It was a brisk and wintry December day as the Phoenix Pirates took on Baker in the 4A semifinals Dec. 5 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. The unranked team came into the game as a Cinderella story, having surprised the Skyline conference by finishing atop the standings with a 4-0 league record and cruising to playoff wins over Junction City and Sweet Home.
But the Pirates’ unexpectedly long season came to a sudden halt in the semifinal round when they met up with Baker.
After a short drive by Phoenix to open the game, Baker’s Stephen Talbot (right, no. 2) smashed through the line for an 81-yard touchdown run on the Bulldog’s first play from scrimmage. For the Pirates, it went downhill from there.
They could hardly complete a forward pass all day, and only managed back-to-back first downs twice in the first half.
Defensively, the Pirates had no answer for Baker’s ground attack, only forcing the Bulldogs to third down once in the game. And that stop didn’t come until midway through the fourth quarter.
The Pirates were down 22-0 after the first quarter, and 36-0 at half.
If Phoenix had hopes of a second-half comeback, they didn’t last long.
Talbot received the kickoff on the Bulldogs’ 18-yard line and immediately ran it back for a touchdown.
Less than 20 seconds later, Talbot punched into the end zone again after the Bulldogs’ recovered a fumble. With the point after, 50-0.
Baker would add one more major score before Phoenix put a couple of meaningless markers on the board in the fourth quarter.
It was a hard way for the Pirates to end their season, but few had expected them to be playing at all in December. With key players like Justin Bohn, Austin Toney and Kyle Treadway returning, they won’t be taken lightly next year.
(Trillium Media Services photographed Phoenix High School’s appearance in the Oregon 4A football semifinals for the Medford Mail Tribune. Click on the thumbnails below to see some of the images.)
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- Quarterback Chris Kammel had a rough night, completing just 9-22 for 105 yards and getting sacked twice. He left the game in the second half after suffering a concussion.
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- Phoenix senior Skyler Reagan was the Pirates’ top receiver with 89 yards. He also added 85 yards on special teams.
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- Skyler Reagan has the ball slip through his fingers on a pass in the first quarter.
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- Austin Toney of Phoenix High School watches the ball sail through his hands after it was tipped by Baker’s Ty Everson in the first quarter.
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- Baker’s Stephen Talbot ran for 155 yards and scored 3 touchdowns against Phoenix.
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- Baker’s Justin Durflinger (no. 81) runs to extend a passing play to 9 yards late in the second quarter of the Bulldogs’ 57-14 blowout win over Phoenix in the 4A semifinals Saturday afternoon in Hillsboro.
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- Phoenix players watch from the sidelines as Baker lines up for a snap in the fourth quarter, holding a 57-7 lead.
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- Kyle Treadway (no. 80, left) and Brandon Kennaley (no. 33) chase Baker’s Will Barr in the second quarter.
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- After the game, Phoenix senior Stephen Haney listens with tears in his eyes as Coach Walker tells the team to be proud of their season.
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- The Phoenix Pirates salute their fans after the game.
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- Starting quarterback Chris Kammel (right) and team mate Justin Bohn console each other after the Pirates’ 57-14 loss.
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December 8th, 2009at 5:04 pm(#)
[...] So the game was kind of a dud. But I did get some good images. You can see one along with the Mail Tribune’s story here, and additional game photos here. [...]