Oregon City stuns Lakeridge 13-6

The Pioneers top the Pacers for the first time in 11 seasons

By John Denny

The Clackamas Review, Sep 26, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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LAKE OSWEGO — The unheralded Oregon City Pioneers pulled off the Oregon high school football upset of the week last Friday, knocking off Lakeridge 13-6 on the Pacers’ home turf.

It was the first time since 1996 that an Oregon City High School varsity football team had beaten Lakeridge.

There were several heroes for the Pioneers. Junior running back Justin Gates rushed for 112 yards and broke a 63-yard run to score the game’s first touchdown.

Oregon City senior running back Mitch Wagner was a workhorse, rushing 24 times for 71 yards.

Oregon City punter Alex Gay punted the Pioneers out of trouble on several occasions, averaging 38 yards on eight punts.

And the Pioneer defense was superb, forcing four turnovers and coming up with the defensive stops on all but one occasion.

The defense set the tone early, holding on downs at the Pioneer 1-yard line on Lakeridge’s first possession of the game.

Senior defensive lineman Aaron Bates came through with two pivotal fumble recoveries. Senior lineman Matt Conrad also recovered a Pacer fumble, and junior defensive back Derek Haak intercepted a late-game pass, foiling a Pacer desperation drive for a comeback.

All of the game’s scoring took place in the third quarter.

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