Benny Westcott
Sweet Home’s trip to the coast Saturday was a success, as its footballers took care of business against a 0-5 Newport squad, earning a 47-21 win in its opening 4A Special District 3 game this season.
The victory brought the Huskies to 3-2 overall entering this Friday’s homecoming showdown versus Stayton.
Sweet Home set Saturday’s tone immediately, recovering an onside kick on the opening kickoff. The team ran the ball every play of its first possession to “establish our run game,” Head Coach Ryan Adams said.
Senior running back Daniel Luttrell ultimately capped the opening drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Senior Russ Holly tacked on the extra point, giving the Huskies an early 7-0 lead.
Sweet Home’s defense held firm on the next possession, stopping the Cubs on fourth down and handing their offense the ball at the Newport 43-yard line.
The Huskies took to the air after the turnover on downs, as junior quarterback Heath Nichol connected with junior wide receiver Kaden Zajic for two first-down completions. Nichol then found junior wide receiver Brady Nichols for a 20-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 14-0 with time still remaining in the first quarter.
The Newport offense responded, however, by driving the ball to inside Sweet Home’s five-yard line, aided by a big run from senior running back Carson Braxling. But Newport wasn’t able to make it across the line, as the Huskies defense stripped a Cub carrier of the football and Holly recovered the fumble.
Holly again came up clutch when Nichol found him on a big pass over the top. Moving downfield, Nichol then hit Nichols again for another touchdown pass, this time for 30 yards. Holly’s extra point was blocked, but Sweet Home enjoyed a comfortable 20-0 lead with 10 minutes and 31 seconds left in the first half.
The Husky defense held Newport again, and on the ensuing possession Luttrell broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 27-0 with 6 minutes, 50 seconds before halftime.
Newport climbed aboard on its next drive, however, thanks in large part to a big run from senior running back Kaden Bruns. Junior quarterback Markus Everitt ran the ball in from inside the 10-yard line, and the extra point was good, bringing the score to 27-7.
But Sweet Home wasted no time stalling the Cubs’ momentum. Nichols ran Newport’s next kickoff back for a 68-yard touchdown, culminating in a 34-7 Huskies lead at halftime.
Sweet Home’s next touchdown came from more special teams fireworks, as Nichol took a punt return 70 yards into the endzone, scoring his fourth touchdown of the day. The Huskies were up 41-7 with 5 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third quarter.
On an ensuing possession, Luttrell scored his third rushing touchdown of the day on a three-yard gain. Sweet Home’s holder bobbled the extra point, but the team still commanded a 47-7 lead.
Newport answered with its own touchdown when Braxling hit the end zone with eight minutes left in the game, bringing the score to 47-14.
Newport’s kicker later recovered his own onside kick. Senior running back Camden Galen ran the ball into the endzone, but it was too late for the Cubs, as Sweet Home held its 47-21 lead until the final whistle.
“It went pretty well,” Adams said of the game. “We knew we had a good shot at winning. We battled all week trying to find our identity and get that ‘we gotta dominate’ approach. We knew that we were better and that we are a good football team. The biggest question for me was whether we were going to play at other people’s levels.”
Adams saw Nichol capitalize on some opportunities in the outside aerial attack. On defense, the coach said, his team focused mainly on “taking away their run. They ran it a lot more than they threw it. We stayed true to our job like we had focused on all week. We knew that this game was starting league play, so it was important. We focused on play as a team, and we had a good first half.”
He credited his two special teams’ touchdown take-backs to “amazing blocking,” singling out junior Trenton Smith, saying “timing was big” in his receptions.
Sophomore offensive and defensive lineman Nathan Aker, who recorded four tackles in the game, said, “I thought we played great. We didn’t wait until the second half to get going.”
Luttrell said his team focused on “Staying disciplined and starting the league off on a good note. In past games we haven’t started as strong as we’ve wanted to, so today we focused on having a good first half and hitting hard from the beginning.”
He said he’s “excited” for Stayton, adding, “We’re just going to do what we do at practice, to prepare.”.
Nichol, who threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 10 completions, said that the key to his passing success was that “The line held really well, and gave me time to throw the ball.”
Looking ahead, he said, “There’s some pressure with homecoming being [this] week. We just gotta show up.”
Sweet Home will host Stayton at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8.
The Eagles, 1-4 on the season, has yet to begin league play. Stayton enters the contest ranked by the OSAA at No. 20 in Class 4A play. Sweet Home is ranked No. 14.
Game Summary
Sweet Home 14 20 13 0 – 47
Newport 0 7 0 14 – 21
First Quarter
SH – Daniel Luttrell 7 run. Russ Holly kick.
SH – Brady Nichols 20 pass. Russ Holly kick.
Second Quarter
SH – Brady Nichols 30 pass.
SH – Daniel Luttrell 30 run. Russ Holly kick.
NP – Markus Everitt run. Unknown kick.
SH – Daniel Luttrell 30 run. Russ Holly kick.
SH – Brady Nichols 68 kick return. Russ Holly kick.
Third Quarter
SH – Brady Nichols 70 punt return. Russ Holly kick.
SH – Daniel Luttrell 3 run.
Fourth Quarter
NP – Carson Braxling run. Unknown kick
NP – Camden Galen run. Unknown kick.
Individual Statistics
Rushing – SH: Daniel Luttrell 155-30; Jeremy Zook -5(4).
Passing – SH: Heath Nichol 10-14-0-179
Receiving – SH: Russ Holly 2-66; Brady Nichols 3-60; Kaden Zajic 3-46; Trenton Smith 1-4; Jacob Ingram 1-3.