Outlaws take down Elmira Falcons in homecoming game

A week of homecoming festivities culminated with a 46-14 Outlaws win over Elmira at home on Friday, October 30, in front of their biggest crowd of the year.

Sisters had a quick start and took the opening kickoff at their own 40-yard line and in three plays were in the end zone. Chase Kleint covered 38 of the 40 yards in two plays and scored the touchdown. Alex Novotny's kick for the extra point was good and with only two minutes gone in the game the Outlaws held a 7-0 lead.

Elmira fumbled the ball, and Novotny was there to scoop it up and give the ball back to Sisters.

The Outlaws went 40 yards in five plays but then fumbled the ball on the goal line to give the Falcons the break they needed.

The defense held Elmira, but between a fumble and a dropped pass Sisters was only able to manage a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Sisters' defense held Elmira and late in the second quarter Rodney Warner recovered a fumble to spark the Outlaws with 1:58 seconds left in the half.

Kleint rushed 30 yards to get the ball to the midfield and then quarterback Eric Carlson ran it in with 16 seconds left on the clock. The PAT by Novotny was good, and at the half Sisters held a 14-0 lead.

"We looked lethargic, lacked concentration and made mental mistakes in the first half," said Coach Bob Macauley.

Sisters regrouped and turned it around in the second half. The Outlaws scored on their next four possessions.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Kleint rushed 40 yards behind the blocking of Daniel Wiegand and Marteen Jiminez to set up the next play, which was a six-yard TD run by Kleint. The PAT failed but the Outlaws were on track with a 20-0 lead.

The Outlaws' next big defensive play came from Zech Mickel, who made a spectacular interception when he slid to the ground and scooped up the ball before it could touch the ground. Sisters wasted no time, and Kleint went four yards on the next play to score. The PAT was good and with only three minutes off the clock in the third quarter the Outlaws had pushed to a 27-0 advantage.

Elmira responded, and completed a 54-yard pass play that closed the gap to 27-8.

Sisters took the kick on their own 35-yard line and in three plays scored with Kleint rushing 64 yards for the TD. The extra point by Novotny was good and Sisters extended their lead to 34-8.

Again, the Outlaws defense held. Randon Beech recovered a fumble and put the Outlaws back in business. Sisters went to the air with Eric Carlson throwing a 52-yard TD pass to Kleint with no time left in the third. Novotny added the extra point and Sisters went up 41-8.

Elmira came back with a long bomb early in the fourth quarter to score the TD, but Sisters' defense held them on their two-point conversion attempt, making it 41-14.

The Outlaws took possession and began to run the clock down with a long drive that was capped by a six-yard TD run by Drew Johnston, with three minutes left on the clock. Time ran out and Sisters recorded the win.

Sisters' defense played one of their best games of the year, led by Max Stovall and Rodney Warner, who finished the night with seven tackles each. Cam Valdez had six tackles and forced a fumble. Nick Saba contributed a quarterback sack, a fumble recovery and five tackles.

"The defense set the tone for the game and clearly was the best facet of the game," said Macauley. "Their discipline was evident by the defensive line play of Bryce Alderman, Randon Beech, Hayden Hudson, Randy Ketchum and Kyle Scott, who held a much larger Elmira offense in check the whole game."

The Outlaws' defense recovered four fumbles, had an interception and two quarterback sacks which stopped most of the Elmira drives.

Sisters' offense also had a great night, and rolled up 526 yards of total offense. Kleint accounted for 358 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

The offensive line of John Green, Hayden Hudson, Bryce Alderman, Randon Beech, Max Stovall, Randy Ketchum and Cam Valdez did a fantastic job blocking. Andrew Johnston had another great game blocking from the fullback position.

Eric Carlson completed seven of 15 passes for 91 yards throwing, including a touchdown.

The win sets up next week's game on the road at Cottage Grove. A Sisters win and a Pleasant Hill loss would give the Outlaws a playoff berth.