Illinois Valley News

A 50-14 defeat is hard on everybody, especially for the players. However there were many variables in play, such as the Rogue River game on Friday, Sept. 4.

Illinois Valley High School started classes a week earlier than other schools, and we all know how hectic that first week can be. Now add football practice after school for two to three hours.

That’d be a busy week for anybody. But, the youthful I.V. Cougars handled it well.

The 2009 Cougars dressed 22 players for the road trip to Rogue River, and 16 are underclassmen. But by the third quarter, the Cougars were down to 15 players due to six injuries and one retaliating ejection.

This meant that freshmen and players in their first year got a lot of reps. Also, the Cougars were their own worst enemy; with two dropped potential touchdown passes, five fumbles and one interception and a 1st-and-goal at the 5 opportunity and did not score. Hard for any team to overcome; but the Cougars played admirably with a “Never Tap Out” attitude.

In Rogue River’s first possession, the Cougar defense was up to the task and forced them to a 3-and-out. The Chieftain defense returned the favor. Rogue River then returned the punt 28 yards, followed by three straight runs for 46 yards, which set the Cougars on their haunches with a Chieftain first and goal.

I.V. did not cave and stopped them on four consecutive runs, finally causing a fumble that RR recovered. Turned over on downs. Cougar ball.

The Cougars went 3-and-out again. RR ended up with the ball on the 50 with the punt and a Chieftain penalty. First play a motion penalty, ball on 55. Second play a 55-yard TD pass. RR 7-I.V. 0.

On the ensuing kick-off the Cougars fumbled, and Rogue River recovered on the 24. Four Chieftain running plays for 21 yards and a 3-yard QB sneak, and it soon was 14-0 in favor of RR.

The Cougars fumbled the next kick-off, too. Three runs for 16 yards and a 16-yard middle screen for the Chieftains made it RR 21-I.V. 0.

On the next kick-off the Cougars made sure to hold onto the ball, and T.J. Parker returned for 16 yards. Second-year coach Ray Yarbrough dialed up his flight plan and put the controls in the hands of Roger Hults, who hit Brian Biggs for 17 yards, Freddy Hults for 8, and Curtis Paulson for 39, who was tackled at the 5-yard line. The sidelines and the crowd erupted with adulation.

However, the excitement evaporated as all eyes turned toward an injured Cougar, Augustine Duarte, who lay motionless at mid-field. His injury was not immediately known, but he is said to be in stable condition, and a full recovery is anticipated.

This momentarily set the Cougars back, as they ran four unsuccessful plays and turned the ball over on downs. I.V.’s defense was waiting on the side-line to get in and rally for their fallen teammate. And they did, with the big play coming from Zack Anderson on an 8-yard QB sack, forcing a RR punt.

Inspired by the defense and wanting to play for “Augie,” the Cougars in their fifth offensive series just might have given us a glimpse of how successful Yarbrough’s style of offense can be.

R. Hults rolled right out of the gun and read the defense, saw an opening, tucked it in and rambled for 12 yards. Now with the threat of R. Hults and his versatility to run, Yarbrough called three straight pass plays, with R. Hults connecting with Anthony Becker for 17 yards, Jon Anderson for 3 and Paulson for 12.

With the ball on the Rogue River 20-yard line, Yarbrough called time out to make sure of his quarterback’s intentions and that he understood the call and his teammate’s responsibilities.

“Coach Ray looked at me and bellowed, ‘This is a touchdown!’ and he was right; this was one of those plays you see on ESPN,” said Mike Duffy, first-year defensive coordinator. Hults took the snap from shotgun, dropped back two or three steps and read the defense. Using his check-downs, Hults froze the strong safety and off-side linebackers with a stare to the right, pump-faked the free safety to make him hesitate, then threw a perfect spiral down the left side to Parker, who ran the perfect route. Touchdown, Cougars; 2-point conversion unsuccessful; RR 21-I.V. 6.

Said Yarbrough, “It was a thing of beauty, I knew Roger could pull if off, I think he will have a good year.”

R. Hults could be considered a bright spot; however, he is smart enough to take advantage of his gifted, skilled position teammates.

Said Yarbrough, “Roger is figuring it out and now he can just let his awesome athletic ability take over and just play. He has developed immensely, and never have I seen so much progress is such a short time, and the reason I think, is last year didn’t set well with him.”

Added Duffy, “Roger also has played outstanding on defense -- I think he is also our leading tackler tonight.”

On the second play of the Chieftain’s next series, RR made it 28-6 with a 63-yard TD.

The first half ended on a questionable coaching call when Rogue River tried an on-side kick with a minute left and a 22-point lead. They were successful.

The Chieftains were right, because in I.V.’s first second-half possession, Parker ran four consecutive times for 26 yards; and a scramble by R. Hults netted 8 yards and a first down.

Once again, with the threat of the run, R. Hults looked downfield and hit Paulson for a 32-yard TD pass, and then connected with Paulson again on the 2-point conversion. The Cougar defense again rose to the occasion and forced Rogue River to punt following an 8-yard quarterback sack for Paulson.

The Chieftains executed a successful QB sneak for a TD, making it RR 34-I.V. 14.

The Cougars turned the ball over on downs. It did not take long for the Chieftains to score and make it 48 on a 51-yard TD run and a 2-point conversion to make it RR 50-I.V. 14.

Said Yarbrough, “Considering we were down to 14 available players due to being injured and banged up, we played pretty well. We will have to learn to tackle better and that is what practice is for. The two Cougar ‘black shirts’ I was most impressed with tonight were freshman Matt Brock and Roger Hults, who led the Cougars with 8.” Yarbrough was echoed by Duffy.

* * *

Cougar Team Stats

Total Offense 399 yards, Rushing 126 yards.

T. Parker, 6 carries/47 yards; A. Becker, 2 carries/32 yards; R. Hults, 4 carries/27 yards; C. Paulson, 2 carries/20 yards.

Passing, 214 yards: R. Hults, 19 for 180 yards and 2 TDs (32, 20) 1 interception; B. Biggs, 3 for 5 for 34 yards.

Pass Receiving: C. Paulson, 5 catches for 114 yards; F. Hults , 2 catches for 29 yards; T. Parker, 2 catches for 26 yards, TD (20); B. Biggs, 2 catches for 26 yards; A. Becker, 2 catches for 19 yards.

Leading Cougar tacklers: R. Hults, 8; T. Parker, 7; B. Foraker, 4 plus 2 sacks; T. Mackey, 4; A. Becker, 3.

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