Outlaws fall in football semifinals

The Outlaws could not escape the Billies in semi-final action.

The Outlaws succumbed to turnovers and a tough Pleasant Hill football team Friday night, November 30, to bring to a close a very successful season.

The Billies outscored the Outlaws 42-6 and they will play Scappoose Saturday, 3:30 p.m. at Reiser Stadium on the Oregon State University campus.

The Billies scored on their opening drive with Harley Firestone going in from the one-yard line. The Outlaws sputtered on their first drive. A 15-yard reception by Jawan Davis was called back by a penalty and the drive subsequently stalled.

The Outlaws put the brakes on and stopped the next Billies' drive, forcing a punt. The Outlaws fumbled on the next possession and the Billies scored from short range.

The Outlaws' third offensive charge ended when a Pat Burke pass slipped off the fingertips of Seth Teague into the arms of Nick Kieth for another Billies touchdown. The Outlaw offense then began to move the ball on the arm of Burke (24 for 38, 275 yards) and the hands of Mike Greene and Teague.

The first half came to a close with the Outlaws unable to get the ball in the endzone on four tries from the 15-yard line. Pleasant Hills' running back Harley Firestone opened the second half with a bruising 76-yard touchdown run.

Firestone broke three tackles before hitting the open field. The Outlaws continued to fill the air and move the ball but could only manage a touchdown with 3:48 left to play.

Coach Macauley pointed out the outstanding play of the offensive line: Matt Bliven, Steve Mills, Kaleb Kelleher, Matt Rivera, Drew Herberger, and Robert Hedin.

Mills and Bliven were singled out especially for their work on Pleasant Hill's All State defensive tackles Dustin Holmes (6-feet-4-inches, 263 pounds) and Justin Cameron (6-feet-3-inches 253 pounds).

Neither player recorded a sack for the Billies. The defense was led by Loren Cole, Nathan Powell, Matt Harp, JD Chatelain, Tel White, and Conner Burck. The defense forced five punts, which is five more than the Billies had kicked cumulatively in its last seven games.

The defense held the Billies to 388 yards of total offense but found themselves on the short end of the field the entire first half due to turnovers.

The Outlaws turned the ball over a total of seven times, including turnovers on four of their first five possessions. The Outlaws still managed 338 yards of offense but turnovers stopped most of their drives.

Seth Teague led all receivers with 11 receptions for 139 yards while Mike Greene continued his weekly dominance with eight receptions for 106 yards.

The Outlaws finish the year 8-4 with their third appearance in four years in the final four. The Outlaws have posted an impressive 12-3 playoff record since the return of the high school in 1992.

Coach Macauley expressed his pride in the 2001 Outlaw team and was disappointed the season ended.

The 2001 team is a very closely-knit team with outstanding positive leadership, Macauley said.

Coach Macauley singled out the leadership of seniors Mike Greene, Steve Mills, Joel Meyer and Ian Brink as the key factors for the team playing so well together.