Third Time Was The Charm For Spartans In SkyEm Rematch at Reser

And it was the other #1 that made #1 the other #1, as Bobby Edwards leads the Spartans to the State title, relegating Cory McCaffrey to another #2 finish. Edwards proclaimed "All year, we worked hard, but people doubted us. We came to get the hardware today!"

Edwards piled up 169 yards and 2 touchdowns, while McCaffrey was held to 99 yards, and only 1 score.

Coach Rory Rosenbach acknowledged "This feel pretty good, especially against those guys! We got after them early, and at half time, we told the kids 'They are going to score, we will have to answer when they do!', and sure enough, Sisters responded. Sisters is never out of it. I'm very proud of these kids, because of the way they responded to every challenge thrown at them. All season and today."

Rosenbach told his team afterwards "No body believed, or said, you could do it. But you proved you are #1."

Specifically, the improved Spartan defense, that shut out Sisters in the first half, for the only time all year, and held them to their lowest point total of the season, proved Marist was #1. Rosenbach had stated before that to win Marist had to get some turnovers. And it was clear that the defense had a lot to do with the 5 Sisters fumbles, 3 of which were lost to Marist. Rosenbach observed "The defense did a good job, creating those turnovers we needed!"

(Updated with photos.)

Marist is making their 27^th. playoff appearance in 40 years, with 3 titles in their previous 5 trips to the title game. In addition to the last two odd numbered years, the Spartans also grabbed the 1973 title. Second place finishes in 1984 & 1985 resulted from the other Marist championship appearances.

The Outlaws have appeared in the playoffs 10 times in the last 11 years under Cocah Bob MaCauley, with back to back perfect record championships in 1998 & 1999, and missing the post season only in 2003 during that run. Sisters has the most interesting championship game history of any of the 6 teams at Reser this year, as they claimed championships in 1957 & 1959 playing 6 man football. In 1960, Oregon switched to playing 8 man football at the schools with small enrollments, and Sisters adapted from the 6 man game, winning the title in 1961.

OSAA Video available here once the game starts.

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The third time will be the charm. But which charm will it be? Will it be a third State Championship for Retiring Sisters Coach Bob MaCauley? Will it be the third Title in the last three odd years for Marist? Might it be a Ring for the state’s all-time leading rusher Cory McCaffrey in his third playoff run? Could it be the first win for the Spartans in their third try against the Outlaws in the last two years? Will the Outlaws win a playoff game by a whisker at the end for the third week in a row?

It's in the 40's, with bright sun, and a breeze blowing in from NW of the Valley Football center, strong enough to be a factor for the kickers, especially on that end. The officials for the opener are from the Southwest Oregon Assn.

Sisters nation has Spartan nation substantially outnumbered.

Sisters has won the toss, and deferred. They will defend the Valley Football Center end.

1st. qtr.

Marist goes no huddle, and when the deep pass to Gianni Carter is way wide, they punt the ball to the same place, behind the bench. Where Cory McCaffrey isn't.

Sisters’ Cory McCaffrey (1) watches a Marist punt sail out of bounds.

Outlaw QB Jarred Hasskamp is no stranger to Marist, so the variety of Sisters' looks is no surprise.

Sisters QB Jarred Hasskamp runs the Outlaw offense.

Big hits have already caused an Outlaw fumble, which they recovered, and lost headgear.

And the first big play is a fumbled snap, ending the Outlaw drive.

The next big play is a dropped pass by Jeff Bedbury, behind the Outlaw defense, but looking back into the bright sun.

Another fumble, this time on a poor pitch, is covered by McCaffrey, and indicates the edginess of the players. Best solution is a good fullback, so Taylor Davenport takes the ball, and some Marist tacklers, up the middle for a calm down first down.

Marist is doing a good job of reading when to shoot safeties, and when a pass is coming. Those 2 prior contests are not lost on the Spartans' defense.

The Outlaws kill a punt headed for a touchback at the 1! Special teams big play #1. Speaking of #1, the other one, Bobby Edwards, solves the Spartan field position problem with a 30 yard slant run to his left.

But all it does is get some room for the punter, who almost appears to be shanking punts to his right on purpose. With the way the Spartan D is playing, that's a valid strategy.

A fair catch at the 6, and almost the entire first half has been played in Marist territory. But with no actual scoring threat, other than the dropped pass.

2nd. qtr.

Another attempt at a Spartan bomb is incomplete, and the first controversy follows. Was a screen pass a catch, a fumble, was he down? No, just incomplete. (No replay to check either.)

McCaffrey fair catch on the first non-shank punt. And McCaffrey fumble on a pitch, Spartan ball at the Outlaw 43. The first big turnover the Spartans were looking for.

Another deep ball is actually caught, but Chad Swenson can't hold on when hit, and the loos ball goes to the Outlaws. Who saw a defensive battle in this one?!

Marist QB Ryan Bell (10) throws deep for Chad Swenson.

Marist's 300+ lb. Charles Siddoway is influencing Outlaw play calling, and with Sisters tackle Evan Eady on the training table, that could become a big deal.

