Outlaws never let Burns in the game

The tone of Saturday's championship game was set from the first series of plays, when the Outlaws forced Burns to punt on their first drive after the opening kickoff.

Sisters came out of the huddle pumped up on offense, but lost the ball when Josh Orlando bobbled on a rush around the right end.

Possession changed several times. Finally, with about six minutes left in the first quarter, Burns began to sustain a drive. Starting on their own 14-yard line, the Highlanders pushed down to the Outlaws' six-yard line and threatened to score.

But Eli Pyke sacked Burns quarterback Clemens for a loss of three. Clemens then passed to Matt Attleberger, who slithered eight yards but was stuffed on the one-yard line by Ross Hayes and Shane Crowder.

On third down, Clemens tried to hook up with Bartley again, but the pass fell incomplete. On fourth down, Clemens once again attempted a pass, this time to Kelly Killgore. Killgore tried to maneuver into the end zone but Chris Small stopped him in his tracks, knocking him back three yards.

The Outlaws gained control of the ball on the four-yard line. Attempting to get out of their own end zone, the Outlaws took to the air. Macauley dropped back and lifted a pass over a defender to Chris Small, who outran three Highlanders to the end zone for the Outlaws' first score of the night.

Small's 96-yard touchdown reception is the longest in Oregon 3A playoff history.

Burns was forced to punt for the second time on their next possession. When Sisters regained the ball, they struck quickly. After an incomplete pass and a one-yard run by Jared Merrell, Macauley threw to Small again, who knocked over the would-be tackler and raced 63 yards to the end zone

After four offensive plays the Outlaws were already up 14-0.

The Highlanders' drive faltered once again as Sisters' swarming defense kept Clemens under control. Clemens is Burns' highly touted junior quarterback who had carried the Highlanders on their nine-game winning streak and into the championship game.

Much of the Outlaws' practice had focused on keeping Clemens in the pocket and not allowing him to scramble. Sisters' secondary worked on mixing up their coverage so Clemens could not get a good pre-snap read.

Sisters' game plan seemed to work. Clemens was 15-33 passing with one interception. The Outlaws sacked Clemens six times for 28 yards.

After the Highlander's punt, Sisters began to drive from their own 16-yard line. The Outlaws mixed pass and run well. But a holding penalty halted the drive. When Eric Whithee tried to return Pat Burke's punt, Jared Merrell stripped Whithee of the ball which Ross Hayes recovered on the 25-yard line.

"The defense's stand on the goal line was a real motivation," coach Bob Macauley said. "But I think that Ross's recovery was the real turning point in the game."

After the recovery Macauley tried a pass to Crowder in the end zone but overthrew him. So coach Macauley fed the ball to Josh Orlando and Jared Merrell. After five plays, Merrell punched the ball in from a yard out.

The Highlanders tried to respond to Sisters' score. Burns mixed some uncommon run plays along with their air oriented attack. It payed off when Killgore rushed over the right tackle for 27 yards. Two plays later Troy Mackey ran a draw play for five yards.

On a third and five, Clemens looped out a pass to Bartley for four yards, Scott Nelson shoved him out of bounds. Burns now needed a yard on fourth down to keep their drive alive but Sisters came up big. The Outlaws stuffed Clemens on the quarterback keeper.

With 2:40 left in the half, Sisters tried to drive for another score. Merrell and Orlando pounded the ball inside. Then Macauley completed passes toward the sideline to keep Burns' defense honest. Sisters drove down to the five and Macauley tried a pass toward the middle of the field.

Kelly Clemens intercepted Macauley's pass and returned it 29 yards down the sideline. Burns attempted one more play before the half, but Mackey's run was stuffed for a yard loss. Sisters traveled into the locker room at half with a 21-0 lead and all the momentum.

Sisters came out of the locker room fired up and looked to finish the job. Starting on their own 34-yard-line, Orlando carried the ball around the left end on an option play gaining six yards. Then Macauley hit Small for his fourth catch of the game. Small ran all the way to Burns' 14 for a 49-yard gain. Jared Merrell tried to find a hole into the end zone but was stopped after two yards.

On the next play Orlando took a pitch from Macauley, rushing to the five-yard line where he flattened a Burns' defender. But the ball was jarred loose and rolled into the end zone.

Small landed on the ball and was able to maintain possession. The referees signaled a touchdown, and Sisters now had a 28-point lead and Chris Small had his 12th touchdown of the season.

The Highlanders were beginning to lose hope, but mounted an eight-drive play for 63 yards that was capped with a Jesse Bartley six-yard touchdown reception. Burns' hopes began to brighten when Shane Crowder fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Karsten Johnson recovered the ball at he 23 and returned it four yards to the 19.

The Highlanders were beginning to think about a comeback, but Sisters' defense didn't budge. The Highlanders only managed four plays for minus three yards.

With five minutes left in the third quarter, Sisters began to eat away at the clock and at the Highlanders' hopes. Sisters gained two first downs by means of Orlando and Merrell, but Sisters was faced with a third-and-six situation. The Outlaws called time out to cook up a play. Macauley attempted a pass over the middle but it fell incomplete. Sisters was forced to punt.

When Burns regained possession they were again halted by the Outlaws' tenacious defense. After two incomplete passes and a sack, the Highlanders punted the ball away.

This is when Sisters put the icing on the cake. Orlando and Merrell continued to dominate. Burns was unable to find a solution for the two monster running backs, who continued to chip away the yards. Finally, Orlando traveled into the end zone from nine yards out to put the Outlaws up 35-6.

Burns had one final chance to score. With 6:40 left in the game, the Highlanders began to drive, mixing short passes with runs. Burns managed 56 yards in six plays, mainly coming from a 21-yard screen pass to Troy Mackey.

Burns was on the one-yard line, but again they could not convert their effort to any points. Clemens dropped back, searching for a receiver. Finally he threw toward the end zone. Scott Nelson intercepted the pass, ending all hope for Burns.

From there Sisters mixed in junior varsity players and ran out the clock