John Michaels
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley Cougars hosted the Jefferson Lions and romped to an easy 59-6 victory in a non-league match-up last Friday in Cave Junction.
In a game that never saw the Cougars threatened, senior quarterback Zack Dugas put on a show, passing for four touchdowns and running for another one.
Illinois Valley (2-2) grabbed an early lead utilizing the running of junior running back Tanner Brazil. Brazil followed up a long run on the Cougars’ opening drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 8:54 left in the opening quarter. Dugas connected with Preston Arroyo on the two-point conversion and the Cougars led 8-0.
Brazil scored again with 4:33 left in the opening quarter. Brazil lined up as the lone back in the IV formation, but went in motion. Isolated one-on-one, Brazil beat the defender and hauled in a 21-yard touchdown on a touch pass from Dugas. Brazil ran in the two-point point-after attempt putting Illinois Valley up 16-0.
On the first play of the second quarter, Dugas hit junior tight end Brantly Arroyo for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Servando Vargas, late to arrive after scoring five goals in the Cougars’ soccer game, kicked the extra point and the count stood at 23-0. Arroyo scored again on the next IV possession, this time on a 15-yard reception from Dugas with 9:55 left. Vargas’ PAT kick was good and the Illinois Valley was on the way with a 30-0 lead.
Jefferson (0-3), out of Special District 3, turned to trickery to avoid the shut-out. With 5:14 left in the half, the Lions faced a 3rd-and-goal from the IV 20. What started as a quick toss, turned into a pitch pass and the running back hit a streaking wide receiver for the score. The Cougars stopped the 2-point attempt and did not allow Jefferson into the end zone again for the rest of the evening.
Dugas did not take long to rally the Cougars and respond to the Lions’ score. After a fair catch on the ensuing kick-off gave Illinois Valley a 1st-and-10 at the 30. Dugas immediately hit sophomore Jeremiah Izzo for 33 yards to the Jefferson 37. On the next play, Dugas scrambled away from a blitz, found a running lane, and galloped all the way to the end zone with 4:19 left.
Preston Arroyo closed out the first half scoring with a 48-yard interception return for touchdown with 3:28 left before the intermission. Vargas converted again and the halftime score had IV up 44-6.
The 38-point halftime lead invoked a running clock in the second half, diminishing scoring opportunities for Illinois Valley. However, Dugas was able to connect with Preston Arroyo for a 45-yard scoring strike off a fake punt with 8:20 left in the third quarter. This was moments after an apparent touchdown pass was ruled incomplete when the official deemed that the Cougar receiver was out of bounds.
Izzo scored the final touchdown of the night on one of the first plays of the final quarter. Izzo intercepted a long pass from the Jefferson quarterback, and weaved his way 70 yards for a “pick-6.” A botched snap on the PAT attempt ruined Vargas’ perfect night, but Dugas was able to pick up the snap and scramble the 3-yards for two points and the 59-6 final score.
Illinois Valley looks open league play with a big win when the Cougars host Myrtle Point/Pacific in the Special District 4 opener this Friday. The Bobcats are on a three-game winning streak after losing their opener to Colton. Myrtle Point is new to the 2A ranks, after being a 1A 8-man state semi-finalist last year. Kick-off time is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start