Prep Football: Defense leads Roseburg to 28-6 win over Eagle Point
EAGLE POINT — The Roseburg Indians defense snatched four interceptions and returned one for a score to help lead the Tribe to a 28-6 win over the Eagle Point Eagles in a Class 5A Special District 4 contest Friday at Eagles Stadium.
Paxton Burke stole two passes and returned one 38 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. The senior defensive back now has eight interceptions on the season to lead the Class 5A statewide. Caden Moon and Emery Hurtienne also picked off passes by the Eagles.
Roseburg coach Matt Watson called it the “ultimate bend, don’t break” defense.
The Indians picked off Eagle Point senior Mason DeVry in the end zone twice and broke up a couple of more passes at the goal line. DeVry had a tough night, throwing all four of the INTs and completing just 4-of-15 attempts for 35 yards.
Roseburg (3-5, 2-4 SD4) took a little bit of time to warm up on offense. The Indians punted on their first two possessions, but a first quarter Burke interception set up Roseburg’s offense with a short field. Corey Kimball capped off a 7-play, 45-yard drive with a 2-yard plunge across the goal line to put the Tribe ahead 7-0.
Burke’s pick-six put Roseburg ahead 14-0 early in the second quarter, but Eagle Point’s Pierce Brown responded by returning the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a special teams touchdown. It was the second consecutive week that Brown returned a kickoff for a score.
The Indians gave the ball away on their next drive. Kimball had the ball knocked out of his hands while running through Roseburg’s option offense and Julius Smith recovered for the Eagles.
“Any time we give a team room to breathe, they’re going to take advantage of it,” Watson said. “We gave Eagle Point some opportunities to take advantage of it and a team like that, it makes us really nervous.”
Once again, the Roseburg defense stood tough and forced a three-and-out by the Eagles. The Indians drove 69-yards on the next possession and Moon stretched the lead to 21-6 on a 7-yard run just before halftime.
Moon picked off DeVry in the end zone on the opening drive of the second half, but neither team found much offensive success in a scoreless third quarter.
Eagle Point (1-7, 1-5) blocked a punt to set up a short field near the start of the fourth quarter, but it was Roseburg’s defense that came up clutch again. This time it was Hurtienne with his first interception of the season on a DeVry pass towards the end zone.
“They shot themselves in the foot a few times, but we gave them opportunities and we just can’t do that against a team like Springfield (Roseburg’s next opponent),” Watson said.
Drea Burwell put the game on ice with a breakaway 54-yard touchdown run moments later. The senior finished with a season-high 138 yards on 10 carries to lead the Indians’ ground game, which piled up 288 yards on 42 attempts.
Roseburg utilized both Kimball and Moon at quarterback throughout the game, although neither did much passing. The Indians were 2-for-5 through air for just 10 yards.
Kimball and Moon combined for 12 carries as the Indians relied on the ground game. It was the first time this season that the RHS coaching staff utilized a two-quarterback game plan.
“We really like the pressure it puts on defenses. We like the different packages that we can run with Moon and the different packages we can run with Kimball,” Watson said. “They’re both such unique quarterbacks and very different styles that, Springfield preparing for us better prepare for both.”
Eli Smith added 80 rushing yards on 11 carries for the Tribe. Sophomore Eli Hamann led Eagle Point with 67 rushing yards on 15 touches.
Roseburg will finish the season against Springfield at 7 p.m. Friday at Finlay Field. The Indians will attempt to end the season on a 3-game winning streak, while the Millers are on the playoff bubble and will most likely need a win to keep their hopes of the postseason alive.
Roseburg;7;14;0;7;—;28
Eagle Point;0;6;0;0;—;6
First Quarter
R — Kimball 2 run (Huerta kick)
Second Quarter
R — Burke 38 interception return (Huerta kick)
E — Brown 81 kickoff return (Kick blocked)
R — Moon 7 run (Huerta kick)
Fourth Quarter
R — Burwell 54 run (Huerta kick)
