ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ
PENDLETON — Ontario scored the first touchdown of the game, but it was all Pendleton from there as Tugg McQuinn scored five touchdowns to lead the Bucks to a 40-7 Greater Oregon League victory Friday, Oct. 24, at the Round-Up Grounds.
“When you win two in a row, that is a win streak,” Pendleton coach Erik Davis said. “We came out kind of flat. We had Senior Night and homecoming and we knew we might come out a little flat. Our defense kept us in it.”
The Tigers opened the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Elijah Wolfe to Isaac Gonzalez with 20 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Bucks got on the board at 7:26 of the second as McQuinn took a direct snap from the center and powered his way into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown run and a 7-7 game.
Less than two minutes later, Vance Nelson took the ball in from 9 yards out for a 14-7 Pendleton lead.
McQuinn would give the Bucks a 21-7 lead 5 seconds before the half, taking a direct snap and getting a block from Nelson on his way to the end zone for a 14-yard scoring run.
McQuinn opened the second half with a 2-yard touchdown run and the rout was on.
Less than 3 minutes after his touchdown run, McQuinn intercepted the ball at midfield and returned the ball 50 yards for a pick-six and a 34-7 Pendleton lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers were driving and had a third-and-goal at the Pendleton 7-yard line. Wolfe went back to throw, but before he could find an open receiver the Bucks’ Aidan Perkins sacked Wolfe for a 12-yard loss. Ontario turned the ball over on downs.
On third-and-nine from their own 21, McQuinn took the handoff and went 79 yards for his fourth touchdown of the night with 4:57 left in the game.
“It has been a tough year for him injury wise,” Davis said of McQuinn. “For him to finish a full game is crucial for us. We need him on both sides of the ball. We know Tugg is fast, when he turns on the after jets it’s fun to watch.”
McQuinn finished the game with 16 carries for 151 yards, while Nelson had five carries for 99 yards. Cole Sazue completed one pass for 48 yards to Teegan Herrera.
Defensively, Kolt McQuinn had 15 tackles, while Vance Phillips had 14 and Perkins eight. Vance Nelson had an interception and blocked a field goal, while Herrera had an interception.
“Vance Phillips and Kolt McQuinn have come on the last two games, and that’s nice to see,” Davis said.
Colin Harrington made good on four PATs, and also had a touchdown-saving tackle at the end of the first half. He was the last man between Ontario’s Alex Dominguez and the end zone.
“We kicked off and he (Harrington) had an unbelievable kick down about the 5,” Davis said. “We kind of broke down defensively on our coverage and it was down to our kicker making a tackle or a 95-yard kick return. He just broke down and made a hell of a tackle.”
The Bucks (2-6 overall, 2-1 GOL) will wrap up GOL play Oct. 31 at La Grande (3-0 GOL).
“Right now, we are winning with this young group,” Davis said. “To have a chance at the playoffs is pretty nice. We have to take care of La Grande. That is always a big game for us.”
