Mavericks pass key test at Grays Harbor, 42-32

By CLIFF PFENNING, oregonsports.com

ABERDEEN, Wash. - The absence of their starting quarterback only slowed the Yakima Mavericks for a quarter in their key battle with Grays Harbor Saturday night.

Ryan Wright, filling in for John Loebbestael, threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more to lead the Mavericks to a 42-32 win over the Bearcats and virtually into the Pacific Football League playoffs.

Wright, who didn’t start the game at quarterback, completed 8 of 17 passes for 115 yards with just one interception. He threw two scoring passes to recent signee Tanner Goforth, who also returned a kickoff for a score.

The Mavericks improved to 4-2 in Northern Division games, while Grays Harbor dropped to 2-4, with all four of those losses by 10 points or less.

“We knew this would be a challenge coming in here without our quarterback,” Wright said. “But we’ve got athletes and we knew if we stuck with what we do best we could win.”

David Evans threw for a touchdown and ran for two others to lead the Bearcats.

Yakima plays at Northern Division leader Kitsap County and then closes the season at Clark County (5-1). The Mavericks need one win or a loss by South Sound (2-4) against Snohomish (1-5) or Grays Harbor to claim a playoff spot.

Yakima trailed 7-0, but tied the game with a 13-play, 79-yard drive capped by a 30-yard pass from Wright to Goforth. Wright completed two passes on the drive – 14 yards to fullback Jesse Cardenas and the touchdown to Goforth.

“The touchdown pass was huge for us because I’m mostly a running back,” Wright said. “That put a lot of pressure on them whenever I rolled out.”

Wright showed off his versatility at the start of the second half, driving the Mavericks 62 yards on four plays for a 21-10 lead. He ran once for 18 yards and completed all three of his passes, the third for 28 yards to Goforth. Following an interception, Wright drove the Mavs 49 yards on eight plays for a 28-10 lead. He hit John Muir with a 2-yard scoring pass to finish the drive with 5:56 left in the third quarter.

Yakima attempted just two more passes the remainder of the game.

The Mavericks collected three interceptions and a fumble recovery on defense.

Grays Harbor rallied throughout the game behind quarterback David Evans, scoring quickly several times. After the Mavericks went up 14-7 with 46 seconds left in the second quarter – a four-play drive off an interception, Evans got the Bearcats to the Yakima 35, where Jadon Crassino kicked a 52-yard field goal as the half expired.

The Bearcats were undone by penalties throughout the game, including an offsides call that wiped out a successful onsides kick. The most influential penalty might have been for offsides on a Yakima punt in the first quarter. The penalty turned fourth and 6 into fourth and one and the Mavs got a 2-yard run from Cardenas to earn first down at their own 32, which kept the 13-play drive going.

Yakima                   0      14      14     14       - 42

Grays Harbor         7        3        0      22      - 32

GH – Jeremy Walker 43 pass from Alex Todak (Jadon Carassino kick)

Yak – Tanner Goforth 30 pass from Ryan Wright (Matt Poggie kick)

Yak – Wright 8 run (Poggie kick)

GH – FG 52 Carassino

Yak – Goforth 28 pass from Wright (Poggie kick)

Yak – Nick Muir 2 pass from Wright (Poggie kick)

GH – David Evans 1 run (Travis Tucker pass from Evans)

Yak – Goforth 70 kickoff return (Poggie kick)

GH – Evans 1 run (Carassino kick)

Yak – Wright 28 run (Poggie kick)

GH – Joseph Winther 5 pass from Evans (Carassino kick)

Vipers move Thomas in at QB

Marvin Thomas is the answer for the Clark County Vipers this week.
With Kyle English done for the season, and Naamon Archer out for the weekend, the Vipers are turning to Thomas at quarterback for their key game Saturday against the Kitsap County Bears in a battle of unbeatens in the Northern Division of the Pacific Football League.
Thomas, who prepped at Evergreen High in Vancouver, has played in mop-up roles this season.
"He's got a lot of athletic skill and has played at a high level before," Clark County coach Reggie White said Wednesday. "He knows our offense. He's ready to do a good job for us."
Both teams are 5-0 in Northern Division play. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Olympic High School in Bremerton, Wash.
English, who has played quarterback, running back and receiver, re-injured his left ACL in Saturday's 42-7 loss at home to Southern Oregon in which he and Archer combined to throw six interceptions.
The Vipers, though, were without key defensive lineman Marquise Cross and three-way threat Jason Pabillano, both of whom are set to play Saturday.
Pabillano, who has scored as a running back and kick returner and is a standout defensive back, missed the past two games with a high sprain of his right ankle.
White, who expects more than 30 players to travel with the team, said the loss of the team's top two quarterbacks shouldn't affect its morale.
"Everyone expects us to be the underdog, but we're okay with that," he said. "Saturday was a tough game, but it brought everyone together on what we need to do to be successful for the rest of the season."
Kitsap has been led throughout the season by running backs Edward Ash and Anthony Galloway, each of whom has scored seven touchdowns.

