Stretchin' For Yards
Oct. 17, 2008
Whitney Holds Off Bruins, 15-14
Bear River’s frosh football team missed their chance Thursday night at Bear River to hand the Whitney Wildcats their first loss of the season.
In a tight game which wasn’t decided until the final minute, Bear River’s last ditch effort for victory was denied when a 32-yard field goal attempt fell short with just over a minute to play.
The two teams were knotted 7-7 at halftime with both scores coming in the final two minutes of the first half.
Bear River scored first when Justin Butler returned a pass interception 30 yards to put the Bruins up 6-0. John Magni’s extra point boot then made it 7-0.
However, before fans could settle into their seats after the Bruins’ score, Whitney’s Isaiah Moore returned Bear River’s ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the Bruins nine-yard line.
Three plays later Wildcats quarterback Jake Rodriguez connected with Corey Palin on a three-yard touchdown pass with just 17 seconds left in the half.. The extra point kick then tied the game 7-7 at halftime.
Bear River (4-2, 0-2) then took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter after Dillon Huffman intercepted another Whitney (6-0, 3-0) pass deep in Wildcats territory and Josh Toft capped the ensuing drive with a one-yard plunge.
However, after Whitney’s defense stalled a Bear River drive, Rodriguez capped a long march when he hit Anthony Sitch on a five-yard scoring pass with 8:50 to play.
Whitney then opted to go for the two-point conversion and the win and the call proved to be a good when as Rodriguez kept out of the shot gun and ran in the keeper for a 15-14 lead.
Bear River’s Garret Jensen led the Bruins with 73 yards rushing on 18 carries.
In other frosh action Thursday:
Colfax 40 Mesa Verde 12 - Roger Lillie returned the opening kick-off 67 yards for a touchdown and Chris Hoffman added a 55-yard interception return for another score as Colfax’s freshman football team blasted Mesa Verde, 40-12, in a Pioneer Valley League game at Colfax Thursday night.
Colfax, now 4-2 overall on the season and 2-1 in PVL games, also received a pair of touchdown runs of 13 and 51 yards from Nolan Karbowski, a 20-yard scoring pass from Austin Young to Sam Quinlan and a 45-yard touchdown gallop by Hunter Owens.
The Falcons play at El Dorado next Thursday.
Del Oro 22 Granite Bay 7 - Nick O’Sullivan returned a punt 90 yards for one touchdown and added another score on an 8-yard run to help lead Del Oro’s freshman football team past Granite Bay, 22-7, Thursday in the Sierra Foothill League opener on the Grizzlies’ field.
The Golden Eagles and Grizzlies both entered the game with spotless 5-0 records but Del Oro proved to be too much for the hosts to handle thanks to strong defensive efforts from Kyle Anderson, Tanner Huber and Jake Jackson.
Del Oro (6-0, 1-0) also received a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bobby Heatherington to Daniel Thomas and also recorded a safety when the defense swarmed a Grizzlies ball carried in the end zone.
Placer 44 Foothill 15 – The Hillmen (3-3, 2-0) ventured out of Pioneer Valley League play and notched their third straight win. Placer built a 24-0 lead by halftime over the Mustangs and never were threatened in the contest.
Alec Burnett got the Hillmen rolling by snagging touchdown passes of 40 and 24 yards from quarterback Jacob Callaghan in the opening.
In the second quarter, Johnny Foley tallied on a 45-yard run and Hayden Goodwin booted home a 20-yard field goal.
Placer completed the rout in the second half with Jordan Ralls scoring on runs of 30 and 20 yards and Goodwin adding another six points on a 50-yard jaunt.
On defense, Placer was led by David Daniel who had an interception, Colton Davenport and Mike Stangland.