Illinois Valley News

From our weekly issue dated November 21, 2007

Ten consecutive victories and one loss -- a most honorable and sterling mark.

That’s what it comes to when speaking of the 2007 Illinois Valley High School Cougar football team -- champion of the Skyline Conference and a history-making IVHS squad.

Yes, in the second-round Class 4-A state playoffs the Cougars lost 52-6 Friday night, Nov. 16 in Cave Junction on a drizzly wet night that left the ball and the field slippery and sometimes treacherous.

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It was a stunning upset that seemed to daze the Cougar faithful. And although it might have seemed to some that the I.V. team was shocked and not “with it,” such was not the case. The fourth-ranked Cougars fought hard against sixth-ranked Marist, a private Catholic school from Eugene.

The Spartans always field a dangerous and hardy team. It’s no stranger to state playoffs or state titles. They played well, and they steamrollered IVHS, shutting down its running game. Besides taking advantage of five fumbles, the Marist line outweighed Illinois Valley 20 to 40 pounds man for man.

The Spartans are as well coached as I.V., led by head coach Bob Thornhill. And one of the Spartan coaches is 1967 IVHS graduate Terry Augstadt, who quarterbacked the Cougars.

Additionally, the Cougars were without regular QB Doug Hoskins, who was injured against Rogue River; and Nathaniel Heath, a strong player who recently suffered a broken foot.

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There also was speculation that the Cougar team was affected by the recent bomb threats at their school. Many students have missed classes because of the disruptions; backpacks are being searched; cell phones are being checked; and the lockers are temporarily off-limits.

On Friday, the contest began with Marist sophomore Jeff Bedbury returning the opening kickoff 70 yards for a TD. Senior Chad Swenson got strong blocking from fullback Chris Sherbina to score three times, leading Marist to its major victory over previously unbeaten I.V.

The Spartans (9-2) will host Yamhill-Carlton in next weekend’s quarterfinal round, as the Tigers beat Estacada 36-6.

Friday night at IVHS, Spartan senior Colton Thomas caught a 10-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback Ryan Bell to help the Spartans take a 14-0 first quarter lead. Thomas had eight catches for 77 yards on the night while Bell, who rushed for 76 yards on nine carries, finished with 139 yards passing on 21 completions.

The score was 38-0 at the half.

I.V.’s Larry Ragsdale, the Skyline Offensive Player of the Year, finished with 11 yards rushing on five carries. He scored in the third quarter; the PAT run failed.

Swenson finished with 56 yards on 15 carries for Marist, which had 291 yards of total offense. Marist’s defense held the Coug’s explosive offense to a total of 81 yards. Illinois Valley entered the game averaging more than 400 yards and 44 points a game.

I.V. was able to run only a handful of plays that gained more than 5 yards.

The Spartans benefited from great field possession after recovering five Illinois Valley fumbles three of which came on offense and two from special teams.

And Marist used a no-huddle offense, sometimes changing plays at the line, which the Cougs had not faced previously.

In the end, I.V. lost to the Spartans -- but no one can take away the Cougars’ unbeaten, record-setting string of 10 victories.

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