Ethan Hoagland
The Sweet Home High School varsity football team will have one more chance to get a win this season, after losing to Stayton during their Friday, October 20 game. The Huskies left the field 40-0, but not without smiles and pride as teammates celebrated senior night adorned in flowers and the loving embraces of their parents.
Sweet Home took first possession on their home turf. For the first quarter, it was anyone’s game as the Huskies and Eagles traded turnovers. Both sides grappled over small gains, with first downs few and far between. Sweet Home’s offense favored a running strategy, largely relying on #68 senior Nathan Aker. The quarter ended 0-0.
The second quarter started with a thrilling fumble recovery by Sweet Home, stalling an Eagle offensive that was mounted at the 20 yard line. The highs hit a sudden drop when the Huskies threw an intercepted pass, putting the Eagles right back where they started. Sweet Home’s defense wouldn’t let them have the touchdown, fighting them off within yards of the endzone until the Eagles threw an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The next possession saw another attempt to break Aker through the Eagles defense, succeeding in one first down. But Stayton clamped down, holding off more gains until an incomplete pass on third down. Huskies turned over to the Eagles.
At 4:30 left in the second quarter, the Eagles scored their first touchdown. It was hard won against the Sweet Home defense, which kept Stayton at bay at the 17 yard line until a complete pass to the endzone on third down. From there, the Eagles picked up steam and put two more touchdowns on the board. Eagles ended the half 21-0.
Sweet Home attempted an onsides kick at the start of the second half, but the Eagles recovered. Third quarter saw another series of turnovers, until a complete pass by the Eagles set up a first and goal run they carried into the endzone. A dazzling block by Sweet Home left the Eagles without an extra point.
It was 27-0 at the start of the fourth quarter. The Eagles opened with a delay of the game penalty, but ultimately scored another touchdown, bringing the score to 33-0 with eight minutes left in the game. The Huskies suffered a devastating turnover on their returning possession after the Eagles recovered the fumble from a failed handoff. That momentum propelled the Eagles into the last touchdown of the game, setting the final score of 40-0 with six minutes left on the clock.
“I don’t think the scoreboard fully reflects the game that was played,” Huskies head coach Ryan Adams said. “I thought our kids played lights out. I was really proud of the energy and excitement they brought.”
He noted the bittersweet moment for seniors on the team as they celebrated senior night without a win yet this season.
“When you’re sitting here still searching for your win, your first win at this point in the season, it can be really tough to get kids motivated,” Adams said. “And they took care of all that on their own and that was awesome to see.”
The pressure is on next week’s match against Philomath, the final game of the season. Head coach Adams says the team has been reviewing the tapes.
“They throw the ball a lot, and so we’re just gonna rep that.”
Next week’s game will be played on Friday, October 27, on Philomath turf. Kick off is at 7 p.m.