Thurston Colts wide receiver Caleb Scott, #6, stiff-arms a defender after making a catch. The Thurston Colts defeated the Silverton Foxes 44-14 at Autzen Stadium and will play Crater for the state title. Cody Warren/The Chronicle
EUGENE – Fans layered up at Autzen Stadium on Saturday as the Thurston Colts took on the Silverton Foxes in cold and sunny conditions. The 5A semifinal round was competitive in the first half, where the teams went score-for-score with each other.
Both offenses were running on all cylinders, especially in the passing game. Thurston would strike first on a long rush by star running back Wesley Kommer. Silverton stayed hot on their heels scoring shortly after. Neither team punted the ball until the second quarter, utilizing all four downs when the drive called for it.
But it wasn’t all offense; Autzen Stadium erupted when Thurston defensive back Caleb Scott intercepted a Silverton pass in the redzone. The play would create a 14-point swing for the Colts.
Thurston kicker Gavin Levesque hit a field goal as time expired in the second quarter, sending the Colts into the locker room with a 24-14 lead.
As the second half started the Silverton Foxes were eager to receive the ball and get to work on offence; but that was short lived. Thurston defensive back Santino Stranieri would intercept a deep pass on the first play from scrimmage.
The Colts went on to score 20 unanswered points throughout the second half, leaning heavily on senior running back Wesley Kommer in critical situations. Kommer would score four touchdowns and be named the MVP of the game.
In the end, the Thurston Colts claimed a 44-14 victory and punched their ticket to play the Crater Comets Saturday, November 30th, for a chance to become back-to-back Oregon 5A State Champions.
