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Panthers storm into 3A quarterfinals
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Saturday, November 11, 2006 | No comments posted.
As impressive as Gold Beach's 44-0 win over Jefferson in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday night was, Panther quarterback Jeffrey Knox quickly put it into perspective.
“We like it,” Knox said. “But it's just one step to our goal.”
That goal would be a state championship, which would require three more wins.
Friday's win at Pete Susick Stadium was a good start.
The Panthers used a dominating defensive performance and an overpowering effort from the offensive line that led to 410 rushing yards to run over the Lions and march into the quarterfinals. Gold Beach plays the winner of today's Dayton-Grant Union game in the second round next weekend. If Dayton wins, the Panthers likely would play a doubleheader at Marshfield with Myrtle Point's quarterfinal contest the other game.
Travis Moore finished with 176 yards on 20 carries and Knox added 130 yards on 20 carries. Herbie Smith added 64 yards and Matt Manuele 40.
“The line did an excellent job,” said Moore, who also had a touchdown run that gave the Panthers a 28-0 halftime lead.
“The line wins games,” said Knox, who scored three touchdowns and passed for two more. “We just play behind them.”
As good as Gold Beach's offense was, the defense might have been better.
Jefferson finished with 116 total yards, most coming late in the game.
“A goose egg is always the best,” Moore said. “Our defense executed like they should. They did their job.”
“I like the fact that our defense is play with a goal in mind to shut people out,” said Gold Beach coach Kevin Swift. “I like the way we fly to the football and force turnovers.”
The Panthers took the ball away from the Lions five times Friday night, though they gave it back three times - relatively few considering Gold Beach fumbled 10 times.
“When you've got weather conditions like that, you're going to have some fumbles,” Swift said.
The weather was constant - rain. The edges of the FieldTurf surface were almost like shallow lakes from the downpours before and during the game.
“I'm just pleased with the fact that we overcame the elements,” Swift said. “We had a scrappy team and we played tough and did what we had to do.”
Gold Beach scored all the points it needed on the opening possession.
The Panthers drove 75 yards in nine plays, with Knox scoring his first touchdown, fumbling the snap and then grabbing the ball and running 3 yards up the middle.
Moore's conversion run made it 8-0 nearly five minutes into the game.
The Panthers quickly got the ball back when Jefferson quarterback Lingo Diaz lost the ball while being tackled for a loss and Gold Beach's Mackenzie Burdett recovered.
The teams then traded turnovers, with Jefferson's Benny Lopez recovering a fumble and Gold Beach's Wil Hoefer returning the favor.
After Hoefer's recovery, the Panthers moved 71 yards, 39 on carries by Moore and 20 on rushes by Smith. Knox finished the drive with the first of two touchdown passes, 13 yards to Brandon Harding on a fade pattern.
After a Jefferson punt, Knox connected with Mitch McDonald for a 20-yard score.
“We threw two touchdown passes in that,” Swift said of the rain.
Moore had his touchdown on a 16-yard blast up the middle 20 seconds before halftime.
In the second half, Brandon Boice and David Bonotto intercepted Jefferson passes on consecutive possessions and Robert Phillips later recovered a fumble by the Lions. Knox had touchdown runs of 2 and 9 yards and Todd Martin had a 32-yard field goal.
Gold Beach improved to 10-1 on the season. Jefferson finished 4-6.
“We like it,” Knox said. “But it's just one step to our goal.”
That goal would be a state championship, which would require three more wins.
Friday's win at Pete Susick Stadium was a good start.
The Panthers used a dominating defensive performance and an overpowering effort from the offensive line that led to 410 rushing yards to run over the Lions and march into the quarterfinals. Gold Beach plays the winner of today's Dayton-Grant Union game in the second round next weekend. If Dayton wins, the Panthers likely would play a doubleheader at Marshfield with Myrtle Point's quarterfinal contest the other game.
Travis Moore finished with 176 yards on 20 carries and Knox added 130 yards on 20 carries. Herbie Smith added 64 yards and Matt Manuele 40.
“The line did an excellent job,” said Moore, who also had a touchdown run that gave the Panthers a 28-0 halftime lead.
“The line wins games,” said Knox, who scored three touchdowns and passed for two more. “We just play behind them.”
As good as Gold Beach's offense was, the defense might have been better.
Jefferson finished with 116 total yards, most coming late in the game.
“A goose egg is always the best,” Moore said. “Our defense executed like they should. They did their job.”
“I like the fact that our defense is play with a goal in mind to shut people out,” said Gold Beach coach Kevin Swift. “I like the way we fly to the football and force turnovers.”
The Panthers took the ball away from the Lions five times Friday night, though they gave it back three times - relatively few considering Gold Beach fumbled 10 times.
“When you've got weather conditions like that, you're going to have some fumbles,” Swift said.
The weather was constant - rain. The edges of the FieldTurf surface were almost like shallow lakes from the downpours before and during the game.
“I'm just pleased with the fact that we overcame the elements,” Swift said. “We had a scrappy team and we played tough and did what we had to do.”
Gold Beach scored all the points it needed on the opening possession.
The Panthers drove 75 yards in nine plays, with Knox scoring his first touchdown, fumbling the snap and then grabbing the ball and running 3 yards up the middle.
Moore's conversion run made it 8-0 nearly five minutes into the game.
The Panthers quickly got the ball back when Jefferson quarterback Lingo Diaz lost the ball while being tackled for a loss and Gold Beach's Mackenzie Burdett recovered.
The teams then traded turnovers, with Jefferson's Benny Lopez recovering a fumble and Gold Beach's Wil Hoefer returning the favor.
After Hoefer's recovery, the Panthers moved 71 yards, 39 on carries by Moore and 20 on rushes by Smith. Knox finished the drive with the first of two touchdown passes, 13 yards to Brandon Harding on a fade pattern.
After a Jefferson punt, Knox connected with Mitch McDonald for a 20-yard score.
“We threw two touchdown passes in that,” Swift said of the rain.
Moore had his touchdown on a 16-yard blast up the middle 20 seconds before halftime.
In the second half, Brandon Boice and David Bonotto intercepted Jefferson passes on consecutive possessions and Robert Phillips later recovered a fumble by the Lions. Knox had touchdown runs of 2 and 9 yards and Todd Martin had a 32-yard field goal.
Gold Beach improved to 10-1 on the season. Jefferson finished 4-6.
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