P o l k C oun t y S p o r t s 12A Po l k Coun t y I t em fi z e r -Ob se rv e r • Sep t embe r 16 , 2015 T a l l : Sa va ge e x c fi t ed f o r sea son , fu tu re Con t finued f rom Page 10A Ge t t fing a k fi l l fi s a common o c cu r r en ce fo r S a vage . A s a m fidd le b lo cke r , S a vage p r e s - en t s a b fig ma t chup p rob lem fo r opponen t s . When go fing up fo r a k fi l l , he r leng th a l low s he r to choo se whe the r to sp fike the ba l l a t the he figh t o f he r jump o r wa fi t un t fi l he r oppo - nen t s a r e no longe r fin the a fi r . Savage ’ s ab fi l fi ty wa s on fu l l d fi sp lay on Thu r sday even fing , reco rd fing 10 k fi l l s du r fing the D ragon s ’ f five - se t v fic to ry o ve r r fiva l Cen - t ra l . “ I t ry and see fi f I can h fi t a round the b lo ck , ” S a vage sa fid . “U sua l l y I can be cau se o f m y he figh t . ” She ’ s a ta l l o rde r fo r op - po s fing p laye r s on de fen se a s we l l — one look a t p lay - e r s hop fing to h fi t the ba l l o ve r Savage show s ju s t how d fi f f ficu l t she can make l fi fe fo r tho se t ry fing to cha l - lenge he r . “ I l fike b lo ck fing , ” S a vage sa fid . “Be fing ab le to ju s t dom fina te (a t the ne t ) fi s fun . I can jump fin to the ne t and some t fime s b lo ck ba l l s w fi th m y e lbow s on a c c fiden t . ” The D ragon s hope to tap fin to Savage ’ s po ten t fia l th roughou t the sea son a s she cou ld make the d fi f fe r - ence wheneve r she s tep s on to the cou r t . “The ke y fi s keep fing he r con f fiden ce up and keep fing he r agg r e s s fi v e a t the ne t , ” Lav fie r sa fid . “She doe sn ’ t know how good she fi s . She ’ s on l y go fing to ge t be t te r . I t ’ s aw e some . W e ha v e some r e - a l l y young p la y e r s and fi t ’ s g r ea t to see them s tep up and take cha rge . ” Savage ha s made he r p r e sen ce fe l t a l r eady , bu t she ’ s no t sa t fi s f fied . She ’ s fo cu sed on fin c r ea s - fing he r ag fi l fi t y , speed and s t r eng th . Savage ’ s eme rgen ce ha s been coup led w fi th a s t rong s ta r t b y the D ragon s a s a team , who en te r ed the w eek 2 -0 fin M fid -W fi l lame t te Con - fe r en ce p la y , fin c lud fing e ra s - fing a 2 se t s to 0 de f fi c fi t aga fin s t the P an the r s fin a ma t ch tha t saw Ma c fi A cke r - man lead the team w fi th 16 d fig s and I sabe l l Tope te r e co rd 11 k fi l l s . “ In s tead o f the g fi r l s fa l l fing apa r t , the y ro se to the o c ca - s fion and took ca r e o f ea ch o the r , ” La v fie r sa fid . As Da l las con t finues league p lay , fi t ’ s the team ’ s younge s t p laye r s who may dec fide how succe s s fu l the D ragon s w fi l l be th fi s yea r . One th fing fi s c lea r — Sav - age w fi l l be s tand fing ta l le s t . “W e ’ v e fimp ro v ed so mu ch f rom da y one un t fi l now , ” S a vage sa fid . “ I ’m e x c fi ted to see wha t happen s th fi s y ea r . I ’m e x c fi ted to see how mu ch LUKA S EGG EN / I t em fi z e r -Ob se rv e r w e g row ne x t y ea r . I ’m ju s t Da l la s sophomo re T r fi s t fin Savage ( r figh t ) goe s up fo r a b lo ck on Thu r sday . e x c fi ted . ” PR EP VO L L E YBA L L ROUNDUP F a l l s C fi t y d e f e a t s J ew e l l fi n s t r a fi g h t s e t s A l l fi son K fidd , Ja fim e Shaw and Ama ra Hou gh ta l fin g l ead Moun ta fin e e r s I t em fi z e r -Ob se rv e r s ta f f r epo r t FALLS C ITY — F a l l s C fi t y p fi cked up fi t s f fi r s t w fin o f the sea son , de fea t fing J ew e l l 25 - 12 , 25 -11 , 25-13 on Thu r sda y . “ T he g fi r