McKenzie Sports Report – November 27

McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week

There are no McKenzie Varsity Sports contests scheduled this week.

The McKenzie Varsity Basketball teams travel to Oakridge on Wednesday, December 3. The Eagle Girls Varsity team tips off at 6:00 pm and the Boys Varsity follows at 7:00 pm. A Boys Junior Varsity game precedes both Varsity games, starting at 4:30 pm.

Cougars Upset Elks, Advance To Championship

Everyone loves a good underdog story and the Crow Cougar six-man football team (9-2) is making the case that it fits the script. This Cougar team is full intent on tackling a most historic time in its long football history, which despite the School’s 12 appearances (since 1965) in past OSAA State football playoffs, has appeared in a Championship Title game but once, back in 1993, in the 2A State Championship game versus Vale. That game was a Crow 20-6 loss.

So now we consider this Fall season and the latest Cougar upset victim, the Elkton Elks, who as the fourth ranked team in the six-man playoffs, fell 39-45 to ninth ranked Crow, last Saturday, November 22, at Cottage Grove. Talk about complicating Thanksgiving plans, folks in Crow Valley can be thankful for a Cougar team that is representing their School and Community in a very fine manner. We’re down to two Class 1A six-man football teams standing this Fall and you can bet your second helping of mashed potatoes and gravy, that other team, second ranked and undefeated (11-0) Harper Charter Hornets are all abuzz about their own historic opportunity.

The Hornets have never earned a berth in a State Football Championship playoff game, until this season. The Hornet offense/defense this season has stung its opponents by averaging 59.3 points offensively while holding the other team to 5.3 (less than a touchdown) points defensively.

Quick math, that’s a very impressive 54 points per game margin. Five of the Hornet opponents fell with 0 points scored against the Harper Swarm! Back in Cougar Country, Crow averaged 39.6 ppg while allowing 18.0 ppg. But Crow blanked four of its opponents and found a way, convincingly, in playoff action, to upset #8 Dayville/Monument/Lost Creek, #1 Triangle Lake, and #4 Elkton, all on the road at their opponents home field.

So, the field is set, Hornets and Cougars, at Redmond High School, 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 29. Will it be the Cougars crowing or the Hornets buzzing at the final horn?

One things for certain, no Turkeys allowed on this day.

Football Title Games Set

Semi Upsets Stir The Pot

Upset victories across the State playoff classifications have added spice to the Thanksgiving dinner conversations this coming week. Indeed, only two of the six State Classifications have the top ranked team facing off against the second ranked.

Class 2A #1 Heppner, 12-0, will meet #2 Lost River, 11-1 in that Title game held at Summit High School, Saturday, November 29. Lost River’s lone loss came at the hands of Heppner way back in September, a 8-43 non-league loss. Might be some thoughts about revenge in this clash.

The other Classification that went the way of the rankings was Class 5A. There, top ranked Summit, 12-0, will entertain second ranked Silverton, 11-1, at Hillsboro Stadium, on Friday night, November 28. In the Class of the State’s Giants, Class 6A, #3 Lake Oswego, 11-1, thumped #2 Nelson, 31-12, in the Semifinals to advance to the Title tilt. There they will toe up against #5 Central Catholic, 10-2, who beat #1 West Linn, 21-14, in its Semifinal game.

The Class 4A Championship game has #1 Cascade, 12-0, meeting #3 Henley, 9-2. Henley upended second ranked Marshfield, 26-14 to earn its Title berth at Cottage Grove, Saturday, November 29.

Class 3A will hold its Championship game at Summit High on Saturday, November 29 and feature top ranked Cascade Christian, 12-0, and third ranked Burns, 11-1. Burns squeezed by Banks, 36-31 in the Semifinals last Saturday, while Cascade Christian blanked Gervais, 36-0, on the other side of the brackets.

And last but nowhere least in their respective communities, the second ranked Adrian Antelopes, 11-0, the Class 1A eight-man Special District 4 Champs, will travel to Redmond High on Saturday, November 29, to shake hands with (good Sportsmanship for all!) with the fourth ranked Crosspoint Christian Warriors. The Warriors, 9-2, won the Special District 1 League and impressively, trouncing top ranked and previously unbeaten Dufur Rangers, 44-8, in that Semifinal game last Saturday.

One things for sure, football history is on the menu this Thanksgiving weekend. Something to chew on so, please pass the dessert!