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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2017)
B S PORTS Section B Goals, and wins, evade Lions Wednesday, September 27, 2017 South Lane County Sports and Recreation Contact Sports, 942-3325 or e-mail zsilva@cgsentinel.com Lions too much for Falcons to handle Cottage Grove girls' soccer continues to struggle By Zach Silva zsilva@cgsentinel.com It has been a season of what- could-have-been moments for the Cottage Grove girls’ soccer team (1-4-1). Aside from their opening 10-0 loss at Philomath, the games they have lost have been by mar- gins of two, three and one goal apiece. First year head coach Reed Levings still wants more from the team that won three games last sea- son “I’m a little upset,” said Levings after Tuesday’s loss at home to El- mira. “They were beatable. They were a beatable team and we just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.” Tuesday’s game started with the Lions controlling possession for the fi rst 10 minutes of play. In clear control of the game, the team was creating offensive chances that were stymied by the Falcons defense. After a giveaway on their own half, Falcons striker Jad- enn Blunt took advantage as she broke away, outsprinted the Lions defense and slipped the ball past goalie Irene Ferguson for her fi rst of two goals on the game. Blunt’s second goal came 10 minutes later when Falcons pres- sure led to another breakaway that the Lions were not able to stop. For the rest of the half the Lions strug- gled to consistently string multi- ple passes together and when they were close to the goal posed no real threat to score. “We controlled the fi eld,” said Levings on the opening minutes of the game. “When we make good passes to each other it’s an easier game but we ended up just kicking the ball and running and chasing. All I asked them at halftime is just make good passes on the ground. Play to feet and then the goals will come." After stressing this message of getting back to the basics, the Li- ons started fi nding some opportuni- ties including multiple corner kicks that forced Elmira to have to make stops. Defensively Ferguson made multiple saves and it looked the Lions looked to fi nally break free when Chelsea Armstrong got past the Falcons back line and seemed to score but was called for offsides. With just under 10 minutes left, Elmira was awarded a penalty kick where Kaycee Monagon took ad- vantage and scored with a screamer from 30 yards out to put the Fal- cons up 3-0 and seal the victory. Despite the loss, Levings com- mended the team for their effort on the pitch. “They didn’t give up. They played until the very last minute and that’s all I can ask,” said Lev- ings. “Gosh, I’m still just so upset.” On Thursday the Lions fell to Sutherlin on the road 2-1. A swarm of Cottage Grove defenders take down Elmira's running back. PHOTO BYJORDAN HAGEWOOD Cottage Grove football stays perfect as they beat Elmira on the road By Zach Silva of the same. After Graves threw an interception, El- mira had the ball facing a long 3rd and eight. Herbert dropped back for the second time and was met by While they got the win, Cottage Grove football’s Cottage Grove’s Colton Benner who stripped the ball 41-18 win at Elmira was not something they were and ran into the end zone for a touchdown. On the pleased with. The Falcons (2-1) and Lions (4-0) both next drive, Herbert found himself dropped back and came into the game undefeated and looking to make on his fi rst actual fi rst pass of the game he was then a statement in the fi rst Sky-Em league game of the intercepted by Cottage Grove’s Jacob Woods. season for each team. The Lions offense started to roll and Juice Claf- While this season’s Cottage lin ran into Grove team has been a staple of the end zone speed and effi cient scoring, this for one of his game did not start that way for two rushing the Lions. It all began in a slop- touchdowns py fashion with each team fum- of the game. bling on their fi rst possessions Now up 20- of the game. 0, the Lions On the Lions next possession were rolling. they looked like they were back They stopped to their old selves as they scored Elmira and in four plays. That was capped then on 4th by quarterback Dylan Graves and 26 from fi nding a wide-open Hayden the Elmira 28 Glenn for a 38-yard touchdown Graves rolled reception to put the Lions up left to fi nd 7-0. Woods in the Coming into the week, the corner of the message that Elmira’s head endzone for coach Justin Peeler had been the score. preaching was that they were After an El- going to run the ball all game. mira fumble While the Falcons offense is on the ensu- predicated on their rushing at- ing kickoff, PHOTO BYJORDAN HAGEWOOD tack, their passing took a back- Cottage Grove's Juice Clafl in looks to overpower the Lions re- the Falcons seat this game. During the week defense on Friday night. covered and junior starting quarterback Row- struck quickly. dy Ramirez broke his hand which This time they opened up the job to freshman Cobyn Herbert. used a trick play that resulted in receiver Giffen fi nd- The Falcons were focused solely on running the ing quarterback Graves downfi eld for the 30-yard ball and each of Herbert’s early pass attempts were touchdown to put Cottage Grove up 34-0 in the fi rst an adventure. Down a score and facing a 4th and 10 half. outside of fi eld goal range, Herbert dropped back “It felt great,” said Graves on getting to be a re- for the fi rst time of the game when a group of Lions ceiver. “This is my fi rst time playing quarterback quickly sacked him for an eight-yard loss and a turn- since middle school. I played receiver my freshman over on downs. and sophomore year so it’s just going back to the old Herbert’s next two forays into passing were more days.” Athlete of the Week Let’s go racing! $10.00 General Admission!! zsilva@cgsentinel.com In addition to his touchdown reception, Graves fi nished the game 13-of-17 for 163 yards with one touchdown pass and an interception. Head coach Gary Roberts was also pleased with the execution of Graves trick play. “[Offensive Coordinator Marty] Johnson is big on after we get a turnover… we’re going to do what we call sudden change plays. We’re going to try and take advantage of something and hit them with a home run. We were fortunate enough tonight that we exe- cuted it pretty well,” said Roberts. Elmira scored on the next possession and at half- time Cottage Grove was up 34-6. But despite the score, Roberts was not pleased with how the team played. “First half was kind of going through the motions, it wasn’t very graceful,” said Roberts. “I lit us up a little bit at halftime. We did some things that were a little uncharacteristic of what a good football team is.” The second half saw Cottage Grove score just once, a Clafl in rushing touchdown, and Elmira started to work the ball downfi eld and even complete multiple passes. The Falcons found the end zone twice and continued to go for two each time and failed on each attempt. While Cottage Grove won by a wide margin, won their 14th regular season game in a row and started league play out with a win, the Lions were not happy with how they played. “The game defi nitely wasn’t what we wanted,” said Woods who fi nished the game with 82 yards receiv- ing, a touchdown and an interception. “We defi nitely didn’t execute like we should. So there is a lot to pick up next week and we’ve got to fi x the little things.” On Friday, the Lions will be hosting Sweet Home who are 4-0 on the season and have given up just 20 points total in those games. “Overall, in the second half I was much happier with our effort. But you know our kids are smart enough to know… they weren’t as good as they should be,” said Roberts. “And they know they have to be that sharp next week playing Sweet Home or else. Sweet Home won’t put the ball on the ground four times in the fi rst half. They are going to take care of the football and make it tough on us.“ This week's athlete of the week was Cottage Grove goalie Zach Stewart. Last week the Lions scored big and held their two opponents to one goal. For a complete recap of last Thursday's 9-0 win, turn to B4. SEPTEMBER 30TH EVENT CLASSES: LATE MODELS, TODD’S AUTO BODY SPRINTS, IMCA SPORTMODS, STREET STOCKS, QUALITY RV REPAIR HORNETS