l s rea l ly came a l five ton fight ,” Mo u n- tafineers coa ch Ro x fi Hough ta l fing Barnhart sa fid . “W e se t ou t to wo rk on ou r pe r se v e ran ce , and the g fi r l s d fid e xa c t ly tha t (on JO L EN E GUZMAN / I t em fi z e r -Ob se rv e r Thu r sda y ) . The y p la y ed ag - Maddy Hend r fi ck son , A l l fi son K fidd and T fiaunnah Dav fi s g r e s s fi v e l y to the v e ry end . ” awa fi t a po fin t du r fing F a l l s C fi ty ’ s v fi c to ry ove r Jewe l l . S en fio r A l l fi son K fidd had PR EP FOO TBA L L ROUNDUP fou r a c e s , two k fi l l s and 17 po fin t s o v e r a l l , wh fi l e J a fim e Sh aw h ad two a c e s , two k fi l l s , on e d fi g and 15 po fin ts overall. F reshman A mara Hough ta l - fing added two t fips , on e k fi l l and on e d fi g . K fidd “(The g fi r l s ) f lowed toge the r and h ad th e mo s t b e au t fi fu l s yn e r - g y th e en t fi r e g am e , ” B a rnh a r t sa fid . “B r fi t tany Va rney , T fi au ann ah D a v fi s and Ann a Lamm e r s w e r e r figh t th e r e h e lp fin g m a k e p l a y s po s s fib l e . ” D a l l a s t o u r n e y • C en t r a l and D a l l a s w fi l l comp e t e a t th e D a l l a s T ou r - n amen t on S a tu rd a y . • P l a y beg fin s a t 8 a .m . The Moun ta finee r s en - te r ed the w eek 1 -2 o v e ra l l and 1 -1 fin Ca s co League p la y . F a l l s C fi t y p la y ed a t P e r - ryda le Tue sda y a f te r p r e s s t fime and ho s t s W fi l lame t te V a l le y Ch r fi s t fian Thu r sda y a t 5 :30 p .m . CENTRAL DEFEA TS SOUTH ALBANY : The P an the r s e a rned a fi v e - se t v fi c to r y o v e r Sou th A l - b an y on Sep t . 8 , w finn fing 25 -22 , 20 -25 , 19 -25 , 25 -13 , 15 -9 . C en - t ra l (1 -3 ove ra l l , 1 -1 M fid - W fi l l ame t t e Con f e r en c e ) ho s t ed C r e s c en t V a l le y Tue sd a y a f t e r p r e s s t fime . The P an the r s p l a y a t L eb anon Thu r sd a y be fo r e p a r - t fi c fip a t fing fin the D a l l a s T ou rn a - men t S a tu rd a y a t 8 a .m . PERRYDALE STAYS UN - BEA TEN IN LEAGUE PLA Y : P e r - r yd a l e fimp ro v ed to 3 -0 fin C a s co L e agu e p l a y , d e f e a t fing L fi v fing - s ton e Ad v en t fi s t 25 -16 , 25 -6 , 25 - 7 on S ep t . 8 and C ro s sh fi l l Ch r fi s - t fi an 25 -16 , 22 -25 , 17 -25 , 25 -18 , 15 -8 on Thu r sd a y . Th e P fi r a t e s (4 - 1 o v e r a l l ) sp l fi t a p a fi r o f non - l e agu e m a t ch e s on F r fid a y , d e - f e a t fing Low e l l b e fo r e f a l l fing to C row . P e r ryd a le ho s ted F a l l s C fi t y T u e sd a y a f t e r p r e s s t fim e and p l a y s a t Coun t r y Ch r fi s t fi an on Thu r sd a y b e fo r e comp e t fing fin th e S t . P au l 3 -W a y tou rn a - m en t on S a tu rd a y . W ES T ERN OR EGON ROUNDUP P fi r a t e s d om fi n a t e W e s t e r n O r e g o n h o s t s m e e t a t A s h C r e e k d u r fi n g s h u t o u t w fi n I t em fi z e r -Ob s e rv e r s t a f f r epo r t ALSEA — Perryda le jumped ou t to a 24 -0 lead fin the f fi r s t qua r te r a s the P fi - ra te s shu t ou t A l sea 68 -0 on F r fida y . Keenan Bafiley scored t hree touch- down s — fo r a t lea s t 40 ya rds ea ch — to he lp lead Ba rne s P e r ryda le . A le x H aw e s led the P fi ra te s fin ta ck le s on de fen se , wh fi le K fi rk F a fi r ch fi ld r e tu rned an fin te r cep t fion 40 ya rd s fo r a tou chdown fin the se cond qua r te r . B ran t Barnes , M fike M cG fi l l and Logan Shamb l fin a l so s co r ed tou chdown s . Pe r ryda le (2 -0 o ve ra l l ) open s Spec fia l D fi s t r fic t 4 play Frfiday at M fi tche l