Tigers advance to semi’s
Ontario thunders past Sutherlin 55-7
By Matthew Neal
Argus Observer
Sunday, November 25, 2007 1:26 AM PST
Sutherlin - Sutherlin’s five game winning-streak came to an abrupt halt as it hit the iron curtain that is the Ontario Tigers football team, and, of course, the Tigers hit back.
The Bulldogs hosted the Tigers during 4A state semifinal play Saturday only to see its hopes of additional post-season play disappear like smoke, losing 55-7.
One might have thought the game could have had a different outcome during the first eleven minutes of the first quarter, which had neither team scoring.
Both teams battled for points but it was Ontario’s Jake Turner who put the Tigers up on the board with a 1-yard run into the endzone with one minute left on the clock. Jacob Haueter’s kick was on the mark and Ontario was on it’s way leading, 7-0.
The Bulldogs received the kick off, but made little gain with the minute left on the clock, and the first quarter ended.
At the start of the second quarter, Sutherlin had the ball on the 24 yard line looking at a third-and-two situation, but Ontario sacked the quarter back, forcing Sutherlin to punt.
The Bulldogs punt only made things worse when Ontario ran it up to the 20-yard line, and then put together a four-play drive bringing them to the 4-yard line.
On fourth down at the 4-yard line, Ontario never hesitated and went for it, sending Loren Stewart into the endzone for a 4-yard run for Ontario’s second score of the game and Stewart’s first of four touchdowns. Haueter missed the PAT, but Ontario led 13-0.
With 9:12 left in the first half, Sutherlin’s Caleb Trowbridge received the Tiger kick off, and ran it back 95-yards to score the only Bulldog touchdown of the game. Sutherlin’s Kicker, Tim Cote sent the ball through the uprights, making the score 13-7.
The home crowd howled with excitement, but it was very short-lived and never to be heard again for the remainder of the game because the Tigers turned on their scoring machine and decimated the Bulldogs.
The Tiger’s continued their offensive onslaught as their defense shut down Sutherlin completely. Ontario allowed only 124 yards of total offense from Sutherlin while the Ontario offense put up 419 total yards, 201 of which came from Stewart.
“We have the best coaches in Oregon,” Stewart said. “We come to play, and we come to play together, as brothers because we’re like family.”
In the third quarter, Ontario’s Bryson Sap scored on a 4-yard quarterback sneak and the PAT was true.
Then, with 57 seconds left on the clock, Stewart followed with another score.
Sap then ran it in for the two-point conversion, giving the Tiger’s a 29-7 lead.
In the final quarter, Stewart blasted his way in for a 3-yard touchdown followed by a 9-yard run from Frank Lopez.
Both of Haueter’s kicks were on target.
Robert Keyes caught a pass from Tad Anzaldua to wrap up the scoring, as Ryan Alvarado’s PAT attempt failed and the Tiger’s won 55-7.
“We played really physical in the first half and that is what we hoped for,” Ontario coach Randy Waite said. “We had some nice drives and did a great job on blocking. The defense was the key to this game.”
Saturday’s victory brings the Tiger’s record to 12-0.
“The best team won,” Sutherlin head coach Josh Gary said . “They’re very well coached and I can’t be negative about losing in a quarter-final game.”
