Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Panthers try to run the Sawtooth table

Carey goes for 7-0 on road at North Gem


On a rainy and windy "Senior Night," the Carey High School Panthers (7-1, 6-0 league) won their Sawtooth Conference eight-man football battle with Murtaugh 46-0 Friday but lost a key offensive player in senior running back Connor Rivera.

Rivera, top scorer on last year's State 1A Division 2 state championship team from Carey, was injured on the first play of the lopsided game that ended on the 45-point mercy rule with 7:25 left in the third. He was just returning to form after injuring his collarbone.

Coach Lane Kirkland said Rivera broke three bones in his right foot and dislocated his ankle while being dragged down on a horse collar tackle at the two-yard-line. Rivera had just finished a 44-yard gainer on a cross power play. He will need three months of intense rehabilitation, Kirkland said.

Kirkland said, "We will miss him a lot. Connor was just starting to pick up speed and dominate from his position. We'll just have to rise together as a team from this unfortunate loss, plug someone else in there and keep going. We've been in this position before. We believe in the dream and will continue working toward our goal."

The Rivera injury and relentless rain put a damper on the 50th coaching victory of Kirkland (50-15). Otherwise the Panther defense was dominant limiting Murtaugh (1-7, 1-5) to no first downs and negative offensive yardage. "Defense wins games," said Kirkland.

Carey senior quarterback D.J. Simpson (14 TDs, 96 points season) scored the first two touchdowns on 17-yard and 2-yard runs and threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Kade Peterson. Simpson also connected on five two-point conversion passes. Sophomore Gonzalo Zarate scored twice and senior Blake Whitby added an 18-yard TD.

Zarate rushed for 93 yards and Whitby added 65 on the ground at soggy Derrick Parke Memorial Field. Kirkland said junior Heith Adamson, coming back from an ankle injury, and Zarate will replace Rivera in the backfield. "They are big and fast and I believe in them," said the Panther coach.

Carey outgained Murtaugh 253 to --52 in rushing and had a 16-0 advantage in first downs. Difference in total offense was 321 for Carey, -54 for Murtaugh.

Winning its sixth consecutive game, Carey (43.8 ppg offense, 11.0 ppg defense) clinched its second consecutive Sawtooth Conference title and earned the top seed and homefield advantage for the State 1A Division 2 quarterfinals Nov. 3.

The likely Carey opponent Nov. 3 is Richfield, while #2 Dietrich will host #3 Mackay in the other quarterfinal game of the playoffs that weekend.

Carey visits North Gem (3-5, 3-3) at Bancroft Friday, Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m. to finish the season.

The Cowboys have also lost a key player and one of their three seniors, Houston Crossley (knee injury). Carey's defense will have to stop Cowboy quarterback Austin Wuttke, who rushed for 88 yards and threw for 130 in North Gem's 36-20 home triumph over Camas County Oct. 19.

Here are league standings of the eight-team Sawtooth Conference entering the final week: Carey 6-0, Dietrich 5-1, Mackay 4-2, Richfield 3-3, North Gem 3-3, Rockland 2-4, Murtaugh 1-5 and Camas County 0-6.

Richfield can determine its own destiny in making the playoffs as the fourth seed with a win at Camas County Friday at 2 p.m., since the Tigers have beaten North Gem 14-6.

Check this week's Web site for game stats and a composite score through eight games.




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