THURSTON 35, NORTH EUGENE 0
What2Know: The Colts beat the Highlanders in Eugene to secure their first win of the season. Thurston used a dominant second quarter in which it scored 21 points. Senior Darien Witham opened the scoring on an 11-yard run in the first quarter. Witham also contributed to the second-quarter barrage with an INT for a touchdown. Sophomore Noah Blair led the offense with 193 passing yards and passed for two TDs, an 89-yarder to Luke Newell and 20-yarder to Walker Bonar. The Colts defense was led by their two middle linebackers, Vaun Halstead and Romynn Schaefer.
Colts top performers: Blair, 7-for-8, 193 yards, 2 TDs; Witham, 7 rushes, 29 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT ret. for TD; Newell, 2 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD; Bonar, 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD; Halstead, 1 rushing TD, 3 tackles, 1 sack; Schaefer, 4 tackles.
PLEASANT HILL 20, HARRISBURG 14
What2Know: The Billies stayed undefeated, beating the Eagles in a competitive Mountain Valley Conference matchup. Pleasant Hill led early after an interception return for a touchdown by sophomore Kaden Howes. Senior QB Matthew Dutton then connected with junior Colton Kaiser on an 11-yard TD in the 2nd quarter, and the Billies would lead 14-0 at half. Harrisburg would come out much better in the second half as junior QB Jack Lidbeck led a drive capped off by a 5-yard TD pass to junior Landen Hecht, cutting the lead to seven. Billies other senior QB Brasen Holliday would respond with a 12-yard TD pass to Howes, giving Pleasant Hill a 20-7 lead. Lidbeck and Hecht would connect on another TD pass in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles were unable to close the gap any more.
Quotable: “I was extremely proud of how the team overcame adversity to grind out a win against a tough opponent. Coach Beach and his staff made some great halftime adjustments that led to a close finish. Very proud of a lot of outstanding efforts by several players and am proud of how we competed until the very last play,” said coach Jeremiah Heacock.
Billies top performers: Dutton, 11-of-23, 115 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs; Holliday, 3-of-7, 29 yards, 1TD, 3 rushes, 22 yards; Braedon Hazel, 19 rushes, 51 yards, 4.5 tackles; Kaiser, 3 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD; Howes, 2 catches, 27 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT ret for TD; Jacob Neely, 2 INTs; Dominic Duckett, 2 sacks.
PHILOMATH 42, COTTAGE GROVE 0
What2Know: The Lions will have to wait another week to score their first points of the season after being shut out in its first Sky-Em game of the year. Philomath junior Kaden Muir picked off a Brayden Crump pass and returned it 47 yards for the opening score. That play would open the floodgates, and the Warriors would lead 27-0 at the end of the 1st quarter, and 40-0 at half. Cottage Grove turned over the ball four times and mustered only a single first down the whole game.