The Outlaws punt team pins Marist deep again, at the 11 this time. But the Spartans finally find their stride, and Ryan Bell leads a beautiful 89 yard drive, and caps it with the first score on a 20 yard keeper 4:05 before halftime. Neither the deep or short passing has worked, so Marist adjusted to the middle stuff.

Ryan Bell (10) outdistances the Sisters defense to score a touchdown.

Even Marist's kickoffs shank right. Eady isn't to be keep out of a game this big, and is back in. McCaffrey as a decoy is only effective if you execute off the play, which is a problem today. This frankly looks like game 3 of the regular season.

Marist starts deep again, at their 35, with 1:55 to work with. Can't take the time they did last time. Missed tackles always help, but missed deep balls (still) don't. The no huddle, combined with slow resets on first down, suddenly is significant, but bizarrely, the Spartans don't even use their first time out until they are down to 14 seconds left, 4th. & 3. Pass left, out of bounds with 7 seconds left at the 21. No FG! Seam route right to Michael Wilson WIDE OPEN, and Marist takes a 13-0 lead, with 2 seconds on the clock.

Michael Wilson (2) in the end zone for Marist.

Marist must still defend a kick, covered with no time elapsed, and a pass. Getting to the 32 does no good, and Sisters has some serious work to do.

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Championship qualms have hit Sisters again, as the Outlaws have 79 total yards, McCaffrey only 26. Excluding Edwards' 30 yard goal line escape, a 21 yard completion is the big play of the game, as fireworks are absence. Bell has thrown for 125 yards, and the Spartans have added 105 rushing. Their offense isn't stunning, but is playing solid. The Outlaw defense isn't used to having to play total shutdown, but at the pace the game is going, they can't let this get much more out of hand.

3rd. qtr.

Sisters gets it first, at their 38, when another kick goes no way close to McCaffrey. Sisters is already gambling on 4th. down in their own territory! A Marist miscue before the snap makes it work. Marist takes a pass interference penalty to prevent a McCaffrey catch inside the 5. Good play, it saves 20+ yards. (Should there be a rule change?) It buys time, but nothing else; McCaffrey reaches the 50 yd. mark @ 9:06, and Sisters pulls within 13-7.

Interference on Marist.

Sisters’ Cory McCaffrey (1) finds a hole in the Marist defense.

A block in the back forces the Spartans to look at an 86 yard drive. That other #1, Edwards, is up to 72 yards, as the Spartans continue to take chunks from an Outlaw defense that no longer is beating the Spartans to their own spots, as they did initially. A deep pass left to Bedbury finally works, at the Outlaw 7, and Bell completes the 7 play, 86 yard drive, in only 1:40. Another missed conversion might matter, but not if Sisters continues to give up chunks.

Ryan Bell (10) throws the deep out pass to Jeff Bedbury on the left side for Marist.

With over 7 minutes in the 3rd. qtr., the Outlaws face an almost must produce drive, to protect their defense, if nothing else. McCaffrey's 33 yard sprint thru the middle, and a 19 yard corner route to Tanner Hodges, and the Outlaws indeed do answer, with their best 40 seconds of the day so far. Spartans only 19-14, still not half way thru the quarter. The offensive monster is awakening.

Cory McCaffrey (1) bursts up the middle for Sisters.

Marcus Gaboni has had enough of the Outlaw defensive blues, and blows thru to sack Bell. Yet another shanked punt start Sisters at the Spartan 45. A 4 yard, 2 foot penalty march off (assuming the stripes are straight) forces a 3rd. down, and Hasskamp's keeper wide is a surprise to the Spartans. It keeps the drive alive long enough for Hasskamp to hit Hodges for the lead with 2:23 to go in the qtr. Outlaws up 21-19.

Tanner Hodges (24) after scoring a touchdown for Sisters.

The smaller Spartan crowd is basking in the sun, but it's the Outlaws who are finally warming up.

Ian Stark storms thru for a stop, but then that other #1 Edwards does too. Bell has stepped it up too, proving he's a battler, no matter how this winds up. We have moved from that 3rd. game of the season look up to a late season level game, with the Spartans on the Outlaw 11 as the quarter ends.

Ryan Bell (10) running hard around right end for Marist.

4th. qtr.

Colton Thomas comes up with it in the endzone, but its a trap.

Marist’s Colton Thomas goes down for the ball, while Michael Wilson (2) dives over a Sisters defender.

The Line Judge gets taken out, but he's not letting a sub into a title game either! It all brings the Spartans back to the front, 22-21, on Gabe Shepergerdes' 28 yard field goal, with 11:12 to go.

And another kickoff goes out of bounds. McCaffrey is up to 96 yards, but Edwards is at 101.

Penalties haven't been plentiful, but they have tended to come at crucial times. And it means the Outlaws can't move it, putting Marist at their 39, with 9:07 left in a 1 point game. And Edwards extends his advantage over the (now) other #1, as Marist marches into Sisters territory. The Outlaw secondary is allowing a lot of opportunities underneath, and that's allowing Edwards to take his shots. He puts the Spartans ahead by 8 with the very big PAT kick. 29-21 with 6:12 to go.

