Imbler sloshes past Spartans

Imbler made it a must-win sitution for Pine-Eagle last Friday by defeating the Spartans 48-26 in the rain at Halfway.

Those results leave Imbler undefeated as league champion, Cove in second at 3-1, and Pine-Eagle and Wallowa tied for third at 2-2. The top three teams advance to state.

If Pine-Eagle beats Cove and Wallowa tops Joseph as expected, those three teams will all be tied at 3-2. The first Old Oregon League tie-breaker is head-to-head. The three teams all would have defeated each other.

The second tie-breaker, said Pine-Eagle coach Blake Dennis, is a points system, then possibly a coin flip.

“I’m not exactly sure about the total process. I haven’t had a chance to see the league’s criteria,” Dennis said Sunday.

“I feel confident going to Cove. They’re tough. But we just have to play one of our better games.”

Dennis said playing conditions against Imbler were not good.

“It started raining just before the game, and we had a steady rain the entire afternoon,” he said. “It got real sloppy and wet. It made for a lot of turnovers.”

Imbler led 16-6 after one period. Kyle Dennis scored Pine-Eagle’s touchdown on a short run.

The Spartans pulled to within 16-14 early in the second quarter when Jake Traw connected with Josh Deen for a 23-yard touchdown.

But, Imbler scored late in the half to lead 24-14 at halftime.

Pine-Eagle stayed close after forcing three Imbler turnovers.

The second half was a different story. Pine-Eagle coughed the ball up three times of its own, leading to two third-quarter Imbler scores.

Pine-Eagle outscored the Panthers 12-8 in the fourth quarter. Dennis scored his second touchdown on another short run. Traw then connected for a TD pass with Richie Gonzales.

“Jake was sacked three or four times,” Dennis said. “We just couldn’t pick up that block on the outside.”

Pine-Eagle plays Cove at 7 p.m. Friday.

Imbler    16    8    16    8    — 48

Pine-Eagle    6    8    0    12    — 26

(Imbler individual scoring unavailable)

P — Dennis 2 run (PAT failed)

P — Deen 23 pass from Traw (PAT failed)

P — Dennis 1 run (PAT failed)

P — Gonzales 31 pass from Traw (PAT failed)

Individual statistics

Rushing — Traw 18-134, Dennis 24-112.

Passing — Traw 10-18-0-157.

Receiving — Dennis 4-36, Gonzales 3-75, Deen 2-31, Walker 1-15.

Tackles (Top 6) — Waterland 6 solo, 5 assist, 1 fumble recovery; Walker 5 solo, 4 assist, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble; Dennis 3 solo, 7 assist, 1 fumble recovery; Gonzales 3 solo, 3 assist, 2 fumble recoveries, half sack, 1 deflection; Traw 4 solos, 1 assist; Miller 1 solo, 5 assists, half sack.