A physical Hood River Valley defense held host La Salle Prep to 48 yards of total offense and four first downs and won its sixth football game this season, 20-3, on Oct. 18 in Milwaukie.
The win for HRV (6-1 overall, 4-1 Special District 1) kept alive the Eagles’ chances for a league championship. La Salle (5-2, 3-2) opened the game with a 61-yard kickoff return (which led to its only points), but Hood River limited the Falcons to net 10 yards rushing and 48 through the air the rest of the half.
Hood River controlled the line of scrimmage and its linebackers and secondary played downhill the entire contest. Hillsboro’s second longest play from scrimmage – a 17-yard pass – came on the game’s final play.
Hood River has two regular season games remaining – Oct. 25 at winless Putnam and Nov. 1 at home vs. 6-2 Glencoe. Two wins and the Eagles win clinch the district title. Hood River bounced back from its lone loss, Oct. 10, at Hillsboro in dominating fashion.
Hood River led 14-3 at halftime, holding La Salle to 30 yards of total offense and two first downs before the break. The Falcons also were penalized seven times for 56 yards – and finished with 83 penalty yards.
La Salle’s first-half points came on the first Falcon possession which resulted in a 36-yard field goal from Vance Sheffield. The senior placekicker attempted a 55-yarder late in the first half, but the kick was blocked by a diving Toby Stintzi, who burst in unblocked from the left side. Stintzi added an interception later in the contest.
Hood River took the lead for good on a 15-play drive spanning the first two periods. Bam Layna did the honors from the 1-yard line, capping the 89-yard drive a few minutes into the second quarter. Deacon Ybarra scored from two yards out later in the period and a Layna conversion run made the score, 14-3.
Hood River added its third touchdown on its initial possession of the second half. Stintzi returned the kickoff 61 yards to the La Salle 39 and Layna scored on a 21-yard run four plays later. Layna finished with more than 180 yards rushing.Â
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