Jordan Poyer Scores 30 Points to Lead Fish to Reser

Jordan Poyer scored 30 points, had a couple of huge assists, fired a length of the court pass to Dane Lund, made a nifty bounce pass, had a steal, and grabbed a big rebound to lead second ranked Astoria past top ranked Central 56-35 in front of a standing room only crowd at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

No, this is not the first basketball game report of the season. Despite numbers that would suggest so, this was the 4A football semifinals. And no, it was not Michael Jordan, but it likely looked like it to the Panthers.

Poyer led Astoria to what Coach Howard Rub admitted was a "Nearly perfect first half." So much so that even Poyer stated "I wouldn't change a thing about the first half." It was a first half in which Poyer, the Cowapa conference offensive and defensive player of the year, ran for four of his five rushing touchdowns and 143 of his eventual game high 193 yards, and also completed 11 of 13 pass attempts for 267 more yards and a pair of scores.

First quarter

Astoria's first trip to the semifinals since 1994 started well, as Poyer overcame a dropped pass, converted a fourth down with a completion to Willie Einerson, and capped the 70 yard drive with a 10 yard scoring run.

Central answered with a drive deep into Astoria territory. Key plays including Panther quarterback Grant Hedrick breaking containment for a 13 yard gain, and conversion of a fourth down by a penalty. Eric Phillips ran an out and up route that forced Ian Erickson to hold to prevent a breakaway completion. But the Fish would hold on the second fourth down Central faced on the four and half minute drive.

Lund didn't mind the illusion of Astoria being a one man team, as he had three carries for 22 yards on the next Astoria drive. Alex Eterno proved he could produce as well, with a pair of catches for 45 yards, including the 25 yard scoring strike that put Astoria up 14-0.

Central's JT Tirado answered with a 91 yard kickoff return that mirrored the one James Rodgers had against California for Oregon State, except Tirado went to the left instead of the right.

However, Astoria would score twice more before Central would run another play. Central's attempt at an onside kick gave Astoria the ball at their own 45, and it took only six plays for the Fish to score, and take a 21-7 lead.

The kickoff caromed off a a Panther player's chest, and Ryan Hochhalter recovered the loose ball for Astoria at their 47.

Second quarter

A sack of Poyer ended the first quarter, but a 16 yard Poyer run picked up a first down at the Panther 40. The Fish made good use of a timeout, as Poyer found Eterno for a 40 yard scoring strike, and a 28-7 lead.

Things continued to unravel for Central, as a Tirado fumble after a catch at the Astoria 27 was recovered by Poyer. Poyer found Eterno 20 yards down field on a crossing route, and by the time the Panthers tracked Eterno down, he had a 72 yard gain. Poyer took it the last eight yards for a 35-7 lead.with still 7:06 left until halftime.

Less than two minutes later, Central suffered another turnover, as Hedrick's pass was picked off by Max Johnson at the Fish 18. Johnson returned the interception to the 33, and Poyer took four and a half minutes off the clock in the process of driving for a 42-7 lead. A 28 yard escape act sparked the drive, as Poyer simply outran the containment on a blitz.

Central didn't roll over and die though, as Hedrick took the Panthers 65 yards in 33 seconds for what would be the first of three consecutive Central scores. Hedrick connected with Michael Hamilton for the 14 yard score with only five seconds left before halftime.

Third quarter

Central took the second half kickoff 65 yards in less than two minutes to cut the margin to 42-21, as Hedrick connected with Eric Phillips for a 25 yard completion, and capped the drive with a 10 yard strike to Hamilton.

Astoria went three and punt, and when Hedrick went in for a nine yard score, it looked like the game was on. But a holding penalty gave the Fish a second chance to stop the Panthers, and this time, they forced Central to turn the ball over on downs.

Central Coach Shane Hedrick later noted "The holding penalty turned the tide. It would have been four straight scores."

Four straight because Astoria again went three and punt, as a ball ruled uncatchable equaled a license to level a receiver. And G. Hedrick promptly connected with Phillips on a 50 yard fly route down the left side for the touchdown that did cut the lead to 42-28.

Astoria then answered with the drive of the game, keyed by Poyer's 64 yard strike to Lund. Poyer, who had been making reads at the line of scrimmage all night, later explained "We had wanted to pick on #20 (Adam Warner). When I saw Dane on him, I knew that's where we were going."

Poyer capped the 90 yard drive with his fifth rushing touchdown of the game from three yards out.

