Outlaws win crucial game, advance

The Outlaws posted a 34-12 score in a must-win game against the Hornets at Henley on October 31. With the win, Sisters advances to the first round of the state playoffs and will play at No. 1 ranked Gladstone at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 7.

Sisters scored on their first possession of the game against Henley after a long drive that was capped off by a one-yard run by Logan Schutte over the right side. The Outlaws missed the PAT but scored again later in the quarter on another run by Schutte from four yards out. Sisters went for two and got it on a three-yard run, again by Schutte.

Henley got two passing scores in the second quarter, one for 10 yards and one for 72 yards, and narrowed the gap to 14-12.

At the start of the second half, the Outlaws came out and received the kickoff, and Connor Gellings broke loose on a well-executed sweep play and went 65 yards down to the one. Henley kept Sisters out on the next few plays and then the Outlaws fumbled on fourth down.

The Hornets took over, but Tristan Lewis intercepted a pass and ran it back 14 yards for a touchdown. Josh Andrade added the PAT and the Outlaws went up 21-12.

In the final quarter, the Outlaws' offensive line took over the game, and Sisters scored on two long runs to extend the lead to 33-12. The first score came on a 61-yard run up the middle by Mitch Gibney, and the second was a 39-yard run by Gellings. Sisters ran down the clock and secured the 34-12 victory.

Coach Gary Thorson said, "Our defense played fantastic in the second half, and Henley never got on track. All of our running-backs ran the ball hard, and it was a great team effort on both sides of the ball."

The Outlaws rushed for 370 yards for the night. On the negative side, Sisters had four turnovers: three fumbles and an interception, which halted drives.

"We played on a very wet and sloppy field in places, but we have to have better ball-security in the future, as normally you lose games when you turn it over that much," said Thorson. "With us having that many turnovers, it was a testament to how well our defense played the entire game. We did not have any one single player with over three solo tackles, and that again shows how much of a team effort it was.

"Lewis and Gellings each had an interception, and Devin Slaughter had another great night in the pass-rush department, putting a lot of head on the quarterback."

Making the playoffs was a coup for the developing Outlaws squad.

"This was a huge accomplishment," Thorson said. "We have improved a tremendous amount, and I think the players tonight proved that they belong in this final field of 16 teams. I am very proud and happy for this team, and their commitment to work and improve is why they are in this position."