PLEASANT HILL 25, SALEM ACADEMY 10
What2Know: The Billies hosted Salem Academy in a Saturday morning game, and took care of business in a smoky home opener. A team that didn’t win all of last season now starts this one 2-0. Pleasant Hill’s defense was able to force multiple Crusader turnovers, and the offense was able to convert those turnovers into scores. Despite the heat and 11 a.m. start time, the Billies offense clicked and was able to move the ball while the defense kept up the physical play that coach Jeremiah
Heacock has been preaching. No one quite knew what to expect of the Billies this season, but the team has responded and started the year off with two dominant looking wins.
Quotable: “Very proud of how our players battled through the heat and the early game time on Saturday,” said Heacock. “Great start to the season!”
SUMMIT 48, THURSTON 10
What2Know: Many assumed that Summit would become immediate contenders when moving down to 5A this year after making the 6A quarterfinals last year. So far, those people would be correct. The Colts traveled to Bend to face the Storm and were held to only 10 points and six first downs the entire game. Sophomore Noah Blair was 8 for 10 with 119 yards and a touchdown, but did throw one interception. Not only did Thurston lose both games so far, but in both games the Colts defense has given up more points than they did in any game all of last season. The Storm were able to muster 414 yards of total offense, and the defense will need to patch things up quickly as league play starts this week.
Colt Top Performers: Noah Blair, 8-for-10, 119 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; Darien Witham, 11 rushed, 27 yards, 4 tackles; Ethan Burkhead 4 tackles.
SANTIAM CHRISTIAN 40, CRESWELL 0
What2Know:
The Bulldogs traveled to face the Santiam Christian Eagles, a team that made the quarterfinals in last year’s 3A playoffs and are one of the favorites this year. The Eagles would shut out the Bulldogs, and running back Jayden Christy was able to take advantage of the Bulldogs mistakes on defense, running for three TDs in the game. Meanwhile on offense, Creswell had a hard time moving the ball and finding time for its QBs to make a throw. QB Connor Hanson was only able to throw for 34 yards in the game, and the run game never got off the ground either. The defense was able to continue some of the positives from week one as junior Jaydon Warthen had an interception and senior Jack Nguyen forced a fumble that senior Juan Beltran recovered. However, the Eagles ultimately proved to be too much.
Quotable: “In the end, we just played a better team than us. We gotta get better and work towards being at that caliber,” said coach – Scott Worsham
Bulldog Top Performers: Connor Hanson, 5-of-9, 34 yards; Jaydon Warthen, 2 catches, 37 yards, 4.5 tackles, 1 INT; Jack Nguyen, 7.5 tackles, 1 FF; Juan Beltran, 6.5 tackles, 1 F recovery.
ELMIRA 36, COTTAGE GROVE 0
What2Know: The Lions were once again shut out, this time at Elmira. The Falcons were able to move the ball with ease on offense, and the Lions would give up 257 yards and four TDs in the air. One of those scores was an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quinton
Buckland to sophomore Kyler Colwell. The Lions were able to move the ball some on offense, and even had a chance to score in the second quarter, but fumbled the ball inside the 10 yard line and the Falcons recovered. Elmira would lead at half 14-0, but scored early in the third quarter and coasted from there. The Lions now look forward and will continue their quest to get a score and a win next week against Philomath.
ST. JOHN BOSCO (CA) 49, CENTRAL CATHOLIC (OR) 0
What2Know: At Autzen Stadium on Friday night, the No. 1 team in the nation, St. John Bosco of California, traveled to Eugene and dominated Oregon’s top Class 6A team, Central Catholic. Bosco jumped out to an early lead and hardly needed more than one or two plays each possession to score. The game was enough to show the true difference between a team with a lot of talent, and a team with 4- and 5-star talent. Not to say that Central Catholic isn’t good, they are. Bosco is simply that much better.
