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North Valley to face tough Scappoose in quarterfinals By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune Many have said you have to beat the best to be the best. Well, the Scappoose football team may not be the best according to the Class 3A poll - the Indians (10-0) are No. 2 - but it's certainly the toughest competition North Valley (10-0 and No. 4) will encounter this season. The Knights and Indians tangle at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium in the OSAA-U.S. Bank Class 3A state quarterfinals. North Valley stormed to the Skyline Conference title during the regular season, received a first-round bye, then plowed past Brookings-Harbor, 16-6, in a second-round affair in Merlin. Scappoose was the Cowapa League champion and clobbered The Dalles, 42-14, in the second round. The Knights rely on a running game based on the talents of senior tailback Colin Beard and solid blocking, big plays from senior wide receiver/kick returner Cole Parmelee and a defense among the stingiest in the state. Beard is close to 1,500 rushing yards this season, Parmelee has scored 16 touchdowns and the defense allowed just 7.6 points per game during the regular season, then shut down the Indians' double-wing attack last week. Fourth-year head coach John George has 19 seniors on his roster, and he took advantage by earning his first playoff win at North Valley last week. The Indians boast a high-scoring offense that lights up scoreboards largely on the strength of junior quarterback Ken Wagner's arm. The successor to last year's Class 3A state offensive player of the year and current Oregon State backup Derek Anderson, Wagner completed 19-of-29 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns against The Dalles last week. Senior receiver Tristan Kelly, who hauled in nine catches for 166 yards and a TD last week, is one of Wagner's primary targets. The game promises to offer a study in contrasts, and the survivor will move on to face the winner of Ontario-Junction City - which is the first half of the Hillsboro Stadium doubleheader, starting at noon. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.