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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2016)
Sports B1 Appeal Tribune, www.silvertonappeal.com Wednesday, November 23, 2016 PHOTOS BY DANIELLE PETERSON / STATESMAN JOURNAL Kennedy’s Emorej Lynk runs the ball as the Trojans fall to Stanfield 32-13 in the OSAA Class 2A state semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. Memorable season ends for Kennedy in 2A semis 2A SEMIFINALS GARY HOROWITZ STATESMAN JOURNAL STANFIELD 32, KENNEDY 13 HILLSBORO – Kennedy quarterback Brett Traeger has much to look forward to. Ditto for running back Bishop Mitch- ell. They will turn their attention to bas- ketball next week, but the realization that their high school football careers ended Saturday in the OSAA Class 2A state semifinals was a painful reality. No. 2 seed Stanfield prevailed over No. 3 seed Kennedy, 32-13 on Saturday at Hillsboro High School. The Trojans (10-2), who closed to 14-13 early in the third quarter on Mitchell’s 88-yard run, were hoping for a return trip to the state championship game af- ter losing to Heppner in last year’s title game. “It’s been a heck of a ride. We’ve done quite a bit,” said Traeger, who completed 7 of 21 passes for 93 yards and an inter- ception against a stout Stanfield defense. “I can’t even put into words how proud I am of everybody and how much work they put in. Had a lot of dudes step up this year.” That’s a fact. The Trojans came into the semifinals on a six-game winning streak, losing their only regular season game to Regis, 15-7 at midseason in a Tri-River Confer- ence matchup. No. 1 seed Regis (10-2) and Stanfield (11-1) will be playing Nov. KENNEDY – 0-7-6-0 – 13 STANFIELD – 7-7-6-12 – 32 FIRST QUARTER Stanfield: Monsus 13-yard run. Angel kick SECOND QUARTER Kennedy: Mitchell, 2-yard run. Hernandez kick Stanfield: Woods, 12-yard pass from Grogan. Angel kick THIRD QUARTER Kennedy: Mitchell, 88-yard run. 2-point conversion failed Stanfield: Grogan, 3-yard run. 2-point conversion failed FOURTH QUARTER Kennedy’s Bishop Mitchell runs the ball in the OSAA Class 2A state semifinals on Saturday at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. 26 in the state championship game. Kennedy, which outscored Gaston and Toledo 108-14 in its first two playoff games, ran into a worthy opponent Sat- urday. Stanfield’s only loss this season came to a team from Washington. “We just didn’t pull through,” said Mitchell, who ran for 113 yards and both Kennedy’s Jeremy Kliewer and the Trojans fall to Stanfield 32-13 in the OSAA Class 2A state semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. Kennedy touchdowns. “We could have done better.” The season-ending defeat should not detract from another outstanding sea- son. Reaching the state championship game and semifinals in consecutive sea- sons is something to be proud of. But as third-year coach Joe Panuke noted after the game, “it feels like their heart just got ripped out of their chests.” “We played really well those first two rounds,” Panuke said. “Didn’t play our best game today.” Kennedy will certainly miss a distin- guished senior class that included Traeg- er and Mitchell, who have been instru- mental in the Trojans’ recent success. “They work hard. They do they right things on and off the field,” Panuke said. “Definitely guys you want to represent your program and teach the younger guys.” Kennedy was held to 236 total yards compared to 373 for the Tigers, who rushed for 254 yards, including 138 yards and two scores from Thyler Mon- kus. After the Trojans closed to 14-13 early in the third quarter, Stanfield was in con- trol the remainder of the game. Mitchell will continue his football ca- reer next season at Portland State. Traeger will play basketball and baseball the rest of this season for Kennedy, but he’ll miss the camaraderie of football. “You’re out here with your brothers, you’re just battling,” Traeger said. “There’s nothing out here like it and I’m gonna miss it like crazy.” ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6726 or Twitter.com/ghorowitz STANFIELD 32, KENNEDY 13 HILLSBORO - Kennedy’s dream of returning to the Class 2A state champi- onship game fell short. No. 2 Stanfield defeated No. 3 Kenne- Stanfield: Keeney, 2-yard run. 2-point conversion failed Stanfield: Monkus, 1-yard run. PAT no good dy, 32-13 on Saturday in a semifinal matchup at Liberty High School. Stanfield plays No. 1 seed Regis next Saturday in the state championship game. “Our goal is obviously to get back to the state championship and win it for all these seniors, but we just came up a little short,” said third-year Kennedy coach Joe Panuke, whose Trojans lost to Heppner in last year’s state champion- ship game. The Trojans (10-2) trailed 14-7 at half- time and had just 76 total yards. But senior running back Bishop Mitchell broke loose for an 88-yard touchdown on Kennedy’s first offensive play of the third quarter, cutting the lead to 14-13. Back came the Tigers (11-1), who in- creased the lead to 20-13 on quarterback Dylan Grogan’s 3-yard run at 4:30 of the third quarter. Kennedy was unable to mount a drive and was forced to punt, giving Stanfield excellent field position at the Trojans’ 46-yard yard. Justin Keeeny’s 2-yard touchdown run gave the Tigers a 26-13 advantage in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Stanfield added another touchdown on Thyler Monkus’ 1-yard run with 4:56 left to seal the win. The Tigers had 373 total yards to 236 for Kennedy. The Trojans, whose only previous loss this season was at Regis on Sept. 30, had their six-game winning streak snapped. “We worked hard and we got as far as obviously we could,” said Mitchell, who ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns. “I’m just proud of how much work we put in this season.” ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6726 or Twitter.com/ghorowitz