Cottage Grove sentinel., November 29, 2017, Image 12

B
S PORTS
Section B
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
South Lane County Sports and Recreation
Contact Sports, 942-3325 or e-mail zsilva@cgsentinel.com
STATE CHAMPIONS
Cottage Grove's Chad Bottorff breaks through an opening during the state championship game.
By Zach Silva
zsilva@cgsentinel.com
Cottage Grove football
wins its fi rst title in
school history
It was yet another victory for the
Cottage Grove football team.
It was a familiar storyline: the of-
fense overwhelmed the opposition as
the defense allowed just two touch-
downs; the team – that won by an aver-
age of 30 points per game this season –
did what they had done all year but this
time the stakes were higher; this time
they displayed their dominance in the
4A state championship.
A year after fi nishing second in state,
the Cottage Grove football team com-
pleted its undefeated season Saturday
at Hillsboro Stadium and beat Marsh-
fi eld 48-14 in the 4A state champion-
ship game to win the fi rst football title
in school history.
“Last year after we lost, all of our
juniors, going to be seniors, said that
we’re going to come back and we’re
going to do it. We are all just per-
sistent, I would say. And we knew what
we had to do to get back and we did it
all season and we just went crazy with
it,” said Cottage Grove senior Hayden
Glenn who was named player of the
game.
It was the Lions' third time in the
championship in the last three years
but the fi rst time they were able to take
home the previously elusive title.
“When we walked off the fi eld last
year… our guys were disappointed but
they were hungry to get back here and
they worked really hard and I’m so
proud of them for what they did. I can’t
– it’s unbelievable. Because I, you
know, it’s easy to think that you’re go-
ing to get there but it’s a lot of work,”
said head coach Gary Roberts. With
the win, Roberts became the winnin-
gest coach in Cottage Grove football
history.
Coming into the game Roberts had a
little extra motivation as he was facing
off against his alma mater.
“I heard from a lot of people this
week that I knew and I care about. A
lot of well wishes,” said Roberts who
noted that there were also those who
wanted their home team, the Pirates, to
win.
As the rain came down at Hillsboro
Stadium, the Lions began the game
with the ball. Looking to ease their
way into the game, the Lions put to-
PHOTOS BY CGHS PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS/CHANDLER BASCUE AND JORDAN HAGEWOOD
gether a 15-play drive in which they
marched 80 yards that was capped by
a Chad Bottorff one-yard touchdown
run. After a Jacob Woods interception
that was followed by a Cottage Grove
punt, Marshfi eld’s quarterback Grant
Woolsey found Zach Kellar for an 85-
yard screen play.
All tied up, the Lions then did what
they have done all season: scored fast
and frequently.
It started with quarterback Dylan
Graves fi nding Woods on a 43-yard
screen play for a touchdown. After a
Glenn interception, it was Graves fak-
ing two handoffs and fi nding Woods
downfi eld for a 32-yard touchdown
reception.
“His speed is incredibly mind blow-
ing. I know that I can give him the ball
and let him do his thing and he’ll defi -
nitely get to the end zone,” said Graves
about Woods. Graves fi nished the game
10-of-13 passing for 193 yards and
three touchdown passes, all of which
were to Woods.
After another defensive stop and a
16-yard Marshfi eld punt, the Lions
started on their drive on the Pirates 31
and quickly capitalized this time with
a Juice Clafl in three-yard rush that put
the Lions up 28-7 halfway through the
A host of Lions chase down a fumble in the fi rst half.
Athletes of
the Week
This week’s athlete
of the week is the
Cottage Grove
football team for its
success not just in
the championship
but all season.
Here is the team by
the numbers:
second quarter.
The Pirates offense, that had aver-
aged 43 points per game coming into
the game, showed signs of life as they
powered through the Lions defense for
the fi rst time all day and made their way
downfi eld and scored a touchdown. It
was their last score of the game.
Marshfi eld started with the ball in the
second half but were stopped by the Li-
ons on fourth down and then the scor-
ing fl oodgates were once again opened
for Cottage Grove.
Graves found Woods for anoth-
er touchdown, Erick Giffen forced a
Woolsey fumble that Clafl in ran back
for a 60-yard score and then Clafl in
scored another offensive touchdown to
put the Lions up 48-14 with a quarter
left to play.
Marshfi eld came close to scoring in
the fi nal quarter but on fourth and goal
were dropped for a loss by the stingy
Lions defense.
“On fourth down I could look them
in they eyes and I knew that I had trust
that we were going to make the play,”
said Cottage Grove’s Cooper Ladd.
“Especially down here on the fourth
down on the goal line that pretty much
sealed the game.”
The fi nal whistle sounded and Cot-
tage Grove’s dream of a title became
their reality. The rain continued to pour
and tears were mixed with raindrops
as the Lions were handed the coveted
state championship trophy.
“It feels, words can’t describe how
I’m feeling right now. It’s just been
four years of grinding. I’ve been there
all summer for the last four years and
it’s just been a picture, it’s just been a
dream and I fi nally just, I fi nally have it
in my hand. When I had that gold med-
al in my hand I just didn’t know what
to say. It brought tears to my eyes see-
ing coach hold that blue trophy,” said
Ladd.
It became a frenzy on the fi eld as
coaches, players, parents and fans
found each other and embraced each
other, took pictures and just smiled as
they rejoiced that the title was fi nally
theirs.
“All of the hard work has paid off.
All the pain has paid off,” said senior
Nate Farrell. “Here we are and it’s paid
off. I won a state championship with
every one of those guys. I know them
by name, I know them by heart.”
For a recap of the undefeated season,
turn to pages B3 and B4
As the sideline cheers him on, Jacob Woods sprints past the Marshfi eld defense for a touchdown.
0 15 48 78 100 +
Number of
losses this
season
Slimmest
margin of
victory this
year
Average amount Touchdowns Cottage Messages (texts/emails/
of points they
Grove scored this
Facebook messages) that
scored this
season. They gave
head coach Gary Roberts
season
up just 23
received after the game
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Cottage Grove 48, Marshfi eld 14