John Michaels
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley High School football team once again got a win to keep their slim play-off hopes alive, easily beating the Bandon Tigers 35-14 in a District 4 contest Friday in Bandon. Unfortunately, the Cougars did not get the help they needed elsewhere in the state and just missed a 2A play-off berth.
The Cougars completed the season with a 5-4 overall record, with a 3-2 District 4 record, IVHS finished in third place in District 4 and a No. 17 power ranking at the completion of the season. The top two teams from District 4 and all the other 2A districts automatically qualify for the state play-offs. In addition, four at-large teams qualify for the 16-team tourney. At No. 17, the Cougars fell on the wrong side of the bubble.
The Cougars were still missing senior quarterback Zack Dugas, who is still out due to an ankle injury suffered in a loss to Myrtle Point four weeks ago. Junior running back Tanner Brazil continued his outstanding run with a pair of touchdowns and stalwart defense.
IVHS did not drop behind early this time, as Brazil carried it in from 5-yards out just over a minute into the game. Servando Vargas split the uprights on the extra point and the Cougars led 7-0.
Although Bandon did not win a game in District 4 this season, the Tigers demonstrated that they weren’t going to roll over and die either. The Tigers defense stiffened and neither team scored during the rest of the first half.
Trailing 7-0 at the intermission, Bandon drove down the field on the first possession of the second half and scored on a one-yard run. However, the Cougars broke through the line on the extra point attempt, blocking the kick and holding on to a 7-6 lead.
Brazil gave I.V. a cushion again, breaking away from a scrum and scampering 30 yards for a score with 7:24 left. Vargas’ kick made it 14-6.
After Illinois Valley’s defense stopped the Tigers, the Cougars countered right away again. Jacob Hinds found Brantly Arroyo from 31 yards out for a touchdown. Arroyo shook loose from an obvious pass interference to haul in the pass and take it in for the score. Another Vargas PAT put I.V. up 21-6.
Bandon came back once again, scoring on a reverse on the last play of the third quarter. The Tigers powered in a run for a 2-point conversion and heading into the final 12 minutes the score stood at 21-14 in favor of the Cougars.
Senior Matt Ellis, playing in his final game for Illinois Valley, broke off a 56-yard run for a touchdown on the second play of the final quarter. Vargas converted again, giving I.V. a 28-14 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the game.
Arroyo hauled in his second touchdown pass of the night from Hinds, this time from 8 yards out with just 4:34 left in the game to ice the win for IVHS.
The Cougars, despite not making the play-offs, had a very good year and might be wondering what might have been if just a couple of breaks had gone their way. All four losses the Cougars suffered this year were to teams that are not only in the state play-offs, but also ranked in the Top 10.
A one-touchdown loss to ninth-ranked Lowell, 61-54, in the second week of the season might have been the difference between playing another week and staying home. The following week I.V. dropped a 48-22 decision to #3 Colton.
The 38-24 loss to seventh-ranked Myrtle Point may have turned out differently had Dugas not been injured early in the second half. That preceded a 44-0 loss to No. 2 Oakland, in the Cougars first game without Dugas.
Coach Jonathan Reece has to be optimistic about the future of the program, as IVHS only loses seven seniors from this year’s squad. Quarterback Zack Dugas, multi-purpose starter Matthew Ellis, kicker Servando Vargas, wide receiver-defensive back Ethan Green, tight end-defensive lineman Jackson Heckard, center-defensive lineman Bryson Gilmore and offensive-defensive lineman Cameron Shinault were the seniors for this year’s IVHS team.