NORTH BEND — Phoenix played North Bend closer than it had earlier in the season, but not close enough to avoid elimination from the Class 4A football state playoffs.
North Bend scored three first-quarter touchdowns in miserably wet and windy conditions and made the points stand up in a 26-14 triumph.
North Bend, the runner-up in the Far West League, advances to face Baker next week. Phoenix, which finished third in the Skyline Conference, ended the season with a 4-6 record.
Phoenix lost a nonconference game to the Bulldogs early in the season, 30-12.
"I thought we played harder tonight than the first time around," said Pirates coach Gordy Crowston. "The defense shored it up after the first quarter and played hard. We just couldn't get the breaks when we needed them. That's kind of been the story of the season a little a bit."
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Quinton Walker sprinted through a lane on a 34-yard touchdown run on the Pirates' first series to give them the lead.
"It was perfectly blocked," said Crowston, lauding fullback Joe Reyes for his kick-out block on the cornerback and the sealing blocks by two receivers. "It was a beautiful alley and Quinton hit it perfect."
Their jubilation was short-lived, however, as Kale Forrester ripped off a 65-yard scoring run on North Bend's first play to tie it at 6-6.
The Bulldogs followed with two more TDs, including a 44-yard run by Shawn Mitchell, to take command.
"We gave up three big runs in the first quarter," said Crowston. "The weather just kept coming and the field deteriorated as the game progressed."
Walker helped pull the Pirates within 20-14 with a 78-yard TD romp — another Reyes block sprung him — in the second quarter. Walker finished with 148 yards on 15 carries.
Phoenix made one last attempt to put points up in the last 61„2 minutes, converting three third downs and one fourth while driving to the Bulldog 5-yard line. But the Pirates were turned back.
"I thought we battled all the way through," said Crowston. "Even though we didn't get the win, the kids played well. I'm proud of the way we finished the season."
Phoenix 6 8 0 0 --14
North Bend 20 0 0 6 --0
P — Walker 34 run (Machado kick failed)
NB — Forrester 65 run (pass failed)
NB — Mitchell 44 run (run failed)
NB -- Mitchell 6 run (Mitchell run)
P — Walker 78 run (Giron run)
NB — Caldwell 37 run (kick failed)
Class 6A Playoffs
- WEST SALEM 20, GRANTS PASS 7 — At Salem, Grants Pass closed the season with its third straight loss in a first-round state-playoff game.
West Salem led 6-0 at the half and built a 20-0 lead in the fourth quarter before the Cavemen scored a touchdown with three minutes to play.
Grants Pass, which took third in the Southwest Conference, finishes the season 9-3. The Cavemen played their last three games without starting running back Craig Dolmage, who was lost for the year with a broken collarbone.
West Salem plays at third-ranked Grant next Friday or Saturday in a second-round contest.
- SOUTHRIDGE 20, ROSEBURG 14, OT — At Roseburg, Kevin Coleman scored on a 2-yard run in overtime after Roseburg fumbled on the opening possession.
Southridge hosts a second-round game next Friday against Redmond, a 42-0 winner over Franklin.
Coleman scored the winning TD on a second-and-goal to complete a five-play drive.
A bad exchange between Indian quarterback Jake Johnson and running back Adam Brink caused a fumble on a fourth-and-one at the 16 in overtime.
Roseburg, the Southwest Conference No. 2 team, tied the game 14-all in regulation on Johnson's fourth-quarter 3-yard run.
The Skyhawks took a 7-0 lead with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter when Coleman completed an 11-play, 53-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard run.
John Forrester's 2-yard TD run for Roseburg with 6:15 to go in the second quarter tied the score 7-all.
Southridge (6-4), of Beaverton, amassed 260 yards in offense, while the eighth-ranked Indians (6-4) totaled 173 yards.
- SHELDON 38, MCKAY 7 — At Eugene, Zach Todd rushed for 107 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries as second-ranked Sheldon rolled to a first-round state-playoff win.
The Irish (10-0) had 356 total yards, while holding McKay to 150 yards.
Sheldon quarterback Alex Besaw completed 11-of-14 passes for 120 yards, with Aaron Pflugrad hauling in six Besaw attempts for 59 yards.
The Irish, the Southwest Conference champion, move on to face Barlow, a 30-6 winner over Lakeridge, next Friday in a second-round game.
- SOUTH EUGENE 28, DAVID DOUGLAS 14 — At Portland, South Eugene held host David Douglas to 198 yards in a first-round state-playoff game.
Senior wide receiver had four catches for 126 yards and a touchdown to lead the Axemen, who used a 1-yard scoring run from quarterback Logan Beal to move ahead by two touchdowns in the third quarter.
Beal overcame a two-interception performance to complete 10-of-14 attempts for 185 yards.
South Eugene (7-3), which finished fourth in the Southwest Conference, will play 10th-ranked Central Valley League champion Sprague next Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Salem.