l/Sp ray/Whee le r , wh fi ch a l so en te r s league p la y w fi th a 2 -0 ma rk . DRAGONS FALL TO 0 -2 : D a l l a s c lo sed fi t s non con f e r - en ce se a son w fi th a 40 -16 lo s s to A sh land on F r fida y . The D r agon s t r a fi led 21 -0 a t the h a l f , bu t c lo sed to w fi th fin 27 - 16 fin the th fi rd qu a r te r a f te r a ru sh fing tou chdown b y H a r r fi - son B ro adu s and a re cep t fion b y A a ron Wh fi te . A sh l and he ld D a l l a s s co re le s s the re s t o f the w a y to pu l l aw a y fo r the w fin . The D r agon s open M fid - W fi l l ame t te Con fe ren ce p l a y F r fid a y a t Woodbu rn . FALLS C ITY SHUT OUT BY POWERS : Powe r s de fea ted F a l l s C fi t y 50 -0 on S a tu rd a y . No de ta fi l s we re p ro v fided . The Moun ta finee r s (0 -2 ove ra l l ) ho s t Y on c a l l a F r fid a y a t 7 p .m . I t em fi z e r -Ob se rv e r s ta f f r epo r t MONMOUTH — W e s te rn O r egon ’ s men ’ s and women ’ s c ro s s - coun t ry team s k fi cked o f f the fi r 2015 sea son b y ho s t fing the A sh C r eek In v fi - ta t fiona l on F r fida y . The men ’ s squad p la ced fou r th ou t o f 13 team s , wh fi le the women f fin fi shed e figh th ou t o f 12 squad s . Sophomo r e Da v fid R fib fi ch led the Wo l v e s w fi th a 14 th - p la ce f fin fi sh (19 m finu te s , 7 .3 se cond s ) fin the 6 .3 -k fi lome - te r ra ce . N fi co le Mau rmann , a jun - fio r t ran s fe r f rom Lane Com - mun fi ty Co l lege , led the women , f fin fi sh fing the 4 .6 - k fi lome te r cou r se fin 17 :38 , p lac fing 28 th . F re shman G ra ce Knapp p la ced 37 th w fi th a t fime o f 17 :52 .1 . WOU t ra v e l s to compe te a t the Sundodge r In v fi ta t fion - a l fin S ea t t le on S a tu rda y . FOOTBALL RALL IES FOR W IN : T r a fi l fing 14 -12 en t e r fing the fou r th qua r te r , W e s te rn O regon s co red the fin a l 19 po fin t s o f the g ame to e a rn a 31 -14 v fi c to r y o v e r S fimon F r a se r on S a tu rd a y . Qu a r t e rb a c k T r e y Sh fim abu ku ro th rew fo r 233 y a rd s and th r ee tou chdown s , wh fi le de f en s fi v e b a c k D ann y H an k fin s r e tu rned an fin t e r c ep - t fion fo r a tou chdown to he lp pu t the g ame ou t o f r e a ch . WOU (1 -1 o v e r a l l , 0 -1 G r e a t No r thwe s t A th le t fi c Con fe r - en c e ) p l a y s a t C en t r a l W a sh fing - ton on S a tu rd a y fin a non con - f e r en c e m a t chup . VOLLEYBALL GOES 2 -2 : The W e s t e rn O r egon vo l le yb a l l squ ad w en t 2 -2 wh fi le ho s t fing the W e s t e rn O r egon In v fi t a t fion - a l Thu r sd a y th rough S a tu rd a y . The Wo l v e s de f e a t ed Ade lph fi 26 -24 , 23 -25 , 25 -19 , 25 -18 and No t r e D ame De N amu r 19 -25 , 25 -27 , 25 -18 , 25 -15 , 16 -14 fin the fi r s t and fin a l g ame s the y p l a y ed o f the w ee kend . WOU lo s t to C a l fi fo rn fi a S t a t e -Ch fi co 25 -17 , 22 -25 , 25 -18 , 25 -10 and W fi s con s fin -P a r k s fide 20 -25 , 25 - 17 , 19 -25 , 25 -20 , 15 -8 . Red sh fi r t sophomo re A l fi sh a Be t t fin son had 54 k fi l l s , wh fi le jun fio r LUKA S EGG EN / I t em fi z e r -Ob se rv e r W e s te rn O regon ho s ted the A sh C reek Inv fi ta t fiona l . Ch r fi s t fie Co l a su rdo r e co rded 93 d fig s to le ad the t e am . The Wo l v e s open con f e r en c e p l a y b y ho s t fing A l a s ka An cho r age on Thu r sd a y and A l a s ka F a fi r - b an k s on S a tu rd a y . S t a r t t fime fi s s chedu led fo r 7 p .m . fo r bo th m a t che s . SOCCER P ICKS UP OVER - T IME W IN : Fo r the se cond t fime th fi s se a son , an own go a l de c fid - ed a WOU so c c e r g ame . Th fi s t fime , the Wo l v e s p fi c ked up a 2 - 1 w fin o v e r Co lo r ado Ch r fi s t fi an fin o v e r t fime . Sen fio r She lb y P e - t e r son t fied the m a t ch a t 1 w fi th he r fi r s t go a l o f the se a son fin the 71 s t m finu t e . Fou r m finu t e s fin to o v e r t fime , Co lo r ado Ch r fi s - t fi an s co r ed on the fi r own go a l a s WOU fimp ro v ed to 3 -1 o v e r - a l l . W e s t e rn O r egon a l so de - f e a t ed New Me x fi co H figh l and s 2 -0 on Sep t . 8 and E v e rg r een S ta te 1 -0 on Monday . The Wo l v e s beg fin GNAC p l a y b y ho s t fing W e s te rn W a sh fing ton S a tu rd a y a t 3 :30 p .m . Hou se : Ma son ha s p fi c k , fumb le re co ve r y Con t finued f rom Page 10A When he a r r fi v ed a t C en - t ra l , Ma son had d r eam s o f ea rn fing a spo t on va r s fi t y and ca tch fing h fi s f fi r s t touch - down . In 2014 , when he jo fined the va r s fi t y squad , the r e wa s one p rob lem . Ma son p la y ed on l y on de fen se . “ I wo rked fo r yea r s on ca t ch fing ba l l s and mak fing tack le s fin my backya rd , ” M a son sa fid . “ I wa s ju s t fo - cu s ed on do fing e v e ry th fing I cou ld to h e lp th e t eam . I f d e - f en s e s tood ou t , you ju s t a c - c ep t fi t and do wha t th e coa ch says because he ’ s the sma r t e s t p e r son on th e f fi e ld . ” Th fi s sea son , Ma son go t h fi s chan ce to p la y on o f - fen se . I t w a s on a p a s s f rom th e P an th e r s ’ 35 - ya rd l fin e tha t LUKA S EGG EN / I t em fi z e r -Ob se rv e r M a son go t op en and r e c e fi v ed P e te r Ma son (26 ) ce leb ra te s w fi th teamma te s a f te r g rabb fing an fin te r cep t fion on F r fiday . a pa s s f rom M end a zon a . A s a Couga r de fende r a t - temp ted to tack le h fim , Ma son wa sn ’ t go fing to be den fied . “ I ju s t though t I need to ge t h fim o f f (me ) , ” Ma son sa fid . “ I t r fied e v e ry th fing . I s t fi f f a rmed h fim and he le t go . J a r r e t t (Lande r s ) had a good b lo ck fin the open f fie ld and the r e wa s no one e l se to ge t me . ” Ma son wa l t z ed fin to the end zone . “ I though t ‘ I f fina l l y go t fi t , ’ ” M a son sa fid . “Th e r e ’ s no th fing e l s e ( l fik e fi t ) . P e t e r M enda - zona and I ha v e b e en wo r k - fing tog e th e r s fin c e w e w e r e l fi t t l e . T o b e tog e th e r on v a r s fi - t y , fi t b r fing s m e ba ck to m fid - d l e s choo l . G row fing up a s k fid s , I d r eam t o f th fi s mo - m en t . ” On F r fida y n figh t , M a son show ed ju s t how b fig o f a pa r t o f th e P an th e r s h e w fi l l b e . Aga fin s t Moun ta fin V fiew , Ma son r e co rded an fin te r - cep t fion fin the end zone on de fen se and reco ve red a fumb le on spe c fia l team s — he lp fing the P an the r s to a 42 - 14 v fi c to ry and ea rn fing the team ’ s P la y e r o f the W eek hono r s . “P e te r ’ s e f fo r t s on bo th s fide s o f the ba l l w e r e e x - t r eme l y fimp r e s s fi v e , ” C en t ra l coa ch Shane H ed r fi ck sa fid . Ma son ’ s b fig p la y s he lped C en t ra l c ru fi se to a v fi c to ry , one w eek a f te r ge t t fing shu t ou t fin fi t s sea son -opene r . The v fi c to ry p ro v ed to be the fi c fing on the cake fo r Ma son ’ s b r eak th rough mo - men t . “ I t ’ s r ea l l y spe c fia l , ” Ma son sa fid . “W e ’ r e a l l b lue co l la r guy s . W e ’ re wo rk fing ou r bu t t s o f f ju s t to ge t he r e and fi t ’ s an hono r to go on the f fie ld and ba t t le w fi th them . ”