Southern Oregon puts a twist on Vipers-Bears

VANCOUVER, Wash. - The Southern Oregon Renegades were a pretty good team with essentially back-up quarterbacks leading the way through the first half of the Pacific Football League season, but with Nate Ellis at the helm of their offense they might be the league's best team.
Ellis played for the first time this season and led the Renegades to a 42-7 win over Clark County Saturday at Kiggins Bowl, handing the Vipers their first loss of the season.
Ellis ran for two touchdowns, threw for two and struggled on only a handful of plays as the Renegades avenged an overtime loss in the Border War two months earlier. Southern Oregon had nine turnovers in the loss, but just two on Saturday. Instead, the 'Gades forced nine turnovers and turned two into touchdowns.
Southern Oregon improved to 6-1 overall, having lost only to the Portland Monarchs, the three-time defending champions of the Oregon Football League.
Both teams played without a number of key players. The Vipers played without defensive lineman Marquise Cross and two-way back Jason Pabillano, while the Renegades played without running back Alvin Thornton.
Clark County suffered a key injury when quarterback Kyle English suffered a recurring knee injury and might be lost for the season. The Vipers play at Kitsap County on Saturday in a battle for first place in the Northern Division and will likely be without English and No. 2 quarterback Naamon Archer, who has a scheduling conflict.
In addition to playing the Bears, the Vipers have a home game with the Yakima Mavericks, who've been on fire since losing to both the Vipers and Bears.
Ellis, who is hoping to locate a college scholarship in the fall, completed just seven of 20 passes, but one went for a 6-yard scoring pass to tight end Antoine Williams and only one was intercepted, helping the team avoid the numerous problems it had in the first meeting with the Vipers. Eliis finished with 32 yards on 11 carries.
John Jones and Bruce Franklin each picked off two passes for Southern Oregon. Jones returned one 63 yards for a touchdown that gave the Renegades a 14-lead with 7:30 left in the first quarter. Francis Sesepasara returned a fumble 5 yards for a score in the third quarter.
English and Archer struggled to complete passes throughout the evening, hitting just 10 of 30 attempts for 117 yards and one score: a 25-yard completion from Archer to Cody Gilbert that pulled the Vipers within 14-7. Of the six interceptions, none was more crucial than the fifth, when Jones stopped a Vipers drive at the Southern Oregon goal line and the score at 21-7. The Renegades promptly marched 77 yards on six plays with running back Andre Smith motoring 19 yards for the score and a 28-7 lead with 6:54 left in the third quarter.

Wow, it almost happened again - in Southern Oregon

The drive to Southern Oregon (and a solid opponent) nearly bumped the Portland Monarchs into an unfamiliar position in the league standings - second.
Southern Oregon, even without starting quarterback Tory Snyder, led 10-0 before the Monarchs rallied to win 13-10 in a Pacific Football League game Saturday at Spiegelburg Stadium.
The Renegades, who were tied with the Monarchs for the Southern Division lead at 4-0, played with Brock Heaton at quarterback in place of Snyder, who missed the game having a bad case of a flu virus.
Portland blazed through last season on the way to its third straight Oregon Football League title with only one game having any drama: a 13-10 win at Umpqua Valley on South Umpqua High's mud-soaked field.
Even on the turf in Medford, the Monarchs struggled with the Renegades' defense, which had allowed just 19 points in league games to that point. A key pass-interference penalty helped the Monarchs' go-ahead drive and then their defense played a stellar second half.
If the teams win out and meet again in the Division title game, it would be at the Monarchs' home field in Silverton.
The league had a number of close games Saturday, including Klamath's win over the Portland Raiders, 14-13. The Crusaders had lost three games by a total of 10 points, so they were due.
The Monarchs-Renegades game can be viewed at the Renegades Ustream channel:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/southern-oregon-renegades-live

Renegades ready to end Monarchs reign?

