Posted: Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:00 am
Sweet Home showed its character by mounting two late scoring drives, but it wasn't enough Friday as the Huskies fell 40-20 to Marist in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.
The game was played in wet conditions at South Eugene High School.
"It was just a torrential downpour the entire time," said Sweet Home coach Rob Younger. "I was really proud of the kids, their compusure, their poise. They played with great effort the entire 48 minutes. We put together two great scoring drives in the fourth quarter.
By then, however, Marist had already built a 40-6 advantage.
The Spartans used their team speed to great advantage.
After the teams traded early scores, Marist went ahead on a
59-yard run by Brandon Jackson in the first quarter.
The Spartans then added to their lead after halftime with an 80-yard kickoff return.
"We were just unable to stop the big play with their outstanding speed and athleticism," Younger said.
The Huskies finish the year with a record of 4-7.
"We had our ups and we had our downs, but overall it was a very pleasing season because of the kind of people you work with throughout the year," Younger said. "This team was just an outstanding group of young men."
Marist 40, Sweet Home 20
Sweet Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 0 0 14 - 20
Marist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 0 13 6 - 40
First quarter
M - Ryan Bell 10 run (kick failed)
SH - Kyle Pettit 51 run (kick failed)
M - Brandon Jackson 59 run (Bell run)
M - Chad Swanson 8 run (Schetergerdas kick)
Third quarter
M - Jeff Bedbury 80 kickoff run (kick failed)
M - Jordan Johnston 55 pass from Bell (Schetergerdas kick)
Fourth quarter
M - Swanson 27 run (kick failed)
SH - Nick Pitts 4 run (run failed)
SH - Skyler Bascom 3 run (Casey Topp run)
Individual statistics
Rushing: SH - Pitts 21-103, Bascom 14-66, Pettit
9-69
Passing: SH - Pettit 3-12-14
We were just unable to stop the big play with their outstanding speed and athleticism.
This team was just a group of outstanding men with great character.
We had our ups and we had our downs, but overall it was a very pleasing season because of the kind of people you work with throughout the year.
played at South Eugene - Turf, it definitely helped them with their speed.
The wetness, hurt Sweet Home's efforts to pass the ball.