La Grande loses, lead, game in final seconds to Nyssa

TIGER TROUBLES: Carson Miller (8) and the La Grande football team fell to Nyssa 19-15 at Community Stadium Friday. The Tigers dropped to 0-5 on the season. The Observer/PAUL HARDER

The Tigers had an opportunity to seal the game when they got the ball with just under three minutes to play and leading 15-12.

But Nyssa’s defense was able to stop La Grande and get the offense the ball back with 2:27 left in the game and the ball spotted at the Bulldogs’ 48-yard line.

A couple of last second hailmary attempts by La Grande were unsuccessful and Nyssa was able to deny the Tigers their first win of the season.

“It’s tough,” La Grande quarterback Carson Miller said. “We played really hard tonight. We just couldn’t get it done.”

Nyssa got on the board first with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:31 left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs tacked on another score minutes into the second quarter to make it 12-0.

La Grande was able to cut into the lead when Miller scrambled for a 4-yard touchdown run right before the half.

The game went back and forth for most of the third quarter until Miller made what looked to be the play of the game at the time.

He dropped back looking to pass but couldn‘t find an open receiver. When he felt some pressure coming from his right he rolled left and then took off, going 63 yards to the end zone.

“I just kind of reacted,” an emotional Miller said after the game. “The offensive line was really blocking well tonight and gave us a lot of room.”

That score gave the Tigers a 15-12 lead until Nyssa scored the eventual game-winning touchdown.

La Grande had arguably its best game of the season Friday night. The Tigers were able to move the football and at times looked dominant on defense.

“We made them (Nyssa) earn every yard they got,” La Grande head coach Matt Wolcott said. “We are continuing to improve from week to week, but we really wanted to win tonight.”

Miller finished the game 4-for-12 for 70 yards through the air. He also had 98 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

For the second consecutive week La Grande had a 100-yard rusher, with Matt Nicholson carrying the ball 30 times for 124 yards. Andrew Humphreys was the leading receiver with three catches for 63 yards.

“Overall I thought we played tough. We came back after being down early. Nyssa just was able to finish. I‘m proud with how the kids played,” Wolcott said.

La Grande had a season high 296 yards of total offense, while they gave up 339 to the Bulldogs.

LHS will host Madras Friday at 7 p.m.