Clackamas wins in a shootout

Walker McCrae
October 18, 2012

It was a classic west coast style shootout and both offenses were in session with West Linn (2-4, 0-2 Three Rivers League) taking on the Clackamas Cavaliers (4-2, 2-0 Three Rivers League). Clackamas scored just enough to win by a score of 56-49.

Clackamas struck first with a one yard touchdown run from Dan Sherrell, senior running back, to make the score 7-0. West Linn quickly scored from a one yard run from Louis Germain, junior. To answer, Clackamas responded with an 11-yard run from Sherrell, but the extra point was missed resulting in a 13-7 first quarter score.

To start the second quarter, Hayden Coppedge, junior, tossed a three yard touchdown pass to Jarrod Howard, senior, to raise the score 13-14. Coppedge and Howard connected yet again for a ten yard touchdown, making the score 21-13. Clackamas retaliated with a touchdown of its own, scoring from five yards by Sherrell. Instead of kicking a point after touchdown, Clackamas went for two and found success with a pass from Doonie Johnson, junior quarterback, to Brody Haehlen, junior wide receiver.

Clackamas’ defense stopped West Linn to regain the ball, and the lead. Johnson hooked up with Haehlen 12 yards out for another touchdown making the score 28-21.

At the end of halftime, the Lions started with a bang, scoring on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Coppedge to Howard. Gavin Andersen, junior, added a score of his own for West Linn by rushing in from just a yard out to put the Lions in the lead.

Clackamas wasn’t phased a bit. Sherrell scored his fourth touchdown of the night on a three-yard run to put the Cavaliers on top.

Coppedge and Howard connected yet again, this time from 53 yards out. Just as Clackamas had done earlier, West Linn went for two and succeeded to put them up 42-35.

Clackamas struck back from their red hot running back Sherrell, on a 26-yard dash to tie the game. Dalon Hudson, junior, ran in from 11 yards out to put Clackamas up seven.

West Linn was firing on all cylinders and quickly knotted the score thanks to Germain, on a one yard run.

Clackamas ended West Linn’s run with a 28-yard scamper from Sherrell to put the game away, and win 56-49.

Coppedge finished the shoot out with four touchdown passes with 102 yards passing. Clackamas quarterback, Johnson, was 13 of 19 with 186 yards passing and one touchdown.

Sherrell had an incredible game with 261 yards and six touchdowns to lead the game in touchdowns and rushing yards. West Linn’s leading receiver, Jarrod Howard, caught 16 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns and led the game in receiving yards. Howard was also named Player of the Week for the state of Oregon.

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About the Contributor

Walker McCrae, Staff Reporter

Before Walker McCrae, senior, realized his dream of becoming a sports manager, he was faced with one task, one court and one orange leather ball. “Walker! Get on the bench!” belched his eighth grade basketball coach, distinguishable by his lopsided scowl and aggravated temper. Now staring back down to the ball, McCrae watched as the grips slipped from his fingers and the ball hit the court with a bounce and a resounding thud. Another game, another bench, another hour and a half watching the ball pass from player to player while he sat on the sidelines. Yet this time, as he took his seat, he reached a sudden epiphany. “I realized that I sucked at sports,” McCrae said, “So, logically, I became interested in sports management.” Today, instead of framing his daily life around school sports, McCrae punches his alarm at 7:15 a.m., parks his red Honda Pilot in spot 86 by 8 a.m. and, after the day ends, pulls into his driveway after fighting 20 minutes of after-school traffic. McCrae still incorporates Intramurals Basketball and tennis into his schedule during winter and spring, yet he is more invested in sports management than any other athletic interest. “Last year, I was the editor for the Athletics section, and I still contribute a large amount of articles to Athletics,” McCrae said. “My love of journalism has fed into my desire to manage a sports team by boosting my knowledge of sports culture. It has also made me respect the media immensely, as I am well aware how difficult it is to be a journalist.” McCrae hopes to pursue financial/economic studies at his school of choice-- Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University. Once accepted to Barrett or another college with a Business program, McCrae plans to take every opportunity available, such as job shadowing and internships, to climb the management ladder. “Sports Management is a rigorous, competitive pursuit,” McCrae said, “but I’m super excited. I really have to bring it, not only in the classroom but also when I’m building connections with people. That’s what’ll make the difference.” For now, McCrae can be seen in the halls with a few friends, laughing at inside jokes while watching play-by-plays on his phone. “All of my friends want to be biologists, statisticians, mathematicians,” McCrae said. “I’m one of the few people I know who wants to go into my field. That doesn’t mean other kids aren’t interested in it nationwide, so like I said, I’ll still have to bring it.”