Outlaws gave Gladstone a battle in playoff

The Outlaws battled hard against No. 1 ranked Gladstone, but came up short on the scoreboard. The Outlaws were defeated 21-10 by the Gladiators on Friday, November 7, in the first round of the state playoffs.

The Gladiators got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter on a 54-yard touchdown run. Sisters answered on their next possession. The great drive that started on the Outlaws' own 35-yard line was capped off by a 2-yard run off the right side by Mitch Gibney. Josh Andrade hit the PAT and at the close of the second quarter the score was tied 7-7.

The Outlaws took the lead in the third quarter on an Andrade 27-yard field goal. Gladstone answered right back on their next possession on a 24-yard TD run up the middle. The Gladiators scored their final TD with four minutes left on the clock on a 14-yard run.

Sisters got the ball back and drove down deep into Gladiator territory, but a fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete and Gladstone ran down the clock.

The Outlaws played hard against Gladstone, who entered the contest averaging 49 points per game. Sisters defense did a great job of holding the score down. Offensively, the Outlaws had some missed assignments, poor blocking at times at the point of attack, and could not sustain a few of the drives they started.

Coach Gary Thorson said, "I think injuries and our lack of experience in a few spots were our downfall in this game, but I have no complaints about this team. They did everything we asked the last few weeks, and I think they can hold their heads up high. I don't think anyone who saw us play week one this year would have predicted we would end the season like this, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this team and this coaching staff.

"We had some good leadership out of the season this fall and that was crucial," added Thorson. "They were a big part of this turnaround. There is no question we got the program going back in the right direction, and I am very excited for the future of this football team."