Outlaws cap perfect season with state championship

The Sisters Outlaws slipped past arch rival Central Panthers 33-28 on Saturday, December 12, to claim the 1998 State 3A Football Championship.

The last time these two teams met the Outlaws crushed the Panthers, 32-14. It was a far different story this time. The championship game was a hard-fought battle, with the outcome in doubt until the final second.

The Outlaws' offensive line, a key to success all season, came through in the championship game.

"Central lined up to stop (running back) David (Martin) and our linemen picked up everything," said quarterback Dusty Macauley. "Since they were stacked up against the run, we went at them in the air and there was no way they could have stopped us."

Quarterback Macauley and Shane Crowder hooked up for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:50 left in the game.

Macauley completed 10 of 14 passes for 220 yards. Macauley was not sacked once, even though he was playing on a severely sprained ankle.

Crowder received four passes for 120 yards. Sophomore running back Josh Orlando rushed for 97 yards and had one touchdown.

"Central wasn't going to be able to stop our whole team, they tried to stop David so we put it in the air," said Coach Bob Macauley. "Every body played great and we had 11 guys playing their hardest out on the field."

Martin, who rushed for 2,139 yards and scored 31 touchdowns in a standout season, was held to 59 yards in the final game.

The Outlaws started out strong, earning three first downs on their first drive. Central showed no signs of resistance until Martin fumbled on a run around the left guard.

The Panthers drove down to the seven-yard line and looked poised to score, but Martin sacked quarterback Jason Coutts for a 13-yard loss, pushing the Panthers to the 20 yard line. Central, faced with a third down and 18, attempted a sideline pass to Tim Barbknecht.

Chris Small dove to break up the pass, saving a touchdown for the Outlaws.

The Panthers attempted a field goal, but Kirk Yliniemi's kick floated wide right and the Outlaws regained possession at the 20-yard line. Sisters put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive, saved by a third-and nine catch by Chris Olson for a 17-yard gain.

Macauley capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown toss to Crowder.

Central came back and scored on a one-yard run by tailback Fred Avila. On the Outlaws' following possession they drove down to the seven-yard line but were unable to cash in for a touchdown. Central gained control of the ball on downs and were driving when Shane Crowder stepped in front of a Jason Coutts pass.

Five plays later, Macauley scrambled into the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run to give Sisters a 14-7 half-time lead.

At the break, Coach Macauley told his players to take control of the game. But the Panthers also came out of the locker room fired up. On their first possession, they drove 69 yards and scored on a four-yard pass from Coutts to Tim Barbknecht.

The game was tied.

Sisters attempted to answer the Panthers' score with a 34-yard field goal, but Bo Jackson of Central penetrated the Outlaws' line and blocked Matt Everson's kick.

The Outlaws defense stiffened on the Panthers; Chris Olson hit Central receiver Charlie Harris forcing him to cough up the football and Chris Small fell on the fumble. Three plays later Josh Orlando burst through Panther defense for a four-yard touchdown run, putting the Outlaws on top 21-14.

Sisters' defense kept up the pressure. On the Panthers' next possession, Bryce Gardinier intercepted Coutts and the Outlaws converted as Shane Crowder hauled in a 29-yard touchdown strike from Macauley.

But the point after touchdown was no good.

Central opened their trick book. Quarterback Coutts ran a double-reverse flea flicker, handing off to tailback Fred Avila, who handed the ball off to fullback J.J. Padilla, going in the opposite direction. Padilla then tossed the ball back to Coutts who threw a 70-yard bomb to Avila heading down the sideline.

The Panthers were back in the game, trailing the Outlaws only six points.

"We hadn't seen that play, and it was my fault because I had the defense playing the reverse and not the pass. I should have better prepared them for the razzle dazzle stuff," said defensive coach Rob Phelps.

The momentum seemed to have swung against the Outlaws, who were forced to punt on their next possession. The Outlaws were flagged on Central's first play of scrimmage and the Panthers capitalized. On the next play Coutts connected with receiver Dane Oliver going up the middle of the field and Oliver stretched the reception into a 43-yard Oliver touchdown play.

Central had taken the lead, 28-27, for the first time of the night.

But the Outlaws did not give up.

"These guys have really matured and they have a next play mentality. It doesn't matter what happened on the last play, this is the play that will matter," said coach Macauley.

On the next play from scrimmage, Shane Crowder hauled in a pass and dashed 63 yards to score what turned out to be the winning touchdown.

"The play was a rocket screen and after Dusty got me the ball, I remember seeing a opening in the defense and I just went for it; it was a foot race to the end," Crowder recalled after the game.

The Panthers still had time on the clock and a chance to score, but head coach Bob Macauley was confident in his defense.

The Outlaws proved him right. Bryce Gardinier intercepted the first pass the Panthers attempted.

Now the Outlaws just had to wind down the clock. But three penalties left them facing fourth down with 25 yards to go for a first down. Sisters' conversion was no good and the Panthers had a last-chance shot, with 17 seconds left to make up a five-point deficit.

The Outlaws suffered from penalties in this game, taking 11 for 95 yards; two Outlaw touchdowns were called back because of penalties.

Panther's Coutts completed a pass to Harris, but the Outlaws got him tackled before he could go out of bounds to stop the clock. Eight seconds remained on the clock; Coutts spiked the ball to stop the clock with six seconds left.

The Panther quarterback attempted a deep pass to Dane Oliver, but he dropped the ball and the Outlaws had captured the crown.

Statistics show that the Outlaws played tough on both sides of the ball. The offense had 429 yards total. The defense put extreme pressure on the Panthers, allowing only 41 rushing yards, out of their total of 355.

Cody Hill led the Outlaws with 10 tackles and a sack. Bryce Gardinier had two interceptions and four tackles while Shane Crowder intercepted the quarterback once and had seven tackles. Tom Barrier also sacked Coutts twice.

That defense has been the Outlaws' under-sung weapon all season. Nicknamed Capital Punishment, the defensive unit has allowed only 177 points this year and an average of 13.6 points per game. They intercepted opposing quarterbacks 27 times and allowed 66.85 yards rushing per game.

But it was the guys on the line who were given much of the credit by their team mates.

"Our line drove them back and we stuck together in the tough parts of the game," said Eli Pyke.

"This whole season we owe to the line; they are the heart and soul of the team," said Crowder, after the game. "Without them we would be at home right now listening to the game."