A week’s layoff seemed to hurt the East Linn Loggers more than help them as they turned in a listless performance Saturday, June 3, and lost 13-0 to the Power Valley Sharks in National Nineman Football League action at South Eugene High School.
“There was no spark, no fire,” said Head Coach Jesse Garcia, whose team fell to 4-3 with the loss. Power Valley’s win gave it sixth place in the standings and the chance to face the Loggers again in the first round of the playoffs, which will pit the number three team against the sixth-place club.The Springfield Buzzards and Eugene Firebirds will face off in the other first-round matchup.
Garcia said he wasn’t sure if his team was overconfident or if there wasn’t enough on the line for the Loggers, who had the third-place spot sewed up, win or lose.
It was the first time since last season that East Linn has been held scoreless.
“It was pretty bizarre,” said Garcia. “It was pretty unnerving for me, but we had our big discussion after the game.”
Power Valley scored on an interception return for a touchdown and got one offensive touchdown.
“It wasn’t like we weren’t playing,” Garcia said. “We drove the ball a lot. We just didn’t do anything with it. Our offense didn’t open up like it usually does.”
Quarterback Duane Stevens completed 13 of 31 passes for 109 yards. Trase Privatsky was the top ball carrier, with 53 yards on 11 carries. Frank Whitten led the Loggers with five caches for 43 yards.
Garcia said if the Loggers plan to be back at Husky Stadium on June 24 for the championship game, they will have to show up Saturday at Jefferson High School for the 7 p.m. matchup.
“I hope this will be a valuable lesson that will carry us through the playoffs,” he said. “If we don’t come to play, the results will be obvious.”