Fourth quarter

Central suffered another setback when Lund picked off Hedrick's pass, the third Panther drive that ended with a turnover in Astoria territory. Lund's 37 yard return set Astoria up in the red zone. It took six plays, but Astoria took a 56-28 lead in Lund's 2 yard scoring run. Max Johnson's 61st. consecutive extra point kick pushed the score to 56-28.

Cedillo's 40 yard kickoff return gave Central a short field, and Hedrick found Erik Omlid for a 17 yard completion, and then a 14 yarder for a score. Omlid had come on for Hamilton who had suffered a right knee injury that saw him end the game on crutches.

Astoria respinded with a 9 play drive that consumed almost six minutes off the clock, and included Poyer's bounce pass to Lund on a pitch out. Poyer would later explain "That was not intentional! Bue you can say we planned it! Actually, I thought Dane would get out a little faster. But he picked it up on the run and got a 15 yard gain out of it."

The drive stalled at the Panther two yard line, but with only 1:05 left, Central couldn't mount a drive, and Astoria ran the clock out to claim the first semi-final win in the Fish's 100 year history of football on the coast.

Postgame

Central Coach Hedrick could only say "Gosh! What an exceptional athlete! Astoria was a better team tonight, They definately brought their 'A' game. And they do a nice job of building around him," referring to Poyer.

Astoria Coach Rub had a similar view, saying "What can you say? I've never seen anyone like that on both sides of the ball."

Rub was also pleased with his team's response to the Central rally, noting "I couldn't be more proud of our kids. It was third down and forever. If we don't answer, after two three and outs, there would have been a huge momentum shift. Central has a great offense. That 64 yard play, and the drive, won the game."

Poyer finished with 345 yards passing, and brought his total yardage to nearly 4,000 for the year.

G. Hedrick did his part for Central, completing 24 of 32 passes for 318 yards, and four touchdowns, much of it throwing with no pressure. But that was a product of the Astoria defense that allowed only 73 yards rushing.

The Astoria defensive line consistently stood up the Central offensive line, and their linebackers slid laterally to fill gaps, and control wide plays. The result was the normally dangerous Hedrick ran for only 38 yards, and Casey Connor, who had single handedly destroyed Ontario and Gladstone in Central's first two playoff games, was held to only 33 yards rushing.

The win, which Poyer felt "Was our best game. Last week was our best game so far, but now this one is," means Astoria (13-0) remains undefeated further into the season than ever before. Only the Fishermen's 11th. playoff team, and first semi-final squad since 1994, it is the third time Astoria has reached the semis.

Central (12-1) saw their 30th. playoff team eliminated in the semifinals for the second consecutive season, and third time in five years.

Astoria............. 21 21  7  7  - 56
 Central.............  7  7 14  7  - 35
 First quarter
 Astoria - Jordan Poyer 10 yd run (Max Johnson kick) 9:06
 9 plays, 70 yards, 2:54

A - Alex Eterno 25 yd pass from Jordan Poyer (Max Johnson kick) 2:21
 6 plays, 79 yards, 2:10

Central - JT Tirado 91 yd kickoff return (Roman Daberkow kick) 2:07

A - Jordan Poyer 3 yd run (Max Johnson kick) :44
 10 plays, 55 yards, 1:30

Second Quarter

A - Alex Eterno 40 yd pass from Jordan Poyer (Max Johnson kick) 11:10
 10 plays, 55 yards, 1:30

A - Jordan Poyer 8 yd run (Max Johnson kick) 7:06
 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:59

A - Jordan Poyer 20 yd run (Max Johnson kick) :38
 8 plays, 67 yards, 4:29

C - Michael Hamilton 14 yd pass from Grant Hedrick (Roman Daberkow kick) :05
 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:33

Third quarter

C - Michael Hamilton 10 yd pass from Grant Hedrick (Roman Daberkow kick) 10:09
 8 plays, 65 yards, 1:51

C - Eric Phillips 50 yd pass from Grant Hedrick (Roman Daberkow kick) 3:33
 5 plays, 61 yards, 1:59

A - Jordan Poyer 3 yd run (Max Johnson kick) :41
 7 plays, 90 yards, 2:52

Fourth quarter

A - Dane Lund 2 yd run (Max Johnson kick) 8:08
 6 plays, 14 yards, 2:53

C - Erik Omlid 14 yd pass from Grant Hedrick (Roman Daberkow kick) 6:57
 3 plays, 31 yards, 1:11

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