connecting on eight of nine for 208 yards.

Connor, who doubles as a linebacker for Central, noted "Gladstone has a great 1-2 punch too. Our defense stepped up, especially in the second half. We played our game, and started hitting the gaps harder."

Both Hedrick and Connor were already looking ahead to the semifinal matchup with Astoria even before exiting the wet Western Oregon field. Connor observed "We will have to contain Jordan Poyer. He is a great athlete." Hedrick noted "Poyer is a great player, and he gets his. Sort of like a Michael Jordan type of player. You have to accept that, and take away other elements of their team when you can."

And as Central has done all season, putting up a lot of points themselves will help.

Gladstone      14   6   6   6  -  32

Central          21 14   6  13  -  54

First quarter

Gladstone - Taylor Taft 6 yard run (Austin Cote kick) 11:22

Central - Casey Connor 18 yard run (Roman Daberkow kick) 8:56

G - Austin Foteff 84 yard pass from Taft (Cote kick) 8:41

C - JT Tirado 81 yard pass from Grant Hedrick (Daberkow kick) 5:33

C - Connor 32 yard run (Daberkow kick) :00

Second quarter

C - Connor 1 yard run (kick wide right) 7:06

G - Foteff 24 yard pass from Taft (run failed) 9:45

C - Ricardo Cedillo 9 yard pass from Hedrick (Hedrick run) :49.5

Third quarter

C - Connor 30 yard run (run failed) 9:45

G - Taft 9 yard run (kick short) 4:04

Fourth quarter

G - Smith 5 yard run (pass failed) 9:32

C - Connor 3 yard run (run failed) 6:16

C - Connor 5 yard run (Daberkow kick) 4:54

Rushing

Gladstone – 41-288; Smith 15-190, 1 TD;

Central – 42-393; Connor 28-268, 6 TDs;

Passing

Gladstone – Taft 5-8, 2 TDs, 0 Int., 124 yards.

Central – Hedrick 8-9, 2 TDs, 0 Int., 208 yards.

Receiving

Gladstone – Foteff 2-86, 2 TDs.

Central – Eric Phillips 4-85.

Fumbles-Lost

Gladstone 1-1.

Central 1-0.

Penalties

Gladstone – 4-25 yards.

Central – 6-45 yards.

CC

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