Sisters squeezes past Scappoose

The Sisters Outlaws' football winning streak of 25 games, and the Outlaws' season, almost came to an end on Saturday, December 4, on the turf at Hillsboro stadium.

It took overtime and an unlikely hero in front of a crowd estimated at 3,700 for Sisters to prevail against the Scappoose Ind- ians, 33-27.

The Outlaws stampeded into their semifinal game against Scappoose after crushing the Henley Hornets, 40-7. This game was a rematch of last year's semifinal game in which Sisters thumped Scappoose 22-0.

A far different story evolved on the field in Hillsboro last Saturday.

The first quarter was a barrage of good offensive spurts and yellow flags. Sisters was penalized 16 times. With 4:26 minutes left in the opening quarter, Scappoose quarterback Derek Anderson scrambled four yards and sneaked into a corner of the end zone.

The Outlaws had been wary of Anderson, a 6-foot-6 junior who can throw the football 65 yards with superb accuracy.

The Outlaws did not take the score sitting down; on the next possession, Josh Orlando broke several tackles and raced 53 yards down the sideline into the end zone

But Dennis Bermel's extra point was blocked.

After the Sisters' score, the Indians looked to answer quickly. But Anderson was forced out of the pocket, and after being driven into the turf he coughed up the ball. Mike Mills scooped up the fumble, and when he tried to return the ball he was forced out of bounds.

After the play was whistled dead, an Indian player came flying onto the scene and knocked Mills down. Scappoose was penalized for a personal foul, and Sisters struck quickly as Macauley lifted a sweet pass over a defender and into Crowder's hands for a 30-yard strike.

Joel Priest then caught his first pass of the night for a two-point conversion. Sisters pulled ahead and the score was 14-7 after the first quarter.

The Indians then traveled 66 yards during nine plays capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Tristan Baker.

Sisters was unable to convert any opportunities to points during the remaining 9:22 minutes. Going into the half the score was tied at 14 and Sisters traveled into the locker room facing what would be the most important half of the year.

Coming out of half-time, Sisters recovered the onside kick and was left with very good field position.

But the Outlaws were stymied by penalties once again. Back-to-back false starts left Sisters in a first and twenty situation. But Macauley found a quick solution with a quick pass to Crowder, who raced 53 yards to give Sisters the lead once again.

The Indians drove back when Anderson and Maloy hooked up for a four-yard touchdown pass with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Outlaws began to sustain a drive; Macauley went deep for Chris Small, but Ben Uhl of Scappoose picked off the pass. The very next play, Coffield recovered an Anderson fumble on the three-yard line. Macauley slithered in on the quarter- back keeper to score Sis- ters' final touchdown of regulation play.

"Our defensive pressure was really good," coach Bob Macauley said. "Guys were where they needed to be, we forced Scappoose to make the perfect play."

The Indians did. Scappoose roared back once again with a 60-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard touchdown reception by Maloy.

Both teams drove for a final winning score, yet fell short in regulation.

The teams headed into a Kansas Plan overtime, where each team starts on the 25-yard line and has a chance to drive in for a score. Sisters started out on offense first. Macauley connected with Scott Nelson for an 11-yard gain.

Then Sisters fed the ball to workhorse Josh Orlando, who rushed three consecutive times and moved Sisters to the three-yard line. Sisters spread out their receivers and lined up.

"We knew that they were going to blitz," quarterback Macauley said, "this opens up the middle." And that is were Macauley found Joel Priest. Priest caught the pass right where the blitzing linebacker had vacated. It was the same play that had worked for the two-point conversion in the first half.

Priest is a senior who stands 6-foot-4 and is a wiry 180 pounds. At the urging of friends, he decided to play football for the first time this year.

This was the first touchdown of his football career. It may have been the most important reception for the Outlaws this season.

But Bermel's extra-point kick was blocked by David Brune, giving Scappoose a chance to win the game on their shot at the goal.

Scappoose went to work on offense. After the Outlaws defense forced three incomplete passes, Anderson swung a short pass out to Maloy who dove across the first-down marker.

Once again Sisters' defense broke up three Anderson passes. The Indians were faced with a fourth-and-13 on the 16-yard line, and their season rested on the 6-foot-6 quarterback's shoulders.

On the Outlaws sideline teammates locked hands and prayed as both teams lined up. Anderson dropped back, but was forced out of the pocket. He threw a pass toward the back of the end zone. It fell incomplete and hit the turf.

Sisters players rushed the field hugging each other and congratulating the defensive players. As the celebrations continued fans flooded the field. Several players broke into tears. "Talk about clutch players," Macauley said "These guys have great heart, that shows a heart of a champion."

Macauley also praised defensive backs Scott Nelson and Ross Hayes, who have played well in the shadow of Crowder, Chris Small, and Eli Pyke. Hayes, a junior, seems to have risen as an emotional leader next to Pyke.

The Outlaws were fairly balanced on offense; Sisters running backs rumbled for 131 yards and the offense put up 360 total yards.

Josh Orlando helped carry the Outlaws during the third quarter when Dusty Macauley was blindsided and lost feeling in his throwing hand. Orlando finished the day with 124 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. Fullback Jared Merrell ran for 25 yards on six carries. Crowder had five reception for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

Shane Crowder made 15 tackles. Eli Pyke had 13.

Line mates Jered Coffield and Mike Mills were standouts against the Indians. Mills had two sacks and a key fumble recovery. Coffield had eight tackles and a sack, Coffield also forced Anderson out of the pocket six times.

Outlaws will play for their second consecutive state title in Portland on Saturday, December 11, at Civic Stadium at 3 p.m. against the Burns Highlanders, who upset the second-ranked Vale Vikings 20-0.