Keizertimes., March 19, 2021, Page 41, Image 41

MARCH 19, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE B17
FOOTBALL: ‘We were
getting guys more chances'
Continued from page B15
when the quarterback stumbled and
threw it, it was right to me. And the first
thought I had was 'Oh crap. I just caught
the ball. Now what?'” Hubbard said.
Hubbard may have panicked for
a brief moment, but the McNary stu-
dent-body president raced 90 yards to
the end zone for his first ever touchdown
to give the Celtics the lead as his team-
mates went ballistic on the sideline.
“As soon as I had it in my hands, I
just booked it. I wasn't stopping until I
reached the end zone,” Hubbard said. “I
can't stop smiling. It is probably going
to be one of the plays that made my
senior year.”
“In that first series we were battling
back and forth, but when the inter-
ception happened. That was a huge
momentum change,” McNary head
McNary linebacker Dyami Rios wreacked havoc in the McKay backfield for much of the game.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
Due to updated guidance from the Oregon Health Authrority, a limited number of spectators
were allowed to watch the game in-person.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
M emorial C enters ◆ C remation & B urial
Simplicity - Convenience - Low Cost
simple
cremation
simple direct
burial
church
funeral
◆
$795
◆
$995
◆
$2965
Salem
Portland
Eastside
275 Lancaster Dr. SE
Salem, OR 97317
832 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
1433 SE 122nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97233
(503) 581-6265
(503) 783-3393
(503) 783-6865
Tualatin
Tigard
Milwaukie
8970 SW Tualatin
Sherwood Rd.
Tualatin, OR 97062
12995 SW Pacific Hwy
Tigard, OR 97223
16475 SE McLoughlin Blvd.
Milwaukie, OR 97267
(503) 783-6869
(503) 653-7076
(503) 885 -7800
“Easy Online Arrangements”
CrownCremationBurial.com
coach Jeff Auvinen added.
The Celtics offense didn't move the
chains until the final play of the open-
ing period. In the second quarter, how-
ever, they exploded for 28 points.
McCarty threw a strike to Aron
Montoya for 21 yards on the first play of
the second quarter. The following play,
McCarty hit Tyler Copeland on a beau-
tiful fade in the corner of the end zone
to put the Celtics on top 14-0.
The Celtics only needed two plays
to score in their following drive as run-
ning back Zane Aicher broke through a
seam at the line-of-scrimmage and went
untouched in route to his 65-yard score.
While the McNary offense found
their groove later in the first half, their
defense remained stout all game long
for the second straight week — the
Celtics held McKay to just three first
downs in the first half.
“Our defense takes a lot of pride in
what we do and how we have played the
last two weeks,” Hubbard said.
Two first down throws from McCarty
to Tyler Copeland and Gunner
Smedema got the Celtics inside the
five. A four-yard touchdown catch by
Braiden Copeland on a shallow cross
extended the McNary lead to 28-0.
“Our line did a really good job with
run-blocking and pass-protection.
There were some big-time plays from
our quarterback and receivers, there's
no doubt about that,” Auvinen said.
Not to be outdone by his little brother,
Tyler Copeland extended the lead to
35-0 late in the second quarter with an
incredible touchdown catch. With less
than two minutes remaining in the half,
McCarty targeted Copeland downfield
and threw the ball up into double cov-
erage. It appeared that a McKay safety
was camped under the ball, prepared to
make the interception. But at the last
moment, Copeland leapt and snagged
the ball out of the air and got to the end
zone for the 32-yard score.
“I thought I was going to get drilled,
but I was able to snag it out of his
hands,” Tyler said. “The passing game
was our focus all week. That's what our
main priority was. We worked on a lot
of pass plays this week and finding the
open spot.”
McKay got on the board late in the
third quarter, but Braiden Copeland
put the finishing touches on this one
when the Celtics got the ball back. On
the Celtics first play of the second half,
Copeland caught a quick slant, broke
numerous tackles and rumbled 68 yards
for his second score of the game.
The Celtics will go on the road for the
first time this season on Friday, March
19 as they get set to take on Sprague at
7:30 p.m.
McNary hosts first
cross country meet
The McNary cross country team
hosted their first dual meet on Saturday,
March 13 at Whiteaker Middle School
against South Salem.
Freshman Aspynn Westby was the
top finisher for the McNary girls, plac-
ing third with a time of 21:09. Cielo
Chavez came in 12th with a time of
26:18.
On the boys side, Benjamin
Standley was the top performer for the
Celtics with a time of 18:37. Connor
Roop placed sixth (19:07) and Brennan
Whalen took seventh (19:16.)
McNary senior Cielo Chaves finished her
race with a time of 26:18.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes