Eagles cap long road trip with a win

BUTTE FALLS — They’ve done it again.

The Joseph football season continues after another postseason victory at Butte Falls Saturday, 36-28.

It was a bittersweet moment for Eagles head coach Rusty Eschler after the game.

“They had a fan running around with a live chainsaw during the game. We assumed the chain was off, but still a chainsaw at a football game?”

Joseph prevailed even with constant heckling from the home crowd.

“Their fans were all over our guys,” Eschler said. “They were shouting awful things, obscenities, at a bunch of high school kids.

“You have to give their team credit though. They never quit. They only had 11 guys on their roster, but they just kept coming at us.”

Joseph quarterback Erik Steen scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:02 remaining in regulation.

On fourth and one, Steen scrambled for a 48-yard touchdown run.

“Erik had his best game of the season,” Eschler said. “He can sometimes let his emotions get the best of him, but he kept his composure.”

Steen finished the game completing four of his seven passes for 80 yards with one interception. He also had 10 carries for 65 yards on the ground.

Butte Falls marched down the field on its final possession and seemed poised to score.

The Loggers overcame two penalties and converted on a 4th-and-12 with a 31-yard pass.

However, on the next play, the Eagles sealed the victory with a forced fumble with 48 seconds left in the game.

Joseph had another strong day on the ground rushing for a total of 340 yards.

 Clancy Warnock ran for 160 yards on 21 carries and Grant Marcum turned 29 carries into 118 yards.

“I am just so proud of the Old Oregon League,” Eschler said. “I was so happy to hear Imbler went to Crane and won. Lee (Lowe) simply out-coached them.

“To have two teams from the league is amazing. Cove, Wallowa, Powder Valley they prepare us for these postseason runs. There’s no doubt in my mind Cove wouldn’t be right here with us.”

Joseph advances to Wilsonville where they will face Perrydale in the Class 1A tournament semifinals.

Friday, Perrydale defeated Lowell on the road, 34-20.

The Pirates enter the semifinals with an undefeated record of 11-0.

“Perrydale likes to shotgun and run the football,” Eschler said. “They are a lot like Wallowa, but their quarterback is not even close to (Tyler) Harshfield. They are a little stronger up front than Wallowa.

“Any time it’s down to four teams it’s going to be a challenge.”

Joseph 36, Butte Falls 28

Joseph         6 22 0 6 — 36

Butte Falls     6 14 0 8 — 28

 First Quarter

BF — McGonagle 29 pass from Myers (pass failed)

J — Warnock 5 run (run failed)

Second Quarter

BF — McGonagle 8 pass from Myers (run failed)

J — Moncrief 29 pass from Steen (Marcum run)

J — Marcum 2 run (run failed)

BF — Ellis 38 run (McGonagle pass from Myers)

J — Warnock 3 run (Baynes run)

Fourth Quarter

BF — Dyck 1 run (McGonagle pass from Myers)

J — Steen 48 run (Moncrief pass from Steen)