Vale too much for No. 3 Challengers

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Cascade Christian’s Daniel Kinney, left, tries to get away from a Vale defender as Ryan Palmer (57) throws a block during Saturday’s game.

VALE — The sign attached to the press box at Vale High speaks volumes about the school's football tradition: "State champions in 1954, '55, '57, '58, '64, '66, '75, '90, '91 and '93."

The Vikings are still two steps away from adding another shiny piece of hardware to their trophy case, but the way they manhandled a strong Cascade Christian squad Saturday, they just might have what it takes to do it.

Senior quarterback Tyler Pirrie ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, and a quick, swarming defense held third-ranked Cascade Christian to 181 yards of total offense in a 20-6 Class 3A state-quarterfinal win.

The fifth-ranked Vikings (9-2) advance to the semifinals next Saturday against Clatskanie, which churned out a 30-22 win over Dayton on Saturday.

Cascade Christian, the 2006 Class 2A state champion, finished its season with a 8-3 record.

"That's the best team we've played in the last two years," said Challengers offensive and defensive coordinator Brandon Boice. "They out-quicked us, out-toughed us and out-played us."

Cascade Christian's normally punishing ground game, fueled by a big and experienced offensive line, was limited to 143 yards and just 3.2 yards per attempt on this cloudy but pleasant day. The Challengers entered the game averaging nearly 400 yards rushing and 49.4 points per game.

Vale coach Jeff Jacobs had seen enough of the double-wing offense that Cascade Christian runs to know how to defend it. The Vikings went with five down linemen and four linebackers, and all nine of those players were lined up within 4 yards of the line of scrimmage on every play.

"We first saw it (the double wing) when Bandon came here in 1999 for a playoff game," said Jacobs, adding that he picked up some pointers from former Reedsport coach Len Phelps on how to neutralize it. "It's street-yard football, but we've got tough kids and they like the challenge.

"The biggest key is staying low, which isn't a problem for our kids because most of them are short."

Added Vale linebacker Luke Skerjanec: "Our five guys up front sacrificed their bodies and made piles so the guys behind them could make the tackles. Our motto is mental toughness, and we're not afraid of bigger teams."

Cascade Christian had good success early, driving from its own 14-yard line to the Vale 4 with its first possession. Junior wingback Daniel Kinney's 45-yard burst over right tackle put the Challengers in scoring position.

But on a fourth-and-goal play from the 4, a poor exchange from quarterback Colton Cochran to wingback Alex Cummings produced a fumble, and Vale took over at its own 7.

"Had they scored on that first possession, it might have been a different game," said Jacobs. "But after we made that stop, our kids got their bearings and did an outstanding job on defense."

Pirrie, meanwhile, triggered the Vale offense. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound senior gained 75 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 14 carries and completed 5 of 11 passes for 78 yards and one TD while engineering the Vikings' veer attack.

All told, Vale had 230 yards of offense.

Pirrie sprained an ankle in a PE class and missed Vale's first two games — both losses. Since his return, the Vikings have won nine straight.

"He has great feet and he's an accurate thrower," said Jacobs.

Pirrie kick-started Vale's 80-yard, seven-play touchdown drive in the first quarter when he scampered for runs of 11 and 24 yards, then hit senior wide receiver Russell Seals for a 12-yard gain.

A 12-yard run by Jeff Williams moved the ball to the Cascade Christian 21, and one play later, Pirrie scrambled 20 yards to pay dirt.

Darin Johnson's PAT kick made it 7-0 with 7.7 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

"That was supposed to be a pass play, but I got to the perimeter and only had one guy to beat," said Pirrie.

Vale got a big break less than two minutes later when Kinney — one of the state's better punters — shanked a kick that traveled just 4 yards.

On the following play, Pirrie lofted a 25-yard touchdown pass to Seals that gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead. Pirrie was rushed on the play and his pass was underthrown, but the 6-foot-2 Seals outjumped Cascade Christian cornerback Taylor Ost for the ball in the end zone.

Whatever chance the Challengers had of mounting a comeback took a serious hit when Vale took the second-half kickoff and marched 62 yards in 10 plays. Pirrie scored the touchdown on a 5-yard option play around left end.

Cascade Christian's Matthew Bohn blocked the extra point, but the Vikings had a 20-0 lead.

The Challengers avoided a shutout after Vale committed its lone turnover, a fumble by Pirrie at the Viking 11 midway through the fourth quarter.

Kinney, who gained 85 yards on 14 carries on the day, bolted up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown, but Cascade Christian's two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Vale with a 20-6 cushion.

With 5:14 left in the game, Ben Heidegger partially blocked a punt, giving Cascade Christian the ball at the Vale 47, but they gained just 12 yards before running out of downs, and hope.

Cascade Christian 0 0 0 6 —6

Vale 7 7 6 0 —20

V — Pirrie 20 run (Johnson kick)

V — Seals 25 pass from Pirrie (Johnson kick)

V — Pirrie 5 run (kick blocked)

CC — Kinney 11 run (run failed)

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