Bobby Edwards (1) scores for Marist, outdistancing Carroll Gryder (27), Shawn Maurer (26), and Chad Kemutt (77).

Nate Jackson hobbles out for the Outlaws, then a ripped loose fumble goes up in the air, and Marist takes over at their 28. Five fumbles, three lost, so far by the Outlaws, are one of two key stats of the game. The other will be Edwards' totals, as he adds another touchdown scamper, and the Spartans have 15 points to work with against only 4:03 to go.

Bobby Edwards (1) hits the gap behind a block by Chad Swenson (4)…

And scores the eventual winning touchdown for Marist.

The Spartans answered that Outlaw rally with 18 straight points, as much of a statement about their defense as their offense.

Hasskamp hits Hodges for 45 yards, so don't start the bar-be-que yet. Hasskamp misses a wide open Carrol Gryder in the end zone, but not Jackson, going out the back, and Hodges' kick hits the right upright, but it caroms in, making it 36-28 with 3:12 to go. And both teams have saved all their timeouts.

Nate Jackson beat’s Marist’s Andrew Hughes (15) to score for Sisters in the back of the endzone.

Sisters tries the onside kick, but Marist covers it at midfield. First time out Sisters @ 2:21, after second down.

Bobby Edwards (1) hammers into the line. There might have been a hold on this run!

Another at 2:15, forcing 4th. & 4. And Edwards picks up the first down!

Dustin Waldron (50) and Jameson Martin (56) celebrate as Tanner Hodges (24) brings down Bobby Edwards, because they see he has the game winning first down!

2:08 to go. Last Outlaw timeout!

Chad Swenson (4) protects the ball with both arms, as Marist runs out the clock.

Edwards brings up third down, and then fourth down, with too little time to force the play. Spartans Win!

Postgame

Ryan Bell completed 18 of 31 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown, and had only 1 pass intercepted. Bell also rushed for 50 yards despite a sack, and 2 scores, to go with Edwards' big numbers. Rosenbach reflected on those numbers, observing "Ryan has done a good job all year. Bobby came out of no where. The plan was to split up the carries, but he got hot, and we needed to just roll with him."

The Spartan defense, which was much improved, was special to Rosenbach. "Our goal was to keep McCaffrey under 200 yards, but I was more pleased with out pass defense. We were able to get off the field on third down, which is what killed us the first two times against Sisters. We were eager to show our improvement, and its a credit to Coach (Kai) Smalley."

Hasskamp completed 15 of 23 throws for 195 yards, and three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough, early or late, as Marist bounced back after every challenge. Rosenbach noted "We were beating ourselves in the first half, but each player that dropped a ball came back with a play later."

Based on the pattern, it might be wise to place a bet early on Marist to win the 2009 championship, though Rosenbach intends to "Buck that trend in 2008!"

And so Sisters' Coach Bob MaCauley's career winds down, with that 50th. loss the Outlaws tried to avoid. McCaffrey concluded the most productive career by a running back in the history of the state, with a final total of 8,464, and 115 touchdowns, and a final season total of 2,926 yards. But after 34 wins, 3 playoff losses denied him a title.

A title Marist claimed for the fourth time.

Marist..............  0  13   6 17  - 36

Sisters.............  0   0  21   7  - 28

Scoring Summary:

2nd. QTR.

    04:05 MARI - Bell, R 20 yd run (Schepergerdes, kick)

                                               10 plays, 90 yards, TOP 2:44, MARI 7 - SIST 0

    00:02 MARI - Wilson, M 21 yd pass from Bell, R (Schepergerdes, kick failed)

                                               9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:53, MARI 13 - SIST 0

3rd. QTR.

    09:06 SIST - McCaffrey, C 5 yd run (Hodges, T kick)

                                               7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:53, MARI 13 - SIST 7

    07:19 MARI - Bell, R 7 yd run (Swenson, C rush failed)

                                               7 plays, 86 yards, TOP 1:40, MARI 19 - SIST 7

    06:27 SIST - Hodges, T 23 yd pass from Hasskamp, J (Hodges, T kick)

                                              3 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:49, MARI 19 - SIST 14

    02:23 SIST - Hodges, T 8 yd pass from Hasskamp, J (Hodges, T kick)

                                              7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 1:58, MARI 19 - SIST 21

4th. QTR.

    11:12 MARI - Schepergerdes, 28 yd field goal

                                             12 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:11, MARI 22 - SIST 21

    06:12 MARI - Edwards, B 24 yd run (Schepergerdes, kick)

                                              6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:55, MARI 29 - SIST 21

    04:03 MARI - Edwards, B 17 yd run (Schepergerdes, kick)

                                              3 plays, 27 yards, TOP 1:12, MARI 36 - SIST 21

    03:12 SIST - Jackson, N 5 yd pass from Hasskamp, J (Hodges, T kick)

                                              5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:50, MARI 36 - SIST 28

CC

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