Corvallis earns a 4A playoff berth with a shutout of McNary

By Steve Gress

Mid-Valley Sports

They have been overlooked since the start of the season.

But on Friday night, the members of the Corvallis High football team made a name for themselves.

Behind a stifling defense, an offense that made enough plays and a kicking game that put them over the top, the Spartans are back in the 4A playoffs after a 20-0 Valley League victory over defending league champion McNary.

"It's just awesome," linebacker Blair Rose said. "It's fantastic to play for such a great team and with such a great defense. The guys come out and work really hard."

Regardless of the outcome next Friday against cross-town rival Crescent Valley, Corvallis (7-1) is assured second place by virtue of its win over McKay (6-2). It's the Spartans' first playoff berth since 1992.

"It's one of those special sports moments that doesn't happen very often," CHS coach Chris McGowan said. "I'm just really excited for the kids, for the people in the stands and it's great to see the student body excited. It makes me feel good for them, for the coaches and it's a special thing that's not going to happen all the time. We will savor it and make the most of it."

The Spartans have made the most of their defense all season, one that has allowed six touchdowns in eight games. The shutout was the first of the season, and the second time they failed to allow a touchdown.

McNary was able to move the ball on a couple of drives, but never scored. The Celtics used back-to-back big plays in the closing seconds of the first half to set up a 25-yard field goal try that was wide.

As impressive as the defense has been, Friday's performance may have been the best.

"And against a team that I think is pretty explosive," McGowan said. "We did get some turnovers (five), but a lot of that is you create some of that stuff for yourself. They didn't give up any big plays and that has kind of been their mode of operation all year. We knew they had to play well to win because we haven't been putting up a lot of points."

Corvallis used a roughing the punter call to extend its opening possession, and Kurtis Magee capped the drive with a 35-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

A roughing the kicker penalty allowed the Spartans to keep another drive alive, and Max Chaney found J.J. Manning for a 4-yard scoring pass that gave the Spartans a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Spartans were able to move the ball early, catching the Celtics off guard by using more motion and throwing more than usual.

"We were getting a little too predictable," McGowan said of the change. "So we wanted to throw something a little different at them. I think it did help move the ball early on and maybe surprise them a little bit."

Magee was the man of the hour in the second half as he talked McGowan into letting him attempt a 51-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. McGowan said he thought about punting to pin the Celtics deep, but decided to give Magee a try.

"He's got quite a leg," McGowan said. "Kurtis was begging to kick it so when a kid feels good about it you kind of want to give him a shot at it."

Magee's kick was straight and bounced off the crossbar and over for what McGowan said might be a school record.

Magee capped the scoring when he bulled in from the 3 in the final minute.

"It's pretty emotional right now," he said. "The last Valley League home game, I never thought the day would come.

"I'm so excited, I love my team. My team did it. We all pulled together. There is no one person. It's a team effort and I love it."

Corvallis 20, McNary 0

MCNARY 0 0 0 0 — 0

CORVALLIS 3 7 0 10 — 20

First quarter

CHS — FG Magee 35, 7:14

Second quarter

CHS — Manning 4 pass from Chaney (Magee kick), 11:54

Fourth quarter

CHS — FG Magee 51, 11:18

CHS — Magee 3 run (Magee kick), :43

Rushing: MHS — K. McCrae 10-36, Quackenbush 2-9, Spivey 3-8, K.J. McCrae 1-2, Ball 11-minus-11. CHS — Magee 14-60, Emmons 5-4, Manning 3-12, Clontz 1-0, Simmons 2-minus-1, Roy 2-21, Chaney 4-minus-11

Passing: MHS — Ball 14-26-2 209. CHS — Chaney 13-26-2 169, Clontz 0-1-0 0

Receiving: MHS — K.J. McCrae 6-89, Quackenbush 2-18, K. McCrae 3-62, Stauber 2-26, Spivey 1-14. CHS — Clontz 3-36, McKimmy 2-26, Magee 3-41, Dickson 2-14, Doty 2-43, Harter 1-9