Sean McLean
For The New Era
Entering the fourth quarter with conference and postseason implications on the line, the Sweet Home football team delivered in one of their best 12 minutes of football this season.
Led by an all-around offensive attack, the Huskies (4-3, 1-1) erased an 11-point deficit to defeat conference foe Taft 21-17 to get even in the conference standings with three games to go.
“It was really Jekyll and Hyde for our team in comparing the first and second halves of the game,” coach Rob Younger said. “In the first half, we just could not move the football, but after halftime we went out and made plays and were really a whole different team out there.”
In the beginning, it wasn’t pretty for Sweet Home on the road in Lincoln City. The Huskies’ recent trend of getting off to a good start disappeared as the Tigers took control early with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns. Taft running back Jeremiah Bennett set the tone early by scoring both times from one yard out to give the Tigers a commanding 14-0 lead after one period of play.
The score would remain the same until the third quarter, as Sweet Home could not find any rhythm on offense. Although the Huskies weren’t turning the ball over, they could not find any ways to move the football down field.
“We just did not play very well in the first half, and it could have been costly,” Younger said. “We had numerous three-and-outs and had no yardage, while they were piling up the yards, so we were digging a huge hole there in the first couple quarters.”
The second half, however, was a complete turnaround from the first, as the Huskies finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter. Junior tailback Amos Parmenter took it in from one yard out to cut the lead to 14-6 entering the fourth quarter. He would finish with 67 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Taft added some insurance early in the final period as Ricky Nand nailed a 25-yard field goal. The Huskies, however, would not throw in the towel, charging back with little time remaining. Quarterback Ryan Graville went to the air and connected with running back Nick Pitts on a 19-yard pass play. Parmenter then added a two-point conversion to cut the lead to three.
Sweet Home then recovered the ball on an on-sides kick and took advantage of its opportunity. Quickly moving the ball down field, Parmenter gave the Huskies the lead for good, plowing his way 11 yards for the game-winning score.
“They really came out there with a sense of purpose, and that was really a difference maker,” Younger said of his team. “It wasn’t really about X’s and O’s, but mainly going out there and executing, and that is what we did there in the second half.”
Graville had one of its best passing games this year, completing nine of 12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Josh Riggs led all Husky receivers with 48 yards on four catches.
Despite allowing 151 yards rushing to Taft running back Driver, the Husky defense played one if its better games of the season. Defensive lineman Zane Wise added an interception and the team recovered a pair of fumbles. To go along with his touchdown, Pitts also added a sack for a nine-yard loss. The secondary also had an impressive outing, holding Tiger quarterback Wilkinson to just 21 yards on 2-of-13 passing.
“I think consistency is key to what we are trying to do,” Younger said. “On defense, it’s all about being consistent, and I think they really showed that by digging deep and playing well in the second half and preventing them from getting into the end zone.”
Special teams played a role in the victory as well, with two forced fumbles on kickoff returns. Junior punter Tino Puentes also had a very strong performance kicking the football, averaging 43.5 yards on four punts.
With the big comeback win, the Huskies now face Central in what Younger believes is the biggest game of the season for his team. The Panthers are coming off a convincing 34-13 win at Newport.
“This game is huge for us – definitely the biggest game of the season for our guys,” Younger said. “If we have any aspirations of making the state playoffs this year, we need to go out and play well, and I know the guys are excited about it.”
Game Statistics
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Taft 14 0 0 3 17
Sweet Home 0 0 6 15 21
1st Quarter
Taft: Jeremiah Bennett 1 yd. run (Tygem Butler kick)
Taft: Jeremiah Bennett 1 yd. run (Tygem Butler kick)
3rd Quarter
SHHS: Amos Parmenter 1 yd. run (pass failed)
4th Quarter
Taft: Ricky Nand 25 yd. field goal
SHHS: Nick Pitts 19 yd. pass from Ryan Graville (Parmenter run)
SHHS: Parmenter 11 yd. run (Kyle Gutierrez kick)
Team Stats
Rushing: SHHS 26-99; Taft 48-254
Passing: SHHS 9-12, 84; 2-13-1, 21
Total Yards: SHHS 176; Taft 266
First Downs: SHHS 10, Taft 16
3rd/4th Down Conversion: SHHS 2-8; Taft 9-18
Penalties: SHHS 5-45; Taft 7-45
Sacks: SHHS 1-9 (Pitts); Taft 2-7
Individual Stats
Rushing
SHHS: Parmenter 13-67; Byers 6-26; Pitts 5-20; Graville 1-(-4); Team 1-(-10)
Taft: Driver 29-151
Passing
SHHS: Graville 9-12, 84;
Taft: Wilkinson 2-13-1, 21
Receiving
SHHS: Riggs 4-48; Pitts 1-19; McGuyre 1-16; Sipe 1-7; Parmenter 1-0; Macklin 1-(-6) Taft: Butler 1-13
Punting
SHHS: Puentes 4-184, 46, 43.5 Net
Taft: Butler 3-56, 18.7, 17.7 Net
Kickoffs
SHHS: Gutierrez 2-86, Net 22.5 Net; Callagan 2-43, 17.5 Net; 1 onside kick recovered
Taft: 4-195, 23 Net
Kickoff Returns
SHHS: Pitts 3-79; Parmenter 1-24
Taft 4-49 (2 fumbles, 1 lost)
Fumble Recovery: SHHS: Parmenter
Interception: SHHS: Wise; Taft 0
Val-Co League Standings
Central 1-0
Newport 1-1
Sweet Home 1-1
Taft 1-1
Philomath 0-1