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
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$10.00
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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.
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