Tigers win flag infested playoff game over Henley
28 combined penalties called, 17-for 190 yards against Henley
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Sunday, November 18, 2007 1:30 AM PST
| |
| Ontario’s Bryson Sap scrambles to open field Saturday during the Tigers playoff game against Henley. The Tigers won the game 28-7 and advance to the quarterfinals where they will meet Sutherlin. |
Ontario - In a game that featured 28 yellow flags, and a handful of personal fouls against Henley, the Ontario Tigers survived to play another day.
Despite all the extra-curricular activities that took place in the second-round of the Oregon 4A state playoff game, the Tiger defense deserves all the props as they kept a pass-happy Hornet team from scoring three of four trips into the red zone. Add in a pair of interceptions, and Henley’s night was through, with the exception of that long bus ride home.
“Our defense stepped up tonight and did a great job for us,” Ontario head coach Randy Waite said.
The Tigers scored on their second possession of the game on a two play, 69-yard drive. Tiger running back Loren Stewart gobbled up 64 of those yards on a second and four from Ontario’s own 36 yard line. He took the pitch from Bryson Sap, swept to the left, broke a couple of tackles, tip-toed down the sideline, then out ran the Hornet secondary to paydirt at the 7:45 mark of the first quarter. Jacob Haueter’s point after attempt sailed wide left, and the Tiger led 6-0 early.
Ontario’s defense forced the Hornets into a fourth and 10, and Henley opted to go for the first down at the Tigers 33 yard line, but Henley’s quarterback Matt Taylor missed his receiver and gave the pigskin back to the Tigers.
Ontario made the Hornet coaching staff pay for the gamble on fourth down, and put together a 12-play, 67 yard drive that ended in a five yard score for the Tigers. Stewart took the hand off and pounded his way toward the end zone, and what looked like a defensive stop for the Hornets, the official on the goal line saw something different as he raised his arms skyward to indicate the touchdown. The PAT by Haueter was true and the Tigers led 13-0 early in the second quarter.
“Ontario is a good football team and they played a good game,” Henley head coach Jim Lockwood said.
The game remained 13-0 through the third quarter.
However, Henley did have its chances to cut into the lead. With 4:46 left in the opening half, Henley marched down to the Tiger 14 yard line, and on a fourth and nine, lined up for a 31-yard field goal, but the kick was wide right. Then with time running off the clock in the second quarter, the Hornets were driving the ball down the field. Facing a fourth and 20 from the Tiger 28, Taylor found Tim Verling open, but the play only netted seven yards and the Hornets turned the ball over on downs.
In the third quarter, Henley again was knocking on the door, but the only ones to answer was the Tiger defense.
On a fourth and one from Ontario’s 11 yard line, Henley opted for the first down play, but the Tiger defense denied them and once again Henley turned the ball over on downs with 2:50 to play in the third frame.
Finally, early in the fourth quarter, the Hornets tasted the sweet nectar of the end zone when Rockey Rosser hauled in a pass from Taylor from 20 yards out with 11:04 in the fourth. Justin Chavarria’s kick was good and the Hornets were back in business.
With the score 13-7, the Hornets nest was buzzing once again, and on their next defensive series, they forced a Tiger fumble and gave their offense the ball at the Tiger 48 yard line.
But that stingy Tiger defense was up to the task and forced Henley in to a three and out. On the fourth and 30, Henley lined up for the punt, but ran the fake. Steven Wedan threw the ball deep down the field, only to have Turner step in front of the intended receiver and pick off the pass.
From there the Tigers took the football 44 yards on six plays for the score which was capped by Stewart’s third touchdown on the game on a three yard run. Haueter’s kick split the uprights and Ontario extended its lead to 20-7 with 5:25 to play.
The Tigers added a final score at the 3:24 mark on Stewart’s fourth score of the day, a seven yard scamper to the right side. Stewart finished the game with 180 yards rushing on 23 carries with the four scores.
“Stewart had a big game for us and in the fourth quarter he asked to carry the team,” Waite said.
The Hornets tallied more total yards than Ontario with 341 yards to the Tigers 293. The one stat that killed the Hornets was the penalties. Henley was flagged 17 times for 190 yards in the game.
Ontario, however does suffer a loss in the win though.
Because of an upset in the bracket, Sutherlin defeating La Salle 28-21, and the Oregon School Activities Association ruling, says any team that has traveled in a post season game gets to host a game against any team that has already hosted a game.
So, next Friday or Saturday the Tigers will head to Sutherlin for quarterfinal action.
