SEPTEMBER 23, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A11
McNary no match for Olympians
KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley
Quarterback Josiah Gilbert fi ghts for extra yardage in a 50-21 loss at Sprague on Friday, Sept. 16.
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SALEM—McNary wanted
to get Sprague, a primarily
running team, out of its
comfort zone.
That turned out to be
easier said than done as the
Olympians rushed for 350
yards in a 50-21 win over the
Celtics on Friday, Sept. 16.
“At the point of attack, they
block really well,” McNary
head coach and defensive
coordinator Jeff Auvinen said.
“Their running backs run real
hard. They teach really well.
They’re well coached. They’re
tough kids and they have a
fair amount of talent, too. It’s
a deadly combination.”
The Celtic defense stopped
Sprague early as Junior
Walling sniffed out a reverse
on fourth down to end the
Olympians fi rst drive and then
Marc Baiza sacked Sprague
quarterback Spencer Plant on
third down to force a punt
on the Olympians second
possession.
“I don’t think we backed
down,” Auvinen said. “We
started off strong.”
But Sprague went right
down the fi eld on its third
drive. After runs of 12, 28
and 17 yards, a defensive
pass interference penalty on
McNary gave the Olympians
the ball at their opponent’s
5-yard line. Dane McKinney
took it in from there and a
two-point conversion gave
Sprague an 8-0 lead with 1:09
remaining in the fi rst quarter.
The
Celtic
offense
responded and drove down to
the Sprague 27-yard line but
quarterback Josiah Gilbert was
stopped a yard short on fourth
down.
McNary’s defense gave
the offense opportunities in
the second quarter as Lucas
Garvey and then Brendan Van
Voorhis intercepted Plant but
the Celtics failed to convert
the turnovers into any points.
With only 1:35 remaining
in the fi rst half, Sprague went
back to what it does best as
McKinney carried the ball four
times for 73 yards, including a
35-yard touchdown to give
the Olympians a 15-0 lead
entering halftime.
After McNary punted to
start the second half, Sprague’s
offense continued humming
as Plant connected with Nick
Brotton in the end zone and a
successful two-point try gave
the home team a 23-0 lead.
On third-and-long, the
Olympian defense then made a
play as Gilbert, trying to avoid
a sack, threw an interception
that was returned 40-plus
yards to expand Sprague’s lead
to 30-0.
“We’re not designed to
make up those third and long
situations,” Auvinen said. “We
need to have a positive play
on fi rst down and a positive
play on second down to set us
up so we can do anything on
third down.”
On the following kickoff,
Jonathan Williams fi nally gave
the McNary crowd something
to cheer about with a 90-yard
return to get the Celtics on
the scoreboard.
But after a failed onside kick
attempt, the Olympian offense
kept rolling as Noah Mellen
added a 6-yard touchdown
run with 2:38 remaining in
the third quarter.
Xavier Martinez scored
McNary’s
fi rst
offensive
touchdown on a 6-yard run
with 10:06 left to play.
After Sprague tight end
Jakoby Doke out jumped Van
Voorhis in the end zone to
catch a 26-yard touchdown
pass from Plant, Van Voorhis
responded with a 73-yard
touchdown reception to get
the Celtics within 43-21.
A.J. Johnk was a perfect
3-for-3 on extra points.
The Olympians added a
37-yard touchdown through
the air to complete the scoring
with 3:40 remaining.
Gilbert
led
McNary
both in passing with 138
yards, a touchdown and
three interceptions as well as
rushing with 62 yards on 16
carries. Josh Benson caught six
catches for 41 yards.
“We just need to keep get-
ting better,” Auvinen said. “We
need to work on our tackling
and getting off blocks. We
need to work on fi nishing
plays on offense.”
GRAGG,
continued from Page 8
a great job of embracing and
welcoming us here.”
Brian
played
football
through the eighth grade but
tore his labrum, bicep and
dislocated his shoulder playing
basketball the summer before
he was to start high school.
After surgery, he was able to
fi nish out the basketball season
and decided to try six-man
football last fall. However,
another dislocated shoulder
quickly ended his season.
At McNary, Brian wasn’t
sure if he’d give football
another try.
“We were just moving here
and I was concerned about
the condition of my shoulder,”
he said.
When Scott was asked if
Brian would play, he would
reply that was his son’s
decision but you’re welcome
to go pursue him.
“That’s why every student,
teacher, their dog was asking
me,” Brian said.
The encouragement of
Auvinen, Emmert and MHS
Principal Erik Jespersen was
enough to convince Brian to
come out.
“I think he’s in it for the
right reasons,” Scott said. “I
think he was approached for
the right reasons and made
a good decision in doing it.
I just hope he’s able to stay
healthy and enjoy it and stay
active.
“The bottom line is I’m
proud of him. It has not been
easy for him being the biggest
kid. There’s a lot of ways that
make it challenging. There’s
a certain expectation when
your dad played in the NFL
for 11 years that he follows
in those footsteps and that
may or may not be what he’s
interested in doing. I’ve always
pushed him to stay active and
participate in things that he’s
interested in.”
Brian’s interests also include
music. He’s playing trombone
in the McNary band.
“Somehow we were able
to fi nd a uniform to fi t me,”
Brian said. “I’ve heard there’s
a few parades I’ll have the
opportunity to be in and I’m
very excited about that.”
Brian hasn’t decided if he
wants to become one of the
most popular players on the
McNary basketball team or
throw the shot put for the
Celtics this spring. But of
course people are asking.
Right now, he’s just happy
to be playing football.
“It’s just good for physical
activity to keep me going and
it keeps me surrounded with a
lot of good guys,” Brian said.
“I’m taking it one step at a
time.”
Scott has known two other
McNary football coaches
for years. Head coach Jeff
Auvinen’s wife is Scott’s
fi rst cousin and offensive
coordinator Brad Emmert was
Scott’s defensive coordinator
at Silverton.
“We felt like McNary
would be a great place for
our son to go to school and
to interact with people that
I know,” Scott said. “It’s
been an adjustment but the
community of Keizer and the
school specifi cally have done
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Saturday Evening
6:00 pm
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
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9:00 am
and
10:45 am
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 9:15 a.m.
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