Pendleton (5-3 overall, 2-1 GOL) will close out the regular season Nov. 1
By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ
ONTARIO — Colson Primus threw for 272 yards and four touchdowns in leading Pendleton to a key 46-20 Greater Oregon League win over Ontario on Friday, Oct. 25, at Tiger Stadium.
“It was a big win,” Pendleton coach Erik Davis said. “It was much needed. It puts us in a playoff spot. We finish with La Grande next week. It’s a big game. It will be nice to be at home and not have to ride the bus. It’s Homecoming, but we’ll put some blinders on with all the hoopla.”
The Bucks jumped out to a 13-7 lead after the first quarter and led 32-7 at the half.
“Coming off a tough loss to Crook, where we played poorly in the first half and were strong in the second half, it carried over,” Davis said. “We challenged the kids to play four quarters. This is big, especially with the playoff ramifications.”
Primus threw touchdown passes to Mason Strong, who had five receptions for 94 yards and two scores, and one each to Vance Nelson and Keegan Kline. Nelson had three catches for 90 yards, while Kline had two receptions for 15 yards.
Tugg McQuinn ran for 172 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns, and freshman Aaden Hernandez had four carries for eight yards and scored on a reverse.
“Our numbers are so low that they don’t come off the field,” Davis said of his key players. “We ask a lot of them and it’s tough on them.”
Defensively, the Bucks recovered two onside kicks, Nelson had eight tackles, and Pendleton held Ontario quarterback Diego Rodriguez well below his average. Rodriguez completed 15 of 25 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
“Our defensive staff put together a good game plan,” Davis said. “We play a 2-man which is hard to throw against. We had a good game plan going in. Our line kept them from running the ball.”
Pendleton (5-3 overall, 2-1 GOL) will close out the regular season Nov. 1, hosting La Grande.
PHOTOS COURTESY JULIE MURPHY
