Siletz makes effort toward playoffs, but falls short



The Siletz Warriors fell behind 32-0 in the first quarter, and lost to Mohawk, 58-14, in an Oct. 30 contest on the Indians’ home turf. The loss ended the Warriors chance of making the playoffs.

Siletz entered the game with two league losses, and with Special District 5 sending just two teams to the playoffs this year, they had to win that game, and have the Lowell Red Devils defeat Mohawk today (Friday).

Siletz scored on a 4-yard pass from Dakota Burgins to Erick Rice in the second quarter, and a 6-yard run by Dylan Fortin in the third, followed by a 2-point conversion pass from Rice to Fortin. Additional statistics for the game were unavailable.

Warriors’ Coach Bob Line said his team had two touchdowns called back, and nearly scored another.

Rice was flagged for offensive pass interference after hauling in a 70-yard TD toss. Jeff Sweet caught a pass in the end zone, and Line felt he had dual possession with a Mohawk defender, which should have resulted in a score with the tie going to the offense. But the Mohawk player pulled the ball away for a touchback.

Later in the game, Burgins stepped out of bounds at the 1-yard line after a long run. Siletz was flagged for false start on the next play, followed by a sack and a pair of incomplete passes, and the Warriors turned the ball over on downs.



Setting the stage



The Warriors gave themselves a chance to get into the playoffs when they rolled past McKenzie at home on Oct. 23, 69-20, for their third straight win.

Nursing a 14-6 lead going into the second quarter, Siletz exploded for 34 points, including three touchdowns in the final minute, to go up 48-14 at halftime.

Burgins ran 16 yards for the first TD of the second with 8:26 on the clock, and Rice hit Fortin for the two-point conversion. Antonio Garcia ran 37 yards for the Warriors’ next score with 5:08 left.

The scoring tapered off, then things went crazy in the last 60 seconds.

Fortin scored on a 54-yard run, and Rice ran for the conversion with 44 seconds on the clock. With 36 seconds to play in the half, Burgins intercepted a pass and returned it 54 yards for a score. McKenzie’s Kendell Reese returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards for a touchdown with 16 ticks remaining. Siletz answered one more time when Fortin returned the Eagles’ ensuing kickoff 61 yards for another score.

Siletz tacked on two third quarter touchdowns, and one more in the fourth.

Rice scored on a 7-yard run with 6:28 to play in the third, and Fortin ran in from 17 yards out with 1:06 on the clock.

Rice scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth, following another Burgins interception.

Burgins hooked up with Rice for a 62-yard TD, and Rice scored on a 10-yard run for the Warriors’ first quarter points.

Fortin tallied 262 yards on 22 carries, while Rice had 81 yards on seven carries. Garcia added 67 yards on five carries.

Siletz is scheduled to play at Eddyville today (Friday) at 2 p.m. Eddyville forfeited its last two games, and three overall this season, due to lack of players from illness. Siletz defeated Eddyville, 56-28, last season.



Jake Schubert is the sports reporter for the News-Times. He can be reached at 265-8571 ext. 221, or sports@newportnewstimes.com.