Outlaws cannot contain the Cougars

The Outlaws started off Homecoming Night with a bang, and held a lead over the visiting Cougars at the half and again at the close of the third quarter, but they just couldn’t contain the cats in the fourth, and the home team suffered a heartbreaking 25-21 loss.

Cascade took the ball the length of the field and scored on the opening kickoff and took a quick 6-0 lead. In the second quarter, Sisters marched from their own 35-yard line and scored a TD less than a minute into the period, behind the three-pronged rushing attack of Taylor Fendall, Ethan Martin, and Hunter Spor. Fendall punched it into the

endzone.

The offensive line, aided by quick reads from Fendall, had their way with the Cougars defensive line. Both teams’ rushing attacks were a focal point, and the clock ran down fast. The Outlaws, on their second drive of the night, went from their own 27, averaged five yards per carry, and scored on a blast from Spor up the middle with just 10.6 seconds left. At the half, the Outlaws held a 14-6 advantage.

In the third, Garrett Kersavage intercepted a pass at the Outlaws five-yard line and ran it back to the 24 to stave off a Cascade scoring attempt. After a few bruising runs up the middle by Martin, Fendall kept the option and ran 56 yards for the touchdown. The Cougars responded and scored to close the gap to 21-12 at the close of the third.

The fourth quarter wasn’t kind to the home squad; they just couldn’t keep the Cougars in a cage. Missed assignments, injuries, and players who had to adjust to new positions on the fly doomed the Outlaws. Cascade scored twice in the fourth with a powerful run game, coupled with some nice quarterback runs. Sisters lost by four, 25-21.

The Outlaws could hold a record of 5-1, but penalties, lapses in defense, and turnovers have hurt the Outlaws this season. The Homecoming defeat was another painfully disappointing loss.

After the game Athletic Director Gary Thorson said, “This is the best 1-5 team I’ve ever seen.”

Fendall finished the game with 117 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Martin recorded 37 yards rushing and Spor had one touchdown on the night.

Martin led the squad with nine tackles (three solo) and one tackle for loss, Spor tallied eight tackles (two solo), and Eli Gurney posted seven tackles (two solo), and two tackles for loss. Kersavage had five tackles (four solo), and one interception, Anthony Randolph had three solo tackles, two tackles for loss, and one quarterback sack. Liam Allesio rounded out the defensive effort with five tackles (one solo), and one tackle for loss.

The Outlaws will travel to Philomath on Friday,

October 18.