Central Oregonian

Panthers out-muscle Cowboys 54-22

Redmond runs record to 6-0 with easy victory

Joe Saenz struggles to gain yards against the Redmond Panther defense. Saenz finished with 49 yards rushing in 19 carries as the Cowboys fell 54-22 to the Panthers.

Lon Austin

October 08, 2012

The Redmond Panthers out-muscled the Crook County Cowboys Friday night at Ward Rhoden Stadium.

The Panthers are big and fast, and they put their size advantage to good use throughout the contest.

“They were extremely physical,” said Crook County head coach Ryan Cochran. “We got beat up pretty well. They have a huge line, that is not only big, but can move too.”

Redmond scored on the first play from scrimmage when Cam Peters swept around left end and scampered 78-yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Panthers led 6-0 with less than 20 seconds gone from the clock. Neither team was able to move the ball in their next possessions. Then the Panthers struck again on a 45-yard pass from Andrew Leeland to Cody Simpson. After the two-point conversion, Redmond led 14-0 with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the Cowboys finally started to move the ball. When Marcus Greaves blasted off-tackle for a 21-yard gain all the way to the Redmond 17-yard line, it looked like the Cowboys were about to get back in the game. However, Greaves fumbled and was injured in the ensuing scramble for the ball. Redmond recovered the ball and the Cowboy crowd waited through some anxious minutes as Greaves lay motionless on the ground. After a nearly 20-minute delay, while Greaves was attended to, play finally resumed with the Panthers in position.

Three plays later, the Panthers fumbled and Crook County’s Gunnar Crawford pounced on the loose ball.

Eleven plays later, the Cowboys scored on a 1-yard Joe Saenz quarterback sneak and Crook County trailed just 14-7 with 7:05 remaining in the first half.

However, it didn’t take the Panthers long to strike again. Trevor Hindman took the ensuing kickoff on the five-yard line, then raced 95 yards for an apparent touchdown. However, a personal foul on the Panthers nullified the touchdown. The Panthers took possession on Crook County’s 33-yard line. Redmond scored just two plays later on a 28-yard pass from Leeland to Gunnar Sigado, giving the Panthers a 21-7 lead with 6:14 left in the half.

On their next possession, Saenz dropped back to pass for the Cowboys, but Hindman stepped in front of the Cowboy receiver, intercepting the ball on the Redmond 45-yard line. Then Hindman rumbled 55 yards for a touchdown on Redmond’s next play and the Panthers were ahead 28-7.

After holding the Cowboys, the Panthers struck again on their next possession. It took Redmond just three plays to go 69 yards. The drive was capped off by a 49-yard run by Peters. The Panthers took a 34-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Crook County received the kickoff to start the second half and once again was unable to move the ball. After returning a Cowboy punt all the way to the 35-yard line, the Panthers were in business again. Four plays later, Leeland hit Matt Dahlen on a three-yard strike and the Panthers had a 41-7 lead.

The Cowboys took the ensuing kickoff and marched 75 yards in 13 plays. The drive was capped off by a 10-yard Colbran Meeker run. Redmond blocked the kick, however a penalty on the play gave Crook County another chance and Dean Smith carried the ball across the goal line for a two-point conversion as the Cowboys closed to 41-15.

Redmond answered with an 80-yard drive of their own, finally scoring on a four-yard run by Simpson. Redmond held a 48-15 lead going into the fourth quarter. Each team scored once in the quarter as the Panthers coasted to the easy victory.

Hindman and Peters each ran for more than 150 yards for the Panthers who racked up more than 400 yards of offense in the game.

Crook County was led by Saenz who rushed for 49 yards on 19 carries and also threw the ball 13 times for 103 yards.

Brandon Zemp added 45 yards for the Cowboys on 13 carries while Smith finished with 42 yards in 16 carries. Crook County, who has been averaging nearly 300 yards a game on the ground, managed just 249 yards of total offense in the contest.

Zemp led the Cowboy defensive efforts with nine tackles while Crawford added six tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries.

“The latest word is that Greaves is going to be fine,” Cochran told his team following the game. “He has a bruise on his back, but he’s already been released from the hospital. We’ve been through a war, that’s for sure. We got hammered pretty good, but we kept fighting even when the chips were down. Now we’ve got to move on and get ready for next Friday.”

With the victory, the Panthers are now 6-0 on the year.

Crook County is on the road on Friday when they take on Ridgeview in an important Special District I game. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Both teams are 4-2 on the year with Ridgeview ranked 11th in the latest OSAA?power rankings while Crook County is 12th.

“It’s our only league game and the one we’ve had a star by it all year,” Cochran said. “They run the ball really well and they are pretty tough. We are going to have to play our best game to come out of there with a win.”

Redmond 54, Crook County 22

Redmond 14 20 14 6 — 54

Crook County 0 7 8 7 — 22

Red — Cam Peters 78-yard run (J.D. Abbas kick failed)

Red — Andrew Leeland 45-yard pass to Cody Simpson (Hindman run)

CC — Saezn 1-yard run (kick Edgar Toledo)

Red — Leeland 28-yard pass to Gunnar Sigado (kick good)

Red —Hindman 55-yard run (kick good)

Red — Simpson 49-yard run (kick failed)

Red — Leland 3-yard pass to Dahlen (kick good)

CC — Colbran Meeker 10-yard run (Smith run)

Red — Simpson 4-yard run (kick good)

CC — Zemp 14-yard run (kick good)

Red — Gabe Giacci 59-yard run (kick failed)