Mid-Valley Sports

ALBANY — Friday night's Valley League football encounter between West Albany and Corvallis was a microcosm of the season for both teams.

The Spartans had seemingly come up with the big play when they needed and relied on a stingy defense that had allowed just five touchdowns through six games to post a 5-1 record.

It had been the opposite for the Bulldogs, who suffered through a four-game losing streak to start the season thanks in large part to the teams they were facing. Whatever could go wrong for West, did.

On Friday, it appeared the roles had been reversed for most of the first half. The Bulldogs were moving the ball through the air and had a 7-0 lead when one play turned the tide. Senior quarterback Andrew Murphy was hit by Harrison Harter and sprained his ankle. Six plays later the Spartans had the big play they needed to get back in the game.

Jake Roy's 60-yard interception return keyed the comeback as the Spartans held off the Bulldogs for a 15-7 victory that has the Spartans alone in second place at 6-1 with two games to play.

Despite the Bulldogs' 1-5 record heading into the game, Roy said he expected a tough game.

"I had the feeling that West Albany is the one team that can creep up on you and beat a few teams," he said. "My hat's off to them. They played hard.

"It's just that the ball rolled our way a few times and the ball rolled away from them. That's the game. Anything can happen on Friday night."

For most of the first half, it was the Bulldogs that had seized control. Murphy had completed 8 of 15 passes for 141 yards and had scored on a 2-yard run before leaving the game with the injury. The Bulldogs continued to drive with sophomore Michael Sorem as they went to the ground game.

But a leaping Roy snared Sorem's first pass and 60 yards later the Spartans trailed 7-6.

Ryan Piatt eluded two tacklers and broke free up the middle for an apparent 92-yard touchdown on the ensuing kickoff, but an illegal block nullified the run and three plays later, the Spartans had the ball back after Max Chaney's interception.

Chaney connected with Billy Clontz from 42 yards out to put the Spartans up 12-7 at the half, despite being outgained 222-124 in the first half.

"I felt like we had a good game plan for both sides of the football," West Albany coach Randy Nyquist said. "I thought our defense played absolutely tremendous.

"Our offense did a real good job. I would have liked to have seen what would have happened if Andrew had stayed in the ball game. We felt like we could do some things and move the ball against their defense."

With Murphy not able to return, junior Kyle Burright was pressed into action after not dressing in the first half because of a groin injury. Burright moved the Bulldogs on their opening possession, but Cory Dickson's first of two interceptions ended the threat.

"Murph's our leader and when he went down everyone had to step up and we did a pretty good job," said West Albany's Chris Foust, who caught eight passes for 155 yards.

The Spartans failed on two field goal attempts before Kurtis Magee made it an eight-point lead with a 30-yard field goal with four minutes to play.

Dickson and Roy each had interceptions to stymie the Bulldogs' next two drives and Burright's fourth-down pass in the closing seconds fell incomplete.

"Both teams played really hard," Nyquist said. "Our kids competed hard and I know if you talk to their coaching staff and kids they know they were in a football game.

"We just didn't quite get enough going."

The Spartans were relieved to head home with a win, especially after McKay defeated McNary. The Spartans can solidify a playoff berth with a win against McNary next Friday.

"I think since West Albany was 1-5, a lot of our guys were looking forward to McNary to prepare for what could be the second-place game," Dickson said. "Our coaches told us all week not to do that, but I think it kind of got to us."

Added CHS coach Chris McGowan: "I think West Albany came out and played with a ton of heart. They have had a rough season, but we knew they were a good team and they came out and got after us. We didn't always respond well and we are lucky to get out of this with a win."

Corvallis 15, West Albany 7

CORVALLIS 0 12 0 3 — 15

WEST ALBANY 0 7 0 0 — 7

Second quarter

WA — Murphy 2 run (Ohling kick), 8:26

CHS — Roy 60 int return (kick failed), 2:47

CHS — Clontz 42 pass from Chaney (pass failed), :31

Fourth quarter

CHS — FG Magee 30, 4:00

Rushing: CHS — Emmons 10-23, Manning 2-11, Roy 5-81, Simmons 8-22, Magee 6-19, Jones 2-5, Chaney 6-minus-12. WA — Hibbert 12-42, Piatt 6-31, Sim 3-8, Murphy 6-39, Burright 3-minus-8

Passing: CHS — Chaney 6-19-0 115. WA — Murphy 8-15-0 141, Sorem 0-2-2 0, Burright 6-21-3 120

Receiving: CHS — Clontz 3-59, Dickson 3-56. WA — Foust 8-155, Frome 1-13, Polequin 2-26, Prunk 1-21, Piatt 2-46