Newberg Graphic Online

Tigers beat rival Mac, despite multiple turnovers

Newberg will face Central Catholic in first-round playoff game at PGE Park Friday

• By: Frank Graham  
• Published: 11/8/2009 4:13:32 PM
• Last Updated: 11/9/2009 2:16:37 PM

Photo By: Gary AllenHard to bring down
Runningback Wyatt Mahoney scrambles for extra yardage Friday in Newberg’s 34-19 win over McMinnville.

   Despite five turnovers, the Newberg Tigers defeated their Yamhill County rival McMinnville 34-19 Friday in their last regular season game.
   The Tigers finished the season 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Pacific League, securing third-place and a playoff spot Nov. 13 at PGE park. They will face Central Catholic, 6-1 in the Mount Hood league and 7-2 overall.
Newberg scored on its first possession Friday after holding the Grizzlies to three-and-out.
   The Tigers ran Joey Chandler five straight times on a 66-yard drive that resulted in a three-yard touchdown run from Conor Hazenberg. The Tigers led 7-0 after Scott Goodman’s extra point.
   The Grizzlies answered on their next possession with an 80-yard drive and a 25-yard touchdown pass from Zev Egli to Wesley Bodkin.
   After a Kevin Winterfield kickoff return to the 33, the Tigers quickly marched down the field on a 77-yard drive that took less than a minute. The drive was highlighted by a halfback pass from Hazenberg to Jordan Howell that gained 33 yards.
   Wyatt Mahoney scored the Tigers’ second touchdown on a 20-yard run to the left corner of the end zone. Goodman’s extra point attempt was wide and the Tigers led 13-7.
   The Tigers held McMinnville but their next drive was stalled when Matt Dufour’s pass was picked off by Ethan Daughtery, who ran it 15 yards to the 50. It was the first of Daughtery’s two interceptions on the night.
   The Grizzlies couldn’t capitalize on the pick and were forced to punt; Newberg was pinned back on its own four-yard-line.
   Newberg went back to the ground game and put together a 12-play drive that covered 96 yards and ended with a Winterfield three-yard touchdown run. With Goodman’s extra point, the Tigers led 20-7.
   The Grizzlies scored once more before halftime on a 28-yard pass from Egli to Michael Burke and trailed 20-13 after the missed extra point.
   On the following kickoff that bounced along the ground, Chandler picked it up on the 32 yard line and ran it to the 40 before it popped out of his hands on the tackle. The Grizzlies’ kicker scooped up the loose ball and ran it to Newberg’s 32 yard line, but McMinnville couldn’t capitalize on the turnover.
   Two successive pass attempts by Egli were nearly picked off by Eli Votaw and Howell.
   After the punt and with 1:12 remaining in the half, Daughtery picked off his second Dufour pass.
   The Tigers’ Dylan Hansen then dropped Egli for a 10-yard sack and time ran out before the Grizzlies could regroup.
   The third quarter went scoreless as defenses from both teams played tough.
   Newberg scored next with 8:36 remaining in the fourth quarter after a five-yard run from Hazenberg. With Goodman’s extra point, the Tigers led 27-13.
   The Grizzlies nearly returned the kickoff for a touchdown. Daughtery broke through the line and appeared to be gone but Goodman tackled him on the Grizzlies’ own 49-yard line.
   “It felt great,” Goodman said after the game. “I don’t get much of a chance to tackle much. I want to do it some more.”
   Goodman said he squared up and saw Daughtery put his head down so he just dove into him and tackled him, saving the touchdown.
   McMinnville turned the ball over on downs and Newberg then marched 65 yards in 11 plays and scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Dufour to Hazenberg. With Goodman’s extra point, the Tigers led 34-13.
   McMinnville scored on their next possession on an 11-yard pass from Egli to Jacob Cummings. The extra point attempt bounced off the left upright and that turned out to be the final score, 34-19.
   Coach Eric Carlson said McMinnville was much better than their 1-8 record indicated.
   “They’ve lost some very close games,” Carlson said. He said Michael Carrillo, Grizzlies’ running back, was a “load to bring down.”
   Carlson said the five Tiger turnovers, two interceptions and three fumbles were uncharacteristic for his team, but that the wet conditions may have had something to do with it.
   “Our defense held us in there,” Carlson said. “But that’s football. Wet, muddy conditions and we had to overcome the adversity. It’s a good sign we were able to overcome it.”
   Carlson said he felt good going into the playoffs with a win. Newberg faces Central Catholic in a first round playoff game Friday at PGE Park.

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