Photos by DEBBIE RANEY

Jared Zander takes off through the open hole.

Losing to the Crane Mustangs during the first game of the season (Crane won 44-42) was apparently the motivation that the Myrtle Creek Bobcats needed when the teams met for a rematch during the quarterfinal playoff game held Friday, Nov. 11 in Crane. Myrtle Point racked up 442 yards of total offense, with 367 of that coming on the ground, to down the Mustangs 38-22.

Myrtle Point junior running back Billy Reynolds rushed 15 times for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Myrtle Point lost three fumbles on the night, but it did little to slow the Bobcat offense.

Crane had a solid offensive night, with 370 total yards, but critical fourth-down stops by the Bobcats were a key turning point in the game. The Mustangs went for it on fourth down five times on the night, converting only one.

Myrtle Point scored the only touchdown in the first quarter on a Reynolds 30-yard run. The two-point conversion pass was no good, and Myrtle Point was up 6-0. Crane tied the score with 8:01 left in the second quarter on an 18-yard pass from Jared Zander to Carter Nichols. The conversion failed, but the score was tied 6-6. With Crane marching to score again before the half, Myrtle Point intercepted a Mustang pass with 1:15 left in the quarter and returned it to the 34-yard line. With 30 seconds remaining before halftime, the Bobcat quarterback ran into the end zone from 10 yards out for a touchdown. The conversion run was good, and Myrtle Point was up 14-6 at the half.

Myrtle Point received the second half kickoff, and the Bobcats’ Reynolds broke open for a 48-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was successful, and the Bobcats took the lead, 22-6. As the clock was winding down to end the third quarter, Crane quarterback Jared Zander connected with Jake Doman for a 66-yard touchdown pass. Zander completed the conversion pass to Nichols to pull Crane within a touchdown, 22-14.

On their next possession, Myrtle Point scored on a Reynolds 29-yard touchdown and completed a conversion run for a 30-14 lead. Crane countered quickly on a Zander to Cody Siegner 58-yard touchdown pass, with Nichols scoring the conversion to close the gap to 30-22.
On the next series, Myrtle Point marched down the field on a 67-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point attempt increased the score to 38-22 with 9:05 left in the game.

The Bobcats controlled both sides of the ball for the remainder of the game to win and move on to next week’s semi-final match up against No. 1 St. Paul. Crane finishes the year 8-2.