GRANTS PASS – The Roseburg Indians’ defense did what it could to keep an explosive Grants Pass offense in check on Friday night, but the Indians’ offense couldn’t break through against the Cavemen’s defense in a 30-7 loss to open Southwest Conference play.
The Roseburg defense allowed just one touchdown in each quarter to Grants Pass and kept the Cavemen well below their season average of 43.5 points per game. While the defense didn’t allow GP to run away with the victory, the Indians’ offense managed just 177 total yards.
Grants Pass (3-0; 1-0 SWC) opened the game with a quick drive for a score. A 49-yard pass play from junior quarterback Blain Hobbs to senior receiver Tayler Phillips got the Cavemen to the one yard line and running back Vincent Washington ran it in for his first of two scores.
Washington punched in his second score of the night with 3:10 left to go in the second quarter and the Cavemen stretched the lead to 17-0 before the half on a 37-yard field goal by senior Daniel Cronin.
Roseburg’s best offense opportunity in the first half came on an interception by Garrett Russell. A pass by Hobbs was tipped into Russell’s hands for his first pick of the year and he returned it to the Grants Pass 36 yard line. The Indians’ offense couldn’t take advantage, though, and ran just four plays before turning the ball over on downs.
The Indians moved into Grants Pass territory to start the third quarter, but quarterback Collin Warmouth threw an interception on a deep pass down the sideline and squashed Roseburg’s drive. Grants Pass tacked on another score with three minutes left in the third on a pass from Hobbs to Korbin Lopez from 21-yards out.
Lopez made another touchdown grab to start the fourth quarter and put Grants Pass up 30-0.
Roseburg’s lone score came at the end of the game with a number of back-ups on the field. Sophomore quarterback Jace Stoffal got his most significant time with the varsity and led a 12-play, 68-yard drive to the end zone. Stoffal was 6-of-8 through the air on the drive and finished with an 8-yard throw to fellow sophomore Jett Black in the end zone.
Roseburg (1-2; 0-1 SWC) punted on nine of its 12 drives in the game and had their lowest offensive output of the season. Grants Pass had to punt six times in the game, but still managed to rack up 474 yards of total offense.
Up next for the Indians will be a home conference game against South Eugene on Friday night. The Axemen are facing North Medford on Monday in a game that has been postponed twice due to poor air quality. The game between South Eugene and North Medford will be played at South Eugene High School at 5 p.m.
ROSEBURG 0;0;0;7 – 7
GRANTS PASS 7;10;6;7 – 30
Scoring Plays:
1st Quarter –
11:25 – (GP) Vincent Washington 1yd run (Cronin kick)
2nd Quarter –
3:10 – (GP) Vincent Washington 3yd run (Cronin kick)
:00.7 – (GP) Daniel Cronin 37yd FG
3rd Quarter –
3:13 – (GP) Blain Hobbs 21yd pass to Korbin Lopez (kick fail)
4th Quarter –
10:56 – (GP) Blain Hobbs 35yd pass to Korbin Lopez (Cronin kick)
1:45 – (R) Jace Stoffal 8yd pass to Jett Black (Lake kick)
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