Posted: Saturday, November 8, 2008 12:00 am
Philomath loses fourth heart-breaker of
its turnaround season
Gazette Times
MILWAUKIE - The Philomath High football team came up just short of advancing to the second round of the 4A state playoffs, falling 35-34 in double-overtime to La Salle on Friday night.
After La Salle scored first in the second overtime to go up 35-28, PHS responded with a 22-yard touchdown reception by Henry Vaughn from Dan Haynes.
Warriors coach Troy Muir didn't think twice about going for two, rather than the tie.
"In my coaching experience if you have chance to finish a team, especially on the road, you have to try to beat them," Muir said.
However, Namer Fakhoury was stopped about a yard short of the goal line on a counter play.
"We had the momentum at that point and I thought we called a great play," Muir said. "We just didn't block it as well as we could have and they made a great stop."
PHS (6-5) got off to great start in the game, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Keith Fakhoury scored on runs of 33 and 56 yards for the Warriors. He finished with a game-high 156 yards on 22 carries, despite having three players on him most of the game.
"They had to make adjustments on Keith," Muir said. "He was destroying them right up the middle. Eventually though, they started to stop him."
Muir said the Warriors could have done a better job with their ball control. They also had a few miscues in the secondary.
La Salle quarterback Thomas O'Dell threw for 312 yards and three scores.
"The kids played hard," Muir said. "We just came up short. We have been on the short end of things the last two weeks. Tonight we just didn't do some of the little things which is uncharacteristic of us."
It was Philomath's fourth-straight loss to end the season. The Warriors lost four games by less than 10 total points.
In the 3A playoffs, SantiamChristian lost 34-21 to Cascade Christian at Crater High School. Further details were unavailable at press time.
La Salle 35, Philomath 34
PHILOMATH 14 0 0 7 7 6 - 34
LA SALLE 0 7 7 7 7 7 - 35
First Quarter
PHS: K. Fakhoury 33 run (Motter kick), 3:45
PHS: K. Fakhoury 56 run (Motter kick), :33
Second quarter
LHS: Becker 9 run (kick good), 2:55
Third quarter
LHS: McDonaugh 50 pass from O'Dell (kick good), 3:52
Fourth quarter
PHS: Dan Haynes 61 run (Motter kick), 11:39
LHS: Swain 10 pass from O'Dell, Kick good 6:55
First overtime
PHS: Logan Stevens 12 pass from Haynes (Motter kick)
LHS: Becker 4 run (kick good)
Second overtime
LHS: Theraux 12 pass from O'Dell (kick good)
PHS: Henry Vaughn 22 pass from Stevens (run failed)
Rushing: PHS: K. Fakhoury 22-156, LaSalle Becker 21-76
Passing: PHS: Haynes 6-8-1 107. LaSalle: Thomas 19-34-1 312
Receiving: PHS: Vaughn 2-56
5A
ALBANY - Jesse Duke and Lane Stutzman combined for 363 yards rushing and ran for two touchdowns apiece Friday night as South Albany defeated Cleveland 43-19 in a 5A first-round football playoff game.
No. 9 South Albany (8-3) advances to play third-ranked Sherwood next week in the second round.
The Rebels scored 22 straight points after Cleveland (3-7) had closed within 8-7 late in the first quarter.
Cleveland scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to get within 37-19 before South added a late score.
Stutzman carried 16 times for 188 yards, while Duke also had 16 carries and 175 yards. Duke also scored two two-point conversions.
South Albany quarterback Zac Hunter was 5 of 12 passing for 63 yards, including a 19-yard, second-quarter touchdown pass to Justin Robbins.