Dufur Rangers senior Nolan Cates (3) escapes the clutches of Lyle/Wishram Cougar sophomore Tayler Smith (21). The Rangers shutout the Cougars, 44-0, on Oct. 18.
Dufur Rangers senior Nolan Cates (3) escapes the clutches of Lyle/Wishram Cougar sophomore Tayler Smith (21). The Rangers shutout the Cougars, 44-0, on Oct. 18.
Stacy Hogan photo
Dufur linebackers tackle the Lyle/Wishram ballcarrier.
Stacy Hogan photo
Lyle/Wishram quarterback Mason Ramsay (10) running the ball.
Stacy Hogan photo
Lyle/Wishram team on sideline during timeout.
Stacy Hogan photo
Ranger Nolan Cates (3) tries to end a run by Lyle's Carson Ramsay (20).
Stacy Hogan photo
Lyle/Wishram defense lining up against Dufur.
Stacy Hogan photo
Dufur defensive back Bryson Cates (2) makes a black downfield.
Stacy Hogan photo
Dufur senior Scott Graham (5) sprints to the open field.
LYLE — In a key Class 1A Special District 3 eight-man football matchup between the top two teams, the No. 6-ranked Dufur High Rangers took a big step toward a league title with a 44-0 win over the Lyle/Wishram High Cougars on Oct. 18 at Lyle High School.
The Rangers (6-1 overall, 3-0 SD3) took control of the game early as they built a 16-0 first quarter advantage. Nolan Cates (12 carries, 118 yards rushing) scored a touchdown on an 80-yard kickoff return and he also scored on a 40-yard touchdown run. Scott Graham (10 carries, 133 yards rushing) ran in the two two-point conversions following the touchdowns.
The Rangers’ momentum continued in the second quarter as Graham scored on two touchdown runs of 30 and five yards. Quarterback Jacob Kent (4-for-7, 90 yards passing) threw a 25-yard touchdown to Cates, and Graham’s two-point conversion extended the margin to 38-0 at halftime. Graham added a 55-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for a 44-0 lead.
For the Rangers and longtime (39 years) Coach Jack Henderson, it marked their sixth straight win and clinched a spot in the playoffs which begin Nov. 8.
“It was a big win for us, and I thought that we had better team than Lyle,” said Henderson, who has recorded 299 wins. “We’re playing pretty well. We continue to improve and we’re getting all of our kids pretty healthy after a few have recovered from injuries. We’re expect to be competitive against any team that we play.”
The Rangers play visiting Perrydale on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. A Ranger win will give Henderson his 300th victory; he will be the seventh coach all-time of all OSAA classifications to reach that milestone. A win will also clinch the league title for Dufur for the first time since 2018.
For the No. 10-ranked Cougars (2-1 SD3, 3-4 overall), guided by third-year Coach Dave Devoe, the loss snapped their two-game win streak and dropped them into a second-place tie in the six-team league with the No. 11-ranked Sherman/Condon High Huskies (2-1 SD3, 3-4 overall). The top three teams advance to the state playoffs.
“I was expecting something a little bit different, but it is what is, and we’ll move on from here and things are still looking good for our chances to get into the playoffs,” said Devoe, who is seeking to guide the Cougars to the OSAA state playoffs for the first time ever. “I thought that we would play a much more competitive game. I just didn’t have my guys mentally prepared to play Dufur and so that’s my fault.”
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