Monday, September 18, 2006

EVANS A ROYAL PAIN, PC 3-0

The newest Portland Christian transfer couldn't have timed his arrival much better.

Shawn Evans threw for a touchdown pass and returned an interception 35 yards for another score as the Royals defeated the Warrenton Warriors to improve to 3-0 on the season.

With Portland Christian in a position of strength at the newly aligned 2A classification, offensive MVP Charlie Antal, out with a hamstring injury, has yet to play an offensive snap this year. No QB, no problem, as the 6-3, 210-pound Evans has stepped in and been a standout on both sides of the ball in three Royal victories.

Two costly turnovers hurt Warrenton. After a long kickoff return to open the game put the Warriors in good field position, Michael O'Casey fumbled on the second play of the game, leading to a long Royals scoring drive. Evans, The Oregonian's 2A Player Of The Week last week, found John Pflaum on a ten-yard pass, the first of four grabs for 83 yards for Pflaum.

Later in the quarter, Cody Hutchin found the end zone on a 12-yard run, his only carry of the night, giving the Royals a 14-0 lead.

Warrenton tried to answer, but the Royals pressured quarterback Eric Gantenbein into a bad throw, as Evans picked off a pass in the middle of the field and returned it 35 yards straight to the end zone for a 21-0 lead.

The Warriors responded with a quick scoring drive, maybe too quick, as Gantenbein hit Dan Wolfe for a 30-yard TD toss.

"We got them off balance," said Warriors head coach John Mattila, "and went bang, bang, bang down the field."

The conversion run failed and Portland Christian still had enough time to move the ball down the field for a 37-yard Matt Larson field goal just before halftime.

The Warriors' defense stiffened in the final two quarters, holding the Royals to just a yard rushing and four completed passes.

"Defensively we came out and tried to do some things that were theoretically sound for what they were doing," said Warrenton head coach John Mattila. "But it was a change from what wwe normally do. When we went back to our base defense, we shut them down. We outthought ourselves a little too much. Our kids tried to execute but they weren't comfortable."

Warrenton could manage only one more score when Gantenbein carried in for a 3-yard touchdown and found Wolfe on a 2-point conversion pass. With only a couple of minutes remaining in the game, the Royals recovered the onside kick and were able to run out the clock.

For the second straight game, Warrenton's record-setting quarterback Eric Gantenbein struggled, completing just 7 of 18 for 96-yards and a costly interception.

"Gantenbein's not getting his feet set," said Mattila. "He's not staying in the pocket and not getting his shoulders turned. Everything's just a bit off and the ball is wobbling and hanging in the air. It can be corrected."

The Warriors outgained the Royals, including a 141-81 edge in rushing. Jorge Campos made his Warriors debut a productive one, rushing for 88 yards on 20 carries. The junior running back had missed practice due to a lack of medical clearance and other off-the-field issues.

"He didn't get his physical on time and couldn't get to the doctor," said Mattila. "He's been at practice every day but he couldn't practice so he was behind."

"He's not real big, 150 pounds, but he runs hard and is quick to the hole."

The Warriors take their longest road trip of the season this Friday, travelling to Jefferson. The teams have not played each other since the mid-70's.

WARRENTON 0-6-0-8-14
PORTLAND CHRISTIAN 7-17-0-0-24
1stQ-PC: Pflaum 10 pass from Evans (Larson kick)
2ndQ-PC: Hutchins 12 run (Larson kick)
2ndQ-PC: Evans 35 interception return (Larson kick)
2ndQ-WAR: Wolfe 30 pass from Gantenbein (conversion failed)
2ndQ-PC: Larson FG-37
4thQ-WAR: Gantenbein 3 run (Wolfe pass from Gantenbein)
RUSHING-WAR: 141 (Campos 20-88), PC: 81 (Hernandez 12-48)
PASSING-WAR: Gantenbein 7-18-1-96-td, PC: Evans 11-23-0-138-td
RECEIVING-WAR: Wolfe 2-47-td, PC: Pflaum 4-83
TURNOVERS-WAR: 3, PC: 1
PENALTIES-WAR: 2-15, PC: 3-25

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