The task of putting a chill into the Portland Monarchs falls on the Southern Oregon Renegades this weekend, but they've got the best possible set-up for that to happen - they're playing at home and they're getting more established on offense.
Portland won the last three Oregon Football League titles and were only dragged into a game with some drama once - at Umpqua Valley, where the Monarchs needed a late defensive score to win. That game was played out on a mud-covered field, something the Renegades won't have as a weapon when the teams meet at Spiegelberg Stadium in Medford.
But, the game is still in Medford.
Portland has traveled with more than 40 players to all of its road games, so players won't be a challenge. Southern Oregon's defense is the key to its chances for victory. The Renegades have given up just 19 points this season, and shut out the Portland Raiders last week. The Raiders scored a touchdown, but on an interception return.
Portland has given up just 27 points, but most of those were late in games that were decided well before.
If the Renegades can keep the Monarchs under wraps, then their offense will need to come through in way it hasn't so far. But, other than the interception return, the Renegades have improved dramatically from their opening-game disaster when they gave up nine turnovers in an overtime loss to the Clark County Vipers.
The Southern Oregon offense has piled up just 54 points in PFL play. The Monarchs are averaging 60 points per game.
Renegades quarterback Tory Snyder, though, is developing a knack for avoiding large losses while being sacked and is a strong runner. And, the Renegades have a stellar offensive line that has durable fullback Alvin Thornton behind it.
Does Southern Oregon have a chance?
In the league's other seven games, Springfield is at High Desert, Klamath plays at the Portland Raiders, the Rogue Warriors are at the Oregon Outlaws, Bellingham travels to Vancouver to play the Vipers, Kitsap County is at Grays Harbor, South Sound is at South King and Snohomish County plays at Yakima.

Renegades win 9-6 over Raiders, Monarchs next

Jason McGregor's field goal with 1.8 seconds remaining in the game boosted the Southern Oregon Renegades to a a hard-fought 9-6 win over the Portland Raiders Saturday at Putnam High School in Milwaukie.
McGregor kicked two other field goals and had two others blocked during the game, which the Renegades won by simply wearing down the Portland defense.
Southern Oregon had the ball for 12 minutes, 22 seconds of the fourth quarter and drove 23 yards from the Portland 37 to its 14 to set up the winning 31-yard field goal. Quarterback Tory Snyder hit Thomas Whiteaker with a key 18-yard completion and also ran twice for 15 yards to help the Renegades overcome a 10-yard penalty.
Portland failed to reach the end zone for the second straight week, scoring on an 90-yard interception return by Tirrell Thompson, who got the ball on lateral after Ruben Jones had made the original interception at the Portland 10. Portland had two defensive scores in a win over the Oregon Outlaws last week. The Raiders' offense has been outscored by its defense 20-6 in the last two weeks.
The Renegades improved to 4-0 in the Pacific Football League's Southern Division and play host to the defending GNFA champion Portland Monarchs Saturday in Medford. The Monarchs improved to 4-0 with a 49-12 win over the Oregon Outlaws Saturday.
Around the league, Clark County and Kitsap County both improved to 4-0 in the North. The Vipers won at South Sound 36-30, while the Bears beat Bellingham 59-6. Grays Harbor beat Snohomish County 28-25 and Yakima beat visiting South King 20-15.
In the South, the Rogue Warriors beat visiting High Desert 38-6, and Springfield beat Klamath 20-14 in overtime, making the Crusaders the tough-luck team of the year. After a 62-0 thrashing by the Monarchs in Week 1, Klamath has lost three straight by 10 total points, including the overtime loss Saturday.
Four teams: the Raiders, Warriors, Buzzards and Outlaws; are currently tied for third at 2-2 in the South. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.

The flags of truth shown brightly Saturday

Wow, were there a lot of flags thrown at the Outlaws-Raiders game. There were a couple for holding, a couple for personal fouls, but mostly they were for the garden variety 5-yard kind. For sideline infractions, for 12 men on the field, for 12 men on the field, 12 players on the field, illegal substitution that led to ... 12 men on the field.
There were so many penalties, we were able to joke on the sideline with one of the refs after he'd thrown a flag - at the same time as two others for illegal procedure - that he should just leave the flag on the ground, there'd be another flag on the next play.
Both teams struggled on offense, big time. Despite losing 20-0, the Outlaws seemed to be capable of getting into the end zone except for the fumbles - returned for a score, and several interceptions - one returned for a score.
Late in the game, the Outlaws looked like they might score and at least beat the Raiders' offense, 7-6, but an interception cooled that.
Oregon's defense should keep it in the playoff hunt while quarterback Alex Ortiz, just a year out of high school and thrown into action due to an injury to starter Dayton Edwards gets used to the pace of adult football.
The Raiders have a big game this weekend with Southern Oregon, which also looks like a defense-dominated team.
Which offense will be able to go further without allowing a score?