HS FB Playoffs — Oakland rolls, South Umpqua pulls stunning upset

STAYTON — South Umpqua junior Drew Camp returned a fourth quarter kickoff 95 yards for what proved to be the deciding score in the Lancers’ 22-21 upset victory against Kennedy in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs Friday night at Stayton High School.

No. 13-seed South Umpqua (7-3) eliminated No. 4 Kennedy (8-2), last season’s state runner-up, and will move on to face the winner of Scio and Lakeview. The Loggers and Honkers begin their first round game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Lancers took a 7-0 lead at the start of the second quarter on a 2-yard run by Jacob Logan. Kennedy tied the game a few minutes later on a 1-yard run by senior Elijah Traeger.

The score remained tied 7-7 at halftime and throughout a scoreless third quarter.

South Umpqua looked to have a prime chance to retake the lead at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Trojans turned the Lancers away four times inside the Kennedy 10-yard line.

The Trojans didn’t get to celebrate the defense stand very long. On first down from its own 1-yard line, Kennedy fumbled and South Umpqua recovered in the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-7 advantage.

Kennedy reponsded with a score, but missed the extra point and trailed 14-13 with 7:32 left to play.

The Trojans forced a punt by the Lancers and marched down the field to take their first lead of the game on a 5-yard scoring play. Kennedy missed the two-point try and led 19-14 with 2:58 remaining.

Once again, any momentum for Kennedy was short-lived as Camp took the ensuing kickoff at about the 5-yard line and sprung free along the sideline for the game-changing play. Louden Cole scored the two-point try to put the Lancers ahead 22-19.

Kennedy started its final drive of the game in good field position after a kickoff return to the South Umpqua 35-yard line, but the Trojans were unable to move the chains. A fourth down pass attempt by Traeger sailed high and South Umpqua took over needing to run off the final 90 seconds of the game.

The Lancers made a tactical decision to run out of the back of the end zone as time expired, giving up two points, but clinching the upset.

#2 Oakland 38, #15 Central Linn 8

SUTHERLIN — The Oakland Oakers scored 22 points in the second quarter and pulled away for a 38-8 win over Central Linn in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs on Friday night at Sutherlin High School.

Oakland (9-1) will face Gervais (8-1) in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs next week. The Cougars defeated Toledo 24-12 for their first playoff victory since 1951.

The Oakers started the scoring with a 7-yard run by Brayden Webb in the second quarter.

James Baimbridge was the catalyst for Oakland’s second score. The senior picked off a pass by the Cobras and then scored on a 43-yard catch and run to put the Oakers ahead 16-0 with 12 seconds remaining in the half.

Oakland added one more score before the first half came to an end thanks to a fumble by Central Linn. The Cobras muffed the kickoff and Gabe Williamson recoved for the Oakers at the Central Linn 8-yard line. Freshman quarterback Ryan Fullerton found Corbin Hoover on the final play before the break to give Oakland a 22-0 lead.

Oakland added two more scores in the third quarter to push the game to a running clock. Central Linn (6-3) notched its only score on an 80-yard play in the fourth quarter.