Keizertimes., April 16, 2021, Page 23, Image 23

APRIL 16, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A23
there for a long time,” Rios said.
“I don't know if we let our foot off the
gas a little in the second half, but they
made some good adjustments,” McCarty
added.
After a South Salem interception on a
tipped pass, South Salem receiver Gabe
Johnson lined up in the wildcat and
scampered 14 yards for the score to give
the Saxons their first lead at 36-30.
McNary, however, showed that they
still had some fight left after giving up 30
straight points.
McCarty began the drive with a 25-yard
completion to Aron Montoya, then fol-
lowed with a 29-yard pass to Martin after
extending the play. A 34-yard screen to
Braiden Copeland put the Celtics inside
the 10-yard line.
“We struggled leveling off the ups and
downs of momentum. But towards the
end we started picking it up. Guys were
making plays,” McCarty said.
After three incompletions, the Celtics
faced fourth-and-goal at the seven-yard
line. But on fourth down, McCarty deliv-
ered one of the most clutch plays of his
career, escaping pressure, rolling to his
left and throwing a strike to Montoya
for the score to tie the game up midway
through the final period.
Montoya, who came into the game
with just 42 yards receiving, was much
more involved in the offense than in pre-
vious games, catching four balls for 64
yards and a score.
“It just kind of happened. (Montoya)
just stepped up. We never really go to
specific guys, whoever is open is getting
the ball. He happened to be open a lot,”
McCarty said.
However, with a chance to take the
lead back, Ready missed the extra point
after the Montoya touchdown, a McNary
error that proved to be costly down the
stretch.
Both teams failed to score before the
end of regulation, forcing the game into
overtime.
McNary got the first possession in OT
and went to work quickly as a comple-
tion to Martin and a first down run from
Braiden Copeland put the ball inside the
three-yard line. Copeland later scored
on a one-yard run, allowing McNary to
re-take the lead.
The Celtics forced South Salem into a
fourth down situation in the Saxons over-
time possession. Gertenrich threw the
ball across the middle that fell incomplete
and the Celtics started celebrating on the
field, believing that they won the game.
But a late flag was thrown, calling pass
interference on McNary, which negated
the incompletion and gave South Salem
a first down.
“I didn't agree with a lot of the calls
the refs made, but that's neither here nor
there,” Rios said. “We were the better
team and we should have beat them, we
just didn't execute in the second half.”
Auvinen added: “We had way too
many penalties and breakdowns. We did
certain things well at times, but nothing
was consistent.”
Gertenrich scored on a four-yard
quarterback draw to cut the lead to one
moments later, and with the kicking
issues they experienced all night, the
Saxons elected to go for two and the win.
Johnson once again lined up in the
wildcat on the two-point play, found a
crease and snuck across the goal line,
propelling the Saxons to the one-point
victory.
“I love winning and I hate losing, but
right now all I am really thinking about is
the guys I have been playing football with
since we were kids,” McCarty said.
After the game had concluded, the
Celtics held their senior night ceremony,
honoring the nine seniors who had given
the last four years to the program.
“My four years have been completely
amazing. I have grown a lot as a player
and a person. I love the coaching staff
here,” Rios said.
While he is going to miss his seniors,
Auvinen hopes that this loss will serve as
fuel for the team when they begin prepar-
ing for the fall season.
“These guys are great kids, just a plea-
sure to be around. They work their butts
off. They are good to each other and good
to their coaches. Hopefully this will make
us hungry for the fall because I think
these kids will want to get the sour taste
out of their mouth,” Auvinen said.
Questions or concerns? Contact the
reporter via email: news@keizertimes.com
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McNart quarterback Jack McCarty fires a pass to the flat.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes