Two Thrillers and One Definitive Statement

The 2006 OSAA Football Championships held at Autzen Stadium on the campus of the University of Oregon during the second weekend of December included the top three divisions of the new six-division format for high school athletics in Oregon. While the league re-alignment continues to be a topic stirring debates, there was no arguing that it helped produce some great competition in the new 4A and 5A levels. Each of the 4A and 5A championship games went into overtime and concluded in thrilling fashion.

Siuslaw and Sisters settled their 4A championship game in a single overtime period as Siuslaw was able to score on a Kody Thrall touchdown and successfully stopped the league's leading rusher, Sister's Cory McCaffrey, on a fourth down play to win the school's first title in 25 years by a score of 21-14. Corvallis and West Albany took three overtime periods to settle their score, as Corvallis kicker Wade Penner made good on a second chance to win the game with a 29 yard field goal after missing a 37 yard attempt in the first overtime period, giving the Spartans a 17-14 edge over their local rival.

At the 6A level, the Jesuit Crusaders blew out league rival Southridge 56-7 to start a debate as to whether this year's team is Oregon's best high school football team of all time. As fans and journalists compare the '06 Crusaders to great Oregon teams of the past, all that interested coach Ken Potter and his team was proving to themselves that they had what it took to play "the perfect game." Meeting with his team in the endzone during their traditional post-game chat, coach Potter thanked his team for their dedication and effort throughout the season, for he believed that their quest for the Holy Grail was complete...He stated that the Crusaders had played that perfect game they were seaking.








More OSAA Football Championship photos.