MERLIN, OR – The Sutherlin football team couldn’t stay up with North Valley Friday night, as the Bulldogs lost their third straight 65-21 at Merlin.
North Valley scored all three times it had the ball in the first quarter to build an 18-0 lead. But late in the first quarter, Sutherlin finally found the end zone when Conner Grauf went 80 yards for the Bulldogs’ first touchdown since the Oakland game in week one and they pulled to within 11 at 18-7.
The Bulldogs showed some flashes on offense and defense, just not enough of them.
In the second quarter, the Knights just kept on scoring, but Sutherlin also got a pair of scores. Zach Yarbrough hit Tristan Vincent for a 29-yard scoring strike halfway through the second quarter to make it 22-14
The Knights came right back with Austin Soler going 20 yards on a pass from Noah Brosio to make it 40-14.
The Bulldogs answered with Andrew Smalley picking up a fumble and going 56 yards for a score to pull within 40-21 at halftime.
But it was all North Valley in the second half. The Knights scored on all three drives in the third quarter, and then added one more in the fourth period to win their third game in a row, one more than they won the last two seasons combined.
For Sutherlin, Conner Grauf ran for 126 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Zach Yarbrough was 5-15 passing for 85 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
North Valley’s Hunter Comyford ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Noah Brosio was 10-14 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns. The senior also ran for a score, plus he kicked five extra points and two field goals and kicked the ball into the end zone 8 of 10 times on kickoffs.
Sutherlin coach Sean Radford saw some positives from some of his young players in the game.
“It was nice to see the offense make some big plays,” said Radford. “I think we can build off it and be more consistent next week.”
Sutherlin opens Sky-Em League play next Friday at Sisters.
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— 1490 The Score (@KSKRTheScore) October 24, 2024