I don't think anyone saw this coming, especially at this stage of the playoffs in the state quarterfinals.
No. 3 Canby had everything working in one of the more memorable offensive displays in what I could imagine ever in school history, in posting a 63-36 victory over unranked Centennial in the Class 6A state playoffs at Pioneer Stadium in Oregon City.
There were trick plays, huge running plays and big pass plays. If you turned your head in the first 24 minutes, you were bound to have missed something. It was that kind of night.
Senior quarterback Josh Yoder was incredible once again, not letting the previous week's game against Sprague where he passed for just 30 yards deter him. He has directed coach Mike Doty's offense beautifully this entire year, and passed for nearly 300 yards with five touchdowns and again, no interceptions.
The roll that this Cougars' offense is on right now is downright scary. Take one thing away, another weapon emerges. The pass game is one of the best in school history, and the running game is what this program has prided itself on for a long time. What do you take away?
My recap,
Video: Cougars slaughter Centennial en route to semifinals:
The number of points scored was a school record under 19th-year coach Mike Doty, surpassing the 62-point total achieved in the first round of this year’s playoffs — a 62-24 win over North Medford on Nov. 13.
All in all, it was a night that many will remember for its efficiency, quick play strikes and a first half clinic in offensive execution.
The Cougars (11-1 overall) scored seven touchdowns in the first half and led 49-21 at halftime with the only question remaining, how many points would this Canby team score.
David Ball, Gresham Outlook,
Canby's air show rockets past Centennial in state quarterfinals:
Canby simply couldn’t be slowed down Friday night during its 63-36 quarterfinal win over Centennial in the OSAA Class 6A football playoffs.
The Cougars found the end zone on nine of their first 10 possessions, taking a 56-21 lead early in the second half when quarterback Josh Yoder found Cody Smith along the left sideline for his sixth TD strike of the game.
Norm Maves, Jr., The Oregonian,
No. 3 Cougars nearly unstoppable in victory over Centennial:
Centennial coach Chris Knudsen knew what he was getting into with his game plan.
"They're a good ballclub, and he is an excellent quarterback," he said. "So we knew they could pass the ball. But we felt we needed to get as many guys up front against their run as we could.
"We knew it was a gamble."
Knudsen lamented a series of breakdowns in the second quarter, when the Cougars scored on four consecutive possessions.
"We made some mistakes and got three players hurt," he said. "Then we had an inadvertent whistle (that called back a long run). Things were just going the wrong way fast. We made a season full of mistakes in a quarter and a half.
"But sometimes you just get beat, and Canby is just a very good club. Sure, we made mistakes, but we had a great season."
Videos from Friday night's game can be found here at the
Canby Herald (courtesy of John Baker) and at
KGW.com.
Canby will now square off against No. 1 Sheldon in the semifinals on Friday at 8 p.m. at PGE Park in Portland for the right to go to the state-championship game.
With one win, the Cougars would make their first ever appearance in the state-title game in school history.
The Cougars have reached the semifinals five times in school history, and fell just short each time, going 0-5 in semifinal games. Three of those times have occurred in the Mike Doty era, which include 2002, 2003 and 2006. The other two times (1983 and 1987) occurred during the Erv Garrison era.
For the Irish, they are coming off a 44-7 victory over Lake Oswego in the quarterfinals, earning a bit of revenge after losing to the Lakers last season in the quarterfinals.
Jeff Smith, The Oregonian,
Jordan Johnson, Sheldon turn tables (and towel) on Lake Oswego:
No. 1 Sheldon returned the favor, beating No. 6 Lake Oswego 44-7 in an Oregon School Activities Association Class 6A quarterfinal game at Sheldon High School.
It was the sixth time in eight seasons that the Irish (12-0) and Lakers (7-4) met in the playoffs, including the third consecutive quarterfinal matchup between the teams.
"There are certain teams that get players' attention," Sheldon coach Marty Johnson said. "All you have to do is say, 'Lake Oswego,' and they're ready. This week went by real fast because of the amount of respect we have for that program."
On the other side of the bracket, Jesuit defeated Grant, 33-0, at home. And West Salem beat West Linn, 41-20. Jesuit will square off against West Salem on Friday at 5 p.m. at PGE Park in the opening semifinal game.
The state-championship game will be held on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Reser Stadium in Corvallis.
Excited yet, Canby?
(On another note, yes, I did hear you guys in the student section with those chants)
