West Salem prevails in double OT thriller

The Titans clinch their first victory on a 2-point conversion for a 43-42 road win over Tigard

By Bill Wilson

The Times, Sep 13, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

JONATHAN HOUSE / The Times

Tigard quarterback Ian McGetrick breaks free for a first down during the first half of the Tigers' game Friday night against West Salem

TIGARD – Tigard had its chances.

West Salem took a big one, converted and that made all the difference in a wild football game Friday night at Tigard High School.

After matching the Tigers with a touchdown in the second overtime, the visiting Titans elected to go for the 2-point conversion and got the 43-42 victory when tight end Tyler Scheller made a finger-tip catch of a Brett Smith pass in the end zone. The non-conference win was West Salem’s (1-2) first of the season while Tigard (2-1) suffered its first loss.

“We had chances. We just didn’t execute when we needed to,” Tigard running back Tim Beckman said. “We would’ve like to win, but this is going to help us in the future.”

Tigard trailed 28-14 late in the third quarter before rallying behind its power running game. The Tigers put together two long touchdown drives and had a chance to win the game, but missed a 32-yard field goal at the end of regulation.

In the first overtime, both teams scored on possessions that started at the opponent’s 25-yard line. After Travis Howe’s 17-yard touchdown run, Tigard lined up for the 2-point conversion but a false start penalty forced an extra point try and make. The Tigers got the ball first in the second OT and again scored on its second play when Beckman bulled into the end zone on a 25-yard run.

Not to be outdone, Smith hit Scheller for 10 yards on third-and-nine then, two plays later, took a quarterback keeper up the middle and into the end zone from 10 yards out to make it 42-41. The Titans went for the win and got it when Scheller shot inside off the line before breaking toward the left flag and hauling in Smith’s touch pass with outstretched arms.

“I’m happy with how our kids battled and overcame some adversity in the last two weeks,” said Tigard coach Mitch Sanders said, noting a change at quarterback (suspension) and center (injury). “I’m disappointed we won’t be 3-0, but that’s how it goes. We’ll learn from it. It has to pay dividends later.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit