Wayne Spinney
For The New Era
The East Linn Loggers took to the road Saturday seeking their first NNFL win but came away on the losing end of a 22-0 shutout at the hands of the second place North Valley Hunters under the lights in Jefferson.
The Mighty Lions? own Nick Hawley was the offensive star of the game as he ran one in from six yards out and then caught a 25 yard touchdown pass from quarterback David Aguilar to put the Hunters up by 14 at the half.
Both teams had the opportunity to mend some injuries after taking a week off for the holiday but North Valley was without their defensive captain Tayt Tolman, who was serving a one week suspension for violating league contact rules. In a game that saw the return of Hunters? starting quarterback David Aguilar the deciding score came early in the second half when defensive nose guard Brian Franks recovered a Loggers fumble and rumbled into the end zone from four yards out.
?I fell on the ball and was laying there thinking this is like the NFL and the ball is still live,? said the six foot two inch, 300 pound two-way star of the scoring play. ?Everyone was yelling: ?get up, get up,? so I got up and ran in for the score. It?s the first one of my career.?
That play illustrated the Loggers evening as a number of penalties and problems with the center/quarterback exchange nullified the best offensive showing of the year for the men from Sweet Home.
League completion leader Frank Whitton connected on 13 passes for 162 yards on the night, constantly avoided the rush and had a long run of nearly 30 yards that almost went for a touchdown on the last play of the game. Wide receivers Jesse Garcia Jr. and Ryan Harp each grabbed a half dozen balls, had long gains of over twenty yards and continued to develop into solid receivers.
Once again the Loggers used a balanced offensive attack with Jason Burr the leading rusher, but they never got into the end zone while coming up inches short on two fourth down gambles at the Hunters? goal line.
Craig Bergevin, Rod Jacques, Al Minta and Justin Poole led the team on defense as the Loggers held the Hunters to less than 200 yards of total offense. Jacques added to his league leading sack total with three more on the night, giving him 10 on the season, while the defense forced two Hunter fumbles.
The Loggers return to Husky Field for the season finale next Saturday as they take on last years? champion Enforcers. Ranked second in the nation, The Enforcers bring a high- powered offense and the talented pass and catch duo of quarterback Chris DuPont and speedster Andre? Harris.
Kickoff is at 6 p.m.