Council Outlasts Tri-Valley 50-46 in Physical Battle and High Winds

An ominous dust cloud appeared from the northwest in Cambridge about an hour before kickoff. Soon, solid 40mph winds helped create a setting for a game that won’t be forgotten anytime soon by all who attended. Council/Tri Valley is always going to be a hard-fought rivalry game. However, this year there is a little more spice to the occasion as both football teams are very skilled and physical teams that have a chance to go deep into the state playoffs.

The wind was very significant in terms of advantage on the field. It felt as though the offense had two or three more men on the field with the wind at their backs. Passing was nearly impossible, especially in the first half, treating footballs like a good curveball in baseball. Council struck first on an 85-yard quarterback keeper by Owen Hatfield. Hatfield had two more scores in the first half as Council raced out to a 20-6 lead. However, at the start of the second quarter, Tri Valley had the wind and the tides turned (or at least evened things out). Halftime had Council clinging to a 20-18 lead. Since Council was to receive the second-half kickoff, Tri Valley had choice of direction, and chose to have the wind at their backs for a second consecutive quarter. This allowed them to sustain their momentum and get out to a 10-point lead. Council continued to fight, but body language was a bit down temporarily until the 4th quarter, when after what felt like days, they would finally have the wind again.

After trading touchdowns, the Lumberjacks were down 10 with only minutes to go. Driving deep in Titan territory, Owen Hatfield hit Tucker Laine on a screen pass for a touchdown to bring Council within two, 46-44. Following a successful onside kick, and still having the wind, it was looking promising. Council had pulled big Wade Vining into the backfield for some tough runs as they continued to march downfield. Then, as the Lumberjacks had done so many times throughout the game, they called a quarterback keeper. Hatfield, who had played some inspired football on a long night of difficult, physical, punishing runs, took a sweep right along the sideline, shrugging off two defenders before bulldozing over a Titans cornerback on his way to the end zone. Council was now up 50-46.

The Council crowd that braved the conditions to come and support their team erupted in a roar that even the wind couldn’t squash. The Titans, who had been led by a spectacular night from quarterback Jace Waggoner, now stared at the long field in front of them and into the peppering wind, which by now had calmed perhaps to a modest 25 mph. Council went into a prevent defense. Waggoner scrambled left and right, but Council’s defense did a great job of contain to preserve the game and a Lumberjack victory. The game was an incredibly physical affair. Both lines did a tremendous job of battling and very few yards were gained or lost without a lot of effort and pain.

Council’s two big linemen, who are both destined for honors - Wade Vining and Remington Crowell - showed their advanced skills in controlling a battle in the trenches that was very high level for 1A football. Statistically, Council was led by quarterback Owen Hatfield, who rushed 38 times for a whopping 400 yards on the ground. He also went 6 of 11 for 108 yards in the air, not an easy task in those crazy winds. Jim Tucker added 92 yards on the ground and had 17 yards receiving. He also added rushing touchdown, which came on an improvised change of course and a slick hesitation move that allowed him to sneak by a Titan defender and into the end zone. Wade Vining led the Lumberjacks defensively with 8 tackles, followed by Owen Hatfield with 6.5 and Tucker Laine and Remington Crowell, who each had 5. Decker McLinn, whose tackle count was down due to the Titans not running his direction a lot, contributed with a sack, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery.

Council now faces Garden Valley, another tough team. If Council wins, they would likely control their own destiny as they attempt to achieve their goal of winning a third consecutive district championship and a better seed in the state playoff bracket. That game is this Friday in Council at 7:00 p.m. It is senior night and our last regular-season home game, so please plan on showing up and paying tribute to this great Lumberjacks team!

Passing: Owen Hatfield 6/11 for 108 (1TD) Decker McLinn 0/1

Receiving: Tucker Laine 3 for 52 (1TD) Decker McLinn 1 for 24 Jim Tucker 1 for 17 Wade Vining 1 for 15

Rushing: Owen Hatfield 38 for 400 (5TD) Jim Tucker. 12 for 92 (1TD) Decker McLinn 7 for 12. Wade Vining 6 for 22. Brodie Clagg 1 for -1

Tackles: Wade Vining 8, Owen Hatfield 6.5, Tucker Laine 5, Remington Crowell 5, Jim Tucker 3,5, Ayden Heinemeyer 3, Decker McLinn 2.5, Wyatt Tharp 1, Brody Clagg .5

Tackles For Loss: Decker McLinn 1 Wade Vining 1

Sacks: Remington Crowell 1 Decker McLinn 1

Forced Fumbles: Owen Hatfield 1

Fumble Recoveries: Decker McLinn 1 Owen Hatfield 1

QB Pressures: Remington Crowell 1

Passes Defended: Brody Clagg 1

Kick Returns: Owen Hatfield 2 for 28 Decker McLinn 2 for 16 Jim Tucker 1 for 11