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Tigers top Coquille in Sunset Six
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Friday, October 13, 2006 | No comments posted.
BANDON - All season, Bandon has had trouble finishing drives, repeatedly moving the ball deep into the opponent's territory and coming up empty.
The Tigers hope they got that trend out of their system on Thursday, when they had one monumental drive and several other scoring marches in a 36-16 homecoming win over Coquille.
“It was nice to finally finish some drives,” said Bandon quarterback Marc Rogers. “We've been (moving the ball) all year and can't punch it in.”
Bandon didn't have that problem Thursday, starting with a march that consumed most of the clock in the first quarter.
The drive followed a big stop by Bandon's defense.
The Tigers' first possession included a fumble for an 18-yard loss and three penalties for 23 more lost yards before Coquille's Justin Lessley returned a punt 28 yards to Bandon's 19-yard line.
But after the Red Devils fumbled the snap on first down and Danny Arriola stopped Angel Savala for a 4-yard loss, Rogers intercepted a pass by Jake Cochran at Bandon's 5-yard line.
Those turned out to be Coquille's only three offensive plays in the first quarter.
The Tigers ate up the final 7 minutes and 21 seconds of the quarter moving the ball all the way down the field in an 18-play drive, including two fourth-down conversion runs by Darren Stolz. Steven Gaspar finished the drive with a 4-yard dive across the left side of the line 49 seconds into the second quarter.
Bandon coach Perry Herbst was delighted with the drive.
“We've got to be methodical,” he said. “That's the kind of football we're good at. Our kids stayed focused.”
Rogers ended Coquille's second drive with another interception, stepping in front of a Coquille receiver to pick off a pass by Buddy Parlier and then returning the ball 54 yards to Coquille's 1.
Rogers fumbled on Bandon's first play, though, and Coquille recovered.
The Tigers were back in business after a 12-yard punt by the Red Devils, and again finished the drive, with Rogers connecting with Loren Benson on a 1-yard scoring pass to give Bandon a 16-0 halftime lead.
Bandon's defense created another touchdown in the opening moments of the third quarter. The Tigers quickly stopped Coquille's opening drive and then Darren Hiatt rushed in from the right side and blocked Steve Lang's punt. Benson recovered and rumbled to Coquille's 6-yard line and Stolz scored two plays later.
Coquille's offense finally responded when Cochran connected with Kyle Davis for a 38-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-down play to cut the margin to 22-8 late in the third quarter.
But Bandon never gave Coquille any chance to hold momentum.
The Red Devil defense had been steady to that point in the game, allowing only small chunks of yardage and just 63 net yards on 28 carries. But Bandon's offensive push suddenly improved. Stolz rumbled for 12 yards, Hiatt gained 14 more and Gaspar had a 10-yard dash to end the third quarter. Early in the fourth, Rogers connected with Justin Smith on a 17-yard scoring pass to pad Bandon's lead.
The Tigers' next possession was even quicker. Stolz ran for 35 yards around the right side and Gaspar went 24 yards right up the middle - a two-play, 59-yard drive. The Tigers finished with 201 rushing yards.
“The line played tough,” said Arriola, the Tigers' center. “We finally had some guys firing off the ball. The backs were making the right cuts, finding the holes.”
Bandon's defensive line also was dominant, combining with Arriola and his fellow linebackers to record 12 plays for lost yardage among Coquille's 34 rushing attempts.
“Tonight we owned the line of scrimmage,” Arriola said.
“That was definitely the best defense we've played all year,” added Rogers.
The Red Devils got a late touchdown run on a reverse by Lessley, but that didn't put a damper on the Tigers' excitement.
“We won the battle in the trenches,” Rogers said.
Herbst, who always preaches getting better each week, said the victory was a sign of progress.
“We've been improving,” he said. “As long as we keep improving, we're fine.”
Though it's only the second week of Sunset Six play, the victory was critical, the players said.
“It's pretty important to really get the season rolling,” Arriola said. “We need a little spark to get us going.”
Next up is a trip to Glide, like the Tigers a squad that is 1-1 and has aspirations of making the playoffs.
Coquille, meanwhile, hosts league favorite Gold Beach and is in need of a positive boost after losing five straight games.
“We're at a point in our season where we've got to do some soul searching,” said Coquille coach John Breuer.
After the Red Devils played well on offense in a loss to Myrtle Point last week, the team had little success against Bandon, managing just 91 total yards.
“Our defense is fixable,” Breuer said. “Our offense, we need to rethink.”
He said Friday's game was a contest of teams heading in opposite directions.
“Give Bandon credit,” Breuer said. “Bandon has really improved.”
The Tigers hope they got that trend out of their system on Thursday, when they had one monumental drive and several other scoring marches in a 36-16 homecoming win over Coquille.
“It was nice to finally finish some drives,” said Bandon quarterback Marc Rogers. “We've been (moving the ball) all year and can't punch it in.”
Bandon didn't have that problem Thursday, starting with a march that consumed most of the clock in the first quarter.
The drive followed a big stop by Bandon's defense.
The Tigers' first possession included a fumble for an 18-yard loss and three penalties for 23 more lost yards before Coquille's Justin Lessley returned a punt 28 yards to Bandon's 19-yard line.
But after the Red Devils fumbled the snap on first down and Danny Arriola stopped Angel Savala for a 4-yard loss, Rogers intercepted a pass by Jake Cochran at Bandon's 5-yard line.
Those turned out to be Coquille's only three offensive plays in the first quarter.
The Tigers ate up the final 7 minutes and 21 seconds of the quarter moving the ball all the way down the field in an 18-play drive, including two fourth-down conversion runs by Darren Stolz. Steven Gaspar finished the drive with a 4-yard dive across the left side of the line 49 seconds into the second quarter.
Bandon coach Perry Herbst was delighted with the drive.
“We've got to be methodical,” he said. “That's the kind of football we're good at. Our kids stayed focused.”
Rogers ended Coquille's second drive with another interception, stepping in front of a Coquille receiver to pick off a pass by Buddy Parlier and then returning the ball 54 yards to Coquille's 1.
Rogers fumbled on Bandon's first play, though, and Coquille recovered.
The Tigers were back in business after a 12-yard punt by the Red Devils, and again finished the drive, with Rogers connecting with Loren Benson on a 1-yard scoring pass to give Bandon a 16-0 halftime lead.
Bandon's defense created another touchdown in the opening moments of the third quarter. The Tigers quickly stopped Coquille's opening drive and then Darren Hiatt rushed in from the right side and blocked Steve Lang's punt. Benson recovered and rumbled to Coquille's 6-yard line and Stolz scored two plays later.
Coquille's offense finally responded when Cochran connected with Kyle Davis for a 38-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-down play to cut the margin to 22-8 late in the third quarter.
But Bandon never gave Coquille any chance to hold momentum.
The Red Devil defense had been steady to that point in the game, allowing only small chunks of yardage and just 63 net yards on 28 carries. But Bandon's offensive push suddenly improved. Stolz rumbled for 12 yards, Hiatt gained 14 more and Gaspar had a 10-yard dash to end the third quarter. Early in the fourth, Rogers connected with Justin Smith on a 17-yard scoring pass to pad Bandon's lead.
The Tigers' next possession was even quicker. Stolz ran for 35 yards around the right side and Gaspar went 24 yards right up the middle - a two-play, 59-yard drive. The Tigers finished with 201 rushing yards.
“The line played tough,” said Arriola, the Tigers' center. “We finally had some guys firing off the ball. The backs were making the right cuts, finding the holes.”
Bandon's defensive line also was dominant, combining with Arriola and his fellow linebackers to record 12 plays for lost yardage among Coquille's 34 rushing attempts.
“Tonight we owned the line of scrimmage,” Arriola said.
“That was definitely the best defense we've played all year,” added Rogers.
The Red Devils got a late touchdown run on a reverse by Lessley, but that didn't put a damper on the Tigers' excitement.
“We won the battle in the trenches,” Rogers said.
Herbst, who always preaches getting better each week, said the victory was a sign of progress.
“We've been improving,” he said. “As long as we keep improving, we're fine.”
Though it's only the second week of Sunset Six play, the victory was critical, the players said.
“It's pretty important to really get the season rolling,” Arriola said. “We need a little spark to get us going.”
Next up is a trip to Glide, like the Tigers a squad that is 1-1 and has aspirations of making the playoffs.
Coquille, meanwhile, hosts league favorite Gold Beach and is in need of a positive boost after losing five straight games.
“We're at a point in our season where we've got to do some soul searching,” said Coquille coach John Breuer.
After the Red Devils played well on offense in a loss to Myrtle Point last week, the team had little success against Bandon, managing just 91 total yards.
“Our defense is fixable,” Breuer said. “Our offense, we need to rethink.”
He said Friday's game was a contest of teams heading in opposite directions.
“Give Bandon credit,” Breuer said. “Bandon has really improved.”
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