Canby stops Clackamas 20-6
The Cougars wear the Cavaliers down, as they put 20 points on the scoreboard late in the game
Clackamas receiver Craig Seiler (4) is wrapped up by a host of Canby defenders during Friday night’s game at Clackamas. Defense was a key for the Cougars in a 20-6 victory.
CRAIG MITCHELLDYER / Clackamas Review
CLACKAMAS – Clackamas’ big-play defense ran out of gas late in the game and Canby rallied to a 20-6 win over the Cavaliers in a non-league high school football game played here Friday night.
The two teams played to a scoreless tie until late in the third quarter. Canby had more success on offense throughout the contest, but Cavalier defenders repeatedly came up with the big play until the third quarter was winding down.
“It was a good, tough, hard, well-played football game between two very good defensive teams that really controlled each other’s offenses,” said Canby coach Mike Doty.
“Our defense was outstanding throughout. We started to have success on offense in the fourth quarter and we got our rhythm going. I’m not sure, but I think they may have been getting a little tired.”
Canby halfback T.J. Gorman had a big game, rushing for 200 yards. But the 6-1, 200-pound senior didn’t score any of the Cougars’ touchdowns.
Canby quarterback Jake Fowler reached paydirt first, capping off an 86-yard drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak with 3:34 remaining in the third period. Jake Madeira’s on-target PAT kick made it 7-0 Canby.
But Clackamas answered on its next possession. A 59-yard pass play from Ryan Cook to Ben Adler advanced the ball close. Cook found Greg Inahara open for the score. But the PAT kick went wide of the mark, leaving the Cougars in the driver’s seat.
Canby widened the gap to 13-6 three minutes into the final period, when fullback Chris Schumacher went one yard up the middle.
Back-up running back Josh Roth rounded out the scoring, taking the ball in from six yards out with 1:19 left to play.
Clackamas was still very much in the game until the closing minutes. Trailing 13-6 with just over five minutes left, a Cavalier receiver hauled down a long pass inside the Cougar 5-yard line, but the officials ruled that he made the catch out of bounds.
Canby drove 74 yards in 16 plays on its first possession of the game, only to fumble the ball away at the Clackamas 6. And Inahara picked off a wayward aerial at the Clackamas 10 as the first quarter was winding down.
Cook completed 19-of-40 passes for 203 yards, but he was intercepted twice.
The Cavaliers struggled on the ground, netting only 37 yards on 15 rushing plays.
Cook had passed for 319 yards a week earlier in a 30-12 rout of Centennial.
In talking with his players following the game, Clackamas coach Joe Bushman said:
“Did we play a top 10 team that made it to the semifinals last year and are we just as good as that team? Yeah! We just didn’t quite make the plays tonight when we needed to, and they did.”
Clackamas 34, Canby 16
Canby 0 0 7 13 – 20
Clackamas 0 0 6 0 – 6
Can – Jake Fowler 1 run (Paul Madeira kick)
CL – Greg Inahara 18 pass from Ryan Cook (kick failed)
Can – Chris Schumacher 1 run (kick failed)
Can – Josh Roth 6 run (Madeira kick)