ADRIAN – Before the discussions start, here are the facts. Yes, Adrian downed the Dufur Rangers 88-6 on Saturday, Nov. 13 in quarterfinal play of the 1A state football playoffs.
No, the Antelope starters did not play the entire game. Adrian coach Billy Wortman started pulling starters late in the second quarter.
Yes, Adrian defeated Dufur earlier in the season by a score of 62-6.
Yes, Dufur created Adrian scores by miscues like handing the ball over inside the 5-yard line on a bad snap or fumbling in their own end zone.
No, you don’t have a right to question the score if you were not at the game or have not seen the film. Speaking with parents and coaches of the Rangers, no mention was made of Adrian running the score. Simply put, the mercy rule went into effect at the half and freshman players for Adrian were asked to play in a state quarterfinal game.
The matchup started with the Rangers looking good for an upset. Holding Adrian on the first Lope possession, Dufur started down the field on their first offensive possession, only to lose the handle on the ball. Adrian capitalized on the turnover with a 17-yard run by Jace Martin for the score. After a Ranger punt, Adrian’s Conley Martin took off on an 89-yard run for the second score of the quarter. With one quarter off the clock, Adrian led 16-0.
The second quarter was a blitz of scoring. The Lopes put points on the board off a 27-yard run by Conley Martin, a 14-yard passing play to Gavin Bayes from Conley Martin on a fourth-down play, a 54-yard run by Riley Griffin, a 50-yard run by Conley Martin, and off a Dufur fumble handing the ball over on the 3-yard line, a 1-yard run.
At the half, Adrian led 56-0.
With the clock running under mercy, the third quarter started with a Ranger fumble resulting in a 28-yard scoring run by Robert Garza and a 15-yard run for a score by Jace Bateman.
Dufur put points on the board off a passing play from Joshua Talbot to Landon Ellis. Immediately following the score, Conley Martin grabbed the ensuing kickoff and went 70 yards for the score.
Photo Gallery – Adrian v Dufur – John Braese
Bateman scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper and the final score of the game occurred as Octavio Bautista recovered a blocked punt in the Dufur end zone for the score.
Conley Martin ended his day with four score rushing, a kickoff return for a score and passing 5-for-8 for one touchdown.
Misael Munoz had nine tackles to lead Adrian and two sacks. Jace Martin added seven tackles and one interception.
“This whole game started with the play of the offensive and defensive lines,” said Wortman. “Our offensive line set the tone of the game in the first quarter.”
The win pushes the Antelopes to a game versus Lost River on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Caldera High School in Bend. Game time is 2 pm.
Lost River advanced after a 63-34 victory over Waldport and sit 10-1 on the season with the Pirates only loss coming to St. Paul in the opening game of the season.
