Second league win has Pioneers talking playoffs

Oregon City improves to 2-0 with a 33-3 trouncing of Putnam

By John Denny

The Clackamas Review, Sep 29, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Photo by ROLAND SIMMONS / Clackamas Review

Oregon City junior running back Preston Christensen (20) slips the tackle of Putnam defender Ian Skiles Friday night in Oregon City. The Pioneers won handily, 33-3.

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OREGON CITY – What a difference a year makes.

A year ago the Oregon City Pioneers suffered through their worst football season in school history, going 0-10.

Now the Pioneers are 2-0 in the Three Rivers League (3-2 overall), and they’re talking playoffs.

“We’re a step closer to clinching a spot in the playoffs,” Oregon City senior co-captain Stetson Skipton said, following a 33-3 trouncing of Rex Putnam in a Friday night game at Oregon City.

The Pioneers, who upset Lakeridge a week ago, looked like a playoff team in Friday’s game with the Kingsmen. Except for Kevin Schwartz’ late first-quarter field goal, the Kingsmen never threatened to score.

“We practiced hard all week,” said Pioneer co-captain Justin Gates. “We were pretty confident we could beat them.”

The Pioneers didn’t waste any time taking control. Oregon City quarterback Ryan Versoza hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Tyler Ferguson for a 64-yard pass play to the Kingsmen 1-yard line on the fourth play of the game.

Mitch Wagner took the ball in on the next play; Ferguson split the uprights on the point-after, and the Pioneers were on the way.

After forcing the Kingsmen to settle for a 22-yard field goal late in the first period, the Pioneers scored three more touchdowns during a six-minute span to put the game on ice.

After Putnam’s field goal, Gates returned the ensuing kickoff to the Pioneer 38. Three plays later, Gates went wide right 39 yards to the end zone on the first play of the second quarter.

The next time the Pioneers got their hands on the ball, it took them just four plays to cover 69 yards for yet another six-pointer. Wagner went wide left 48 yards for the score.

And, near the midpoint of the second period, Oregon City defensive back Derek Haak stepped in front of a wayward aerial, returning it 42 yards to the Kingsmen end zone, upping the Pioneer lead to 26-3.

The Pioneer reserves began taking to the field late in the third quarter. Oregon City defensive lineman Jordan Salazar sacked Putnam quarterback Ryan Smith at the Putnam 28 on a fourth down play with seconds remaining in the third stanza. Two plays later, reserve quarterback Zach Roberts found Preston Christensen open in the middle of the end zone. Ferguson split the uprights on the PAT, and the Pioneers had their winning advantage.

Game statistics reflected Oregon City’s domination. The Pioneers piled up a season-high 290 yards rushing, and they added 92 yards in the air.

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