Ken Roberts
For The New Era
Sisters stayed on the mountain top of the Capital Conference, using its speed and quickness to race past Sweet Home, 27-0, on the Outlaws? home turf last Thursday, Oct. 13.
The Outlaws made a statement on their opening drive, taking six and a half minutes to go 67 yards. Though Cory McCaffrey carried the ball eight times to help Sisters move the ball steadily down the field, it was Andy Burke, three for three in passing, who connected with fullback Jeff Sampson for the opening seven-yard touchdown reception.
?It?s tough to beat speed,? said coach Rob Younger, ?especially when they execute extremely well.?
Despite an opening 16-yard pass completion to Tim Faulconer, Husky quarterback Kyle Pettit would later be sacked for an 11-yard loss, eventually leading to a punt on Sweet Home?s first series. It was the first of four sacks suffered by Pettit, who had just returned the previous game from an injured knee. He was harassed most of the night by the Outlaw defense.
The Huskies have also struggled with turnovers, as they have all season. After Sweet Home held Sisters without a first down on their second series, Faulconer mishandled the Outlaws? punt, allowing Sisters to retake control at their own 48-yard line.
On the first play, Burke threw a touchdown pass to Nathan Jackson, but it was called back for holding. But that only temporarily stopped Sisters. Burke completed passes to Jeff Fitter and Jackson for 17 and 16 yards respectively before scoring the second Sisters touchdown on a four-yard run.
Sweet Home?s fortunes did not improve in the second half. The Huskies opened with a seven-yard completion to tight end Charlie Fitzsimons. They went right back to Fitzsimons, but this time the pass went through his hands and was intercepted. After two short gains, McCaffrey busted loose from the 31 yard to put Sisters on top 20-0.
The Huskies made one more stab at trying to get back into the game. They marched 30 yards to the Sisters? 35, Pettit threw his third interception, a long pass that was taken near the goal line and returned by the Outlaws to their 37. Following a penalty, Burke fumbled and the Huskies? Nathan Whitfield recovered the ball at the 28.
Three plays later, the Huskies returned the favor and produced their fifth turnover when tailback Trevor Tagle fumbled. For the fifth time in six games, Sweet Home was on the down side of the turnover/takeaway ratio.
?We have to execute better, ? stated Younger. ?We are making too many mistakes to be successful.?
From its own 16, Sisters went on another long drive. McCaffrey, after escaping from a number of Husky tacklers, went down the sideline for a 39-yard run. After that, he was replaced in the backfield by Fitter, who scored from 12 yards out to finish the scoring for the Outlaws.
Sisters, led by McCaffrey?s 151 yards, outrushed the Huskies 200 to 89 while passing yardage was virtually even. Pettit was 9 of 19 for 79 yards while Burke was 8 for 16 and 76 yards. Ryan Elliott was the Huskies? leading ball carrier with 49 yards in just five carries. He also had two receptions for 22 yards.
Defensively, the Huskies were led by Skyler Bascom with 10 tackles while down lineman, Joe Ellis and Whitfield, each contributed eight.
Despite the tough loss, Younger was pleased with the character his players displayed.
?The kids gave us great effort and played hard,? stated Younger. ?Good things will come about because of that effort.?
Sweet Home, 1-1 in league and 2-4 overall, will be back home this Friday, after three games on the road, to face Molalla, which is 0-2 in the Capital Conference. The Indians lost at home last week to North Marion, 14-13.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
SHHS 0 0 0 0 0
Sisters 7 7 6 7 27
1st Quarter
Sist–Burke to Sampson 7 yd. pass (Ruettgers kick)
2nd Quarter
Sist–Burke 4 yd. run (Ruettgers kick)
3rd Quarter
Sist–McCaffrey 31 yd. run (run failed)
4th Quarter
Sist–Fitter 12 yd. run (Ruettgers kick)
Team Stats
Rushing: SHHS 18-89; Sisters 42-200
Passing: SHHS 79; Sisters 76
Sacks: SHHS: None
Sisters 4-39
Total: SHHS 134, Sisters 276
1st Downs: SHHS 9; Sisters 13
Turnovers: SHHS 5; Sisters 2
Penalties: SHHS 6-40; Sisters 6-39