Document text
Powers too much for Butte Falls Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Powers' Tommy Blanton (15) rumbles through Butte Falls players, from left, John Slaton, David Hoel and Tommy Lunsford. By TIM TROWER BUTTE FALLS - The powers that be is still Powers. The sixth-ranked Cruisers, perennially one of the state's best eight-man football teams, exhibited some of the pride and talent that led to such stature in a 44-18 Skyline A League victory over Butte Falls Friday. "Powers isn't as good a team as in the past," nodded Butte Falls coach Jack Brown, "but they're still pretty strong." The Cruisers had given the impression they were vulnerable to a coup by being ransacked 58-12 by No. 2 Alsea a week earlier. Butte Falls, meanwhile, was flying high with a No. 9 ranking, a 2-0 record and an inkling it could reconfigure the league hierarchy. But after several costly second-quarter turnovers were turned into points by Powers, the Loggers were left to aspire to second place in league and the state berth that goes with it. "We have to get ready for our next game," said Butte Falls quarterback Nick Rodgers, who seemed to strike this loss from his psyche almost as quickly as he struck for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to provide a glimmer of hope. "We have to come off this loss just like Powers did after losing to Alsea. They're a good team, but I thought we made them look a lot better than they really were." Isaac Stephenson, who hauled in the scoring strikes, concurred. "We just have to come back, bounce off this loss and win the rest of our games," said the 5-foot-3 junior, who saw time at quarterback, end, safety and punt returner. "Hopefully, we'll see them (Cruisers) at state." Before the game, Brown was honored by the Skyline A League for "years of outstanding service and dedication." When the game started, Powers (4-1, 3-0 Sky A) found itself in a dogfight through the early stages. In the first period, Cruisers quarterback Tommy Blanton passed 12 yards to Justin North and ran for the two-point conversion for the first points. Butte Falls responded with a 45-yard sprint around right end by Tommy Lunsford to make it 8-6, the Loggers failing on the conversion. Powers had two more series in the opening quarter, but the Loggers' spirited defense stopped it dead. At one point, Blanton gestured in frustration and yelled to coach Tim France, "Coach, nothing is working!" Soon after, the second period began, as did the Loggers' downfall. Butte Falls moved to the Powers 3, where, faced with a third and goal, it threatened to take the lead. However, a holding penalty cost the Loggers 10 yards, then Rodgers was intercepted by Seth Fandel. Five plays later, Blanton scored from the 11 to put Powers in front, 14-6. On the Loggers' next offensive play, an errant pitch resulted in a fumble and Powers possession. Five plays later, Blanton passed to Fandel for a 22-6 lead. After each side ran a series and punted, Butte Falls turned generous again, with Rodgers fumbling after a sneak up the middle netted what would have been a first down. Two plays later, a Blanton scramble turned into a 50-yard scoring jaunt, making it 30-6 at halftime. "I thought that once we made a couple of mistakes, it really pumped them up," said Rodgers. Blanton, who ran for 145 yards on 15 carries, added a 58-yard TD run in the third to make it 38-6. In the first minute of the fourth, Rodgers and Stephenson connected for a 25-yard score. Then came one from 20 yards, cinching the gap to 38-18 with 8:35 still to play. "I got a little nervous toward the end," said France, "when they completed a couple of deep passes for two quick scores. The thing about eight-man football is, it's never over till it's over." The pass plays were by necessity - the Loggers were playing catch-up - and by design. "We saw something," said Rodgers. "We knew Isaac was a little quicker than those guys. As long as I could get the ball over them, it was probably six points." Powers ended the suspense when Blanton found Fandel for a 35-yard score with five minutes showing. Lunsford had 110 yards on 17 carries. For Powers, Frank Adamek added 85 yards rushing and Fandel had seven catches for 101 yards. The Loggers missed a number of tackles trying to stop Blanton, Adamek and North. "But," said Brown, "they make you miss, too." Like the opportunity to take over the seat of power. Powers....................................................... 8 22 8 6 - 44 Butte Falls...................................................6 0 0 12 - 18 P - North 12 pass from Blanton (Blanton run) BF - Lunsford 45 run (run failed) P - Blanton 11 run (pass failed) P - Fandel 30 pass from Blanton (Blanton run) P - Blanton 50 run (Blanton run) P - Blanton 58 run (North run) BF - Stephenson 25 pass from Rodgers (pass failed) BF - Stephenson 20 pass from Rodgers (pass failed) P - Fandel 35 pass from Blanton (run failed) Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.