Outlaws fall in league opener

The Outlaws lost 34-20 at home to the Billies of Pleasant Hill in the league opener on Friday, September 25.

According to Coach Bob Macauley, the Outlaws played a good game except for a four-minute mental lapse at the close of the second quarter.

"We overcame early adversity, but those four minutes are why we ended up not being able to win the game," said Macauley.

Neither team put any points on the scoreboard in the first quarter, and the Outlaws and the Billies entered the second quarter tied 0-0.

The Billies scored first to take a 6-0 lead with approximately four minutes left in the half. Sisters answered back and went up 7-6. Pleasant Hill scored again to regain the lead at 14-7. With 1:32 left on the clock the Outlaws tied it up 14-14. As the clock ticked down to zero, the Billies capped their drive with a touchdown and went into halftime with a 20-14 advantage.

All three of the Billies touchdowns in the second quarter came in the final four minutes, due to miscues by the Outlaws.

Pleasant Hill scored midway through the third quarter on a 40-yard TD run and then with 3:21 left in the quarter scored on a 12-yard run to push to a 34-14 lead. The Outlaws came back at the end of the quarter and scored on a nine-yard run by Ryan Yancey to close the Billie's lead to 34-20.

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter and Sisters lost the contest by 14.

Pleasant Hill recorded 335 yards of total offense and Sisters finished with 326 yards of total offense.

Macauley said that the offensive line, consisting of Bryce Alderman, Andrew VanDiver, Randon Beech, Max Stovall and Hayden Hudson, played exceptionally well. Macauley was also impressed with quarterback Erik Carlson who ran the offense well and was a good leader on the field.

Wide receiver Marteen Jiminez sparked the Outlaws when he came in to start in the second half. Jiminez caught seven passes for 85 yards.

Randy Ketchum and Jared Nelson both had their best games of the season. Ketchum caught two passes for 56 yards and Nelson had 11 carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

Max Stovall had an outstanding game and led the defense with 18 tackles, a blocked pass, an interception and a sack.

"He had a great season in one game," said Macauley.

Rodney Warner also had his best performance of the season and recorded 11 tackles, followed by Hayden Hudson who had 10.

Macauley summed up his thoughts on the game:

"We gave Pleasant Hill too many offensive plays and we need to limit that. I'm still very hopeful. The Sky-Em Conference is wide open and all is not lost in one game. Teams going to the playoffs will have two to three losses in league. We just need to rally. These guys have great character. They need some more confidence and we need all of our weapons on the field at the same time."

The Outlaws will travel to Junction City on Friday, October 2. Macauley said the match-up is a very important league game and the Outlaws will need to come out early and get the momentum.