Benny Westcott
Sweet Home football came up short in the first game of the season Friday night, losing a low scoring affair on the road against Madras, 16-2.
The teams were scoreless through one quarter. In the second quarter, the White Buffalo scored all of their points. Michael Picard busted loose for a 68 yard touchdown run. He scored again on a 33 yard scamper. Tyler Clarkson punched in both two point conversions.
Sweet Home’s sole points came on the defensive end in the third quarter, when the White Buffalo center errantly snapped the ball over his quarterback’s head and out the back of the end zone, resulting in a safety. The game score would remain 16-2 until the final whistle.
Madras outgained Sweet Home in total yards 110-62. The bulk of that yardage for the White Buffalo, 103 yards, came on the ground. Sweet Home, meanwhile, had 47 rushing yards and 15 passing yards on the night.
Sweet Home had two turnovers, a fumble and an interception, while Madras avoided those mistakes.
“Our defense played well enough to keep us in it, and honestly played well enough to win,” Head Coach Ryan Adams said. “We only gave up two big plays which led to their 16 points.”
On the other side of the ball, Adams said “Offensively we struggled to find any momentum. We fumbled the ball at least four or five times, and we just can’t do that if we want to win games.”
Overall, he said “The kids played hard and competed all game, so I was happy with that. We just have to get better at what we do. We’ll make some adjustments and get back to work.”
Sweet Home now turns its attention to its home opener against Molalla at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. Both teams will be looking for their first win that night, as Molalla lost at home in their opener 14-7 to Stayton.