Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Bandon faces tough playoff test at Regis
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 | No comments posted.
Joe Hansen, Sports Writer
Bandon’s football team has made great strides in coach Motts Thomas’ first year at the helm.
Coming off an 0-6 Sunset Conference season in 2007 (2-7 overall), the Tigers this year battled to a 3-4 Sunset record (5-4 overall) and earned the league’s fourth playoff spot, having defeated 3-4 Coquille head-to-head.
Now Bandon faces a tough re-entry to the Class 3A playoffs with No. 5 Regis on Saturday, a team that just won its third straight PacWest title with a 7-0 league season (9-1 overall). The Rams’ lone loss came at the hands of No. 4 Amity in a 27-20 defeat on Sept. 5.
“We know that (the Rams) are a well-coached football team, with a great tradition and history. They’re the champions of their league and they deserve our respect,” said Thomas. “We’re going to try and make them play up to what they can do.”
Under first-year head coach Kyle Fessler — he was an assistant for years — the Rams run a combination veer and fly sweep offense, utilizing a running-back-by-committee approach, often using five or six backs. It’s worked well in the trying PacWest, where Regis regularly racked up 30-point victories in a league featuring No. 6 Santiam Christian, a Toledo team that received votes in the Class 3A coaches’ polls and late-blooming Jefferson.
Running back Jason Gower has had a big season for the Rams, and he’s coming off an impressive performance last Friday, when he ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries as Regis clinched the PacWest title with a 37-0 defeat of Santiam Christian.
Regis doesn’t throw the ball much, but the Rams do also gets big-play potential from wide receiver Derek Piete, who sometimes runs the ball on the Rams’ sweeps.
Regis is built on a solid line both ways and an emerging defense, as the team boasts 14 seniors.
“Our defense has continued to play well as of late. Hopefully that continues,” said Fessler. “Really, it’s about continuing to score points with our offense.”
Bandon will need to try and contain one of the more prolific rushing attacks at the 3A level in Oregon, and running back Jimmy Mack, quarterback Connor Jackson and wide receiver Buster Webb all will have to have top-notch games if the Tigers hope to keep up with the Rams offensively.
The good news for Bandon is the squad is healthy.
“Everybody’s going to play, I’ll put it that way. We’ve got a couple nicks, but they look well,” said Thomas. “We need solid games from Connor, Jimmy and Buster. We’ve got to lean on them, they’ve carried us this far.”
Thomas said after watching game film he’s impressed with Regis, but he thinks he can make some minor adjustments that will help give his team a better chance.
“We’re not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but we will adjust to get better matchups.” said Thomas, adding some of his guys might have the edge in height or speed.
The two teams have some recent history. In 2006, the Rams stomped the Tigers 47-0 in the second round of the state playoffs. Last year, Regis lost 20-7 to eventual champion Gold Beach in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.
This year, Fessler said based on what he saw from Bandon in 2006 and also reviewing film from this year, he’s not going to overlook the Tigers.
“It looks like their quarterback is pretty good, and they’ve had some pretty good athletes,” said Fessler.
Regis’ field will likely be a muddy mess by Saturday. Fessler said he’s keeping his team off the field until gameday, but if rain continues through the week it could be ugly.
“We’re just working on the simple stuff, like holding on to the ball,” said Fessler.
Thomas said no matter what happens Saturday, the Tigers can hold their heads high after a winning season.
“The thing that we want them to do is just cherish this week and have fun this week. We want them to stay in the moment, slow it down,” said Thomas. “Our kids are proud, and we’re proud of them... We’ve had a lot of fun, we’ve learned a lot, our coaches have learned a lot and the kids have learned a lot. We’re going to go up and play the game. That’s what it comes down to. Either way we come away as winners and with a great foundation on which to build.”
Bandon takes on Regis in Stayton at 3 p.m. Saturday. Prices are $6 for adults and $4 for students.
Bandon’s football team has made great strides in coach Motts Thomas’ first year at the helm.
Coming off an 0-6 Sunset Conference season in 2007 (2-7 overall), the Tigers this year battled to a 3-4 Sunset record (5-4 overall) and earned the league’s fourth playoff spot, having defeated 3-4 Coquille head-to-head.
Now Bandon faces a tough re-entry to the Class 3A playoffs with No. 5 Regis on Saturday, a team that just won its third straight PacWest title with a 7-0 league season (9-1 overall). The Rams’ lone loss came at the hands of No. 4 Amity in a 27-20 defeat on Sept. 5.
“We know that (the Rams) are a well-coached football team, with a great tradition and history. They’re the champions of their league and they deserve our respect,” said Thomas. “We’re going to try and make them play up to what they can do.”
Under first-year head coach Kyle Fessler — he was an assistant for years — the Rams run a combination veer and fly sweep offense, utilizing a running-back-by-committee approach, often using five or six backs. It’s worked well in the trying PacWest, where Regis regularly racked up 30-point victories in a league featuring No. 6 Santiam Christian, a Toledo team that received votes in the Class 3A coaches’ polls and late-blooming Jefferson.
Running back Jason Gower has had a big season for the Rams, and he’s coming off an impressive performance last Friday, when he ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries as Regis clinched the PacWest title with a 37-0 defeat of Santiam Christian.
Regis doesn’t throw the ball much, but the Rams do also gets big-play potential from wide receiver Derek Piete, who sometimes runs the ball on the Rams’ sweeps.
Regis is built on a solid line both ways and an emerging defense, as the team boasts 14 seniors.
“Our defense has continued to play well as of late. Hopefully that continues,” said Fessler. “Really, it’s about continuing to score points with our offense.”
Bandon will need to try and contain one of the more prolific rushing attacks at the 3A level in Oregon, and running back Jimmy Mack, quarterback Connor Jackson and wide receiver Buster Webb all will have to have top-notch games if the Tigers hope to keep up with the Rams offensively.
The good news for Bandon is the squad is healthy.
“Everybody’s going to play, I’ll put it that way. We’ve got a couple nicks, but they look well,” said Thomas. “We need solid games from Connor, Jimmy and Buster. We’ve got to lean on them, they’ve carried us this far.”
Thomas said after watching game film he’s impressed with Regis, but he thinks he can make some minor adjustments that will help give his team a better chance.
“We’re not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but we will adjust to get better matchups.” said Thomas, adding some of his guys might have the edge in height or speed.
The two teams have some recent history. In 2006, the Rams stomped the Tigers 47-0 in the second round of the state playoffs. Last year, Regis lost 20-7 to eventual champion Gold Beach in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.
This year, Fessler said based on what he saw from Bandon in 2006 and also reviewing film from this year, he’s not going to overlook the Tigers.
“It looks like their quarterback is pretty good, and they’ve had some pretty good athletes,” said Fessler.
Regis’ field will likely be a muddy mess by Saturday. Fessler said he’s keeping his team off the field until gameday, but if rain continues through the week it could be ugly.
“We’re just working on the simple stuff, like holding on to the ball,” said Fessler.
Thomas said no matter what happens Saturday, the Tigers can hold their heads high after a winning season.
“The thing that we want them to do is just cherish this week and have fun this week. We want them to stay in the moment, slow it down,” said Thomas. “Our kids are proud, and we’re proud of them... We’ve had a lot of fun, we’ve learned a lot, our coaches have learned a lot and the kids have learned a lot. We’re going to go up and play the game. That’s what it comes down to. Either way we come away as winners and with a great foundation on which to build.”
Bandon takes on Regis in Stayton at 3 p.m. Saturday. Prices are $6 for adults and $4 for students.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines