Illinois Valley News

From our weekly issue dated September 24, 2008

(Photo by Michelle for Illinois Valley News)

The Lancers of South Umpqua will host Illinois Valley Cougars in a varsity football game on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

It was erroneously reported last week that the game would be in Cave Junction. But it will be held in Myrtle Creek.

The Cougars, after losing 38-0 in a nonleague contest vs. the Douglas Trojans on the I.V. High School field on Friday, Sept. 19, will “go back to the basics,” said head coach Ray Yarbrough.

“We didn’t look very good out there,” he said, “so we’re going to go back to the basics; working on fewer things for longer times.”

Yarbrough said that the Cougs made “way too many mental mistakes” in the loss.

He stressed that fans and players need to realize though, that I.V. “is undefeated this season in the Skyline Conference. When we start conference play, that’s when it will really matter,” he stated. In preseason play, I.V. is at 0-4.

The first Skyline game for IVHS will be against North Valley on the Knights’ field. That match-up is set for Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.

On Friday the 19th, the Cougars were behind 10-0 at the half. In the second half, they allowed two turnovers, and those proved costly, as they turned into touchdowns for the visitors.

Douglas began with a field goal in the first period, then a TD and an extra point after. They scored 15 points in the third quarter; 13 in the final period.

For I.V., T.J. Parker rushed 13 times for 54 yards. Sam Winter racked up 50 yards on seven rushes, and accounted for an interception and eight tackles.

I.V.’s Lance Tausaga maintained his tackling toughness, chalking up 26 stops. Jack Nichols was good for three receptions and 20 yards, while notching two sacks and six tackles.