Lions football advances to playoffs with rout over Grant Generals

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The West Linn Lions (4-6, 2-4 Three Rivers League) bulldozed the Grant Generals (2-8, 0-1) 42-20, to advance into the 32 team playoff bracket with the OSAA state title on the line.

The Lions started the scoring barrage when running back Louie Germain, senior, ran in from six yards out to put West Linn up 7-0. Germain scored again, this time from one yard and the Lions built an early 14-0 lead.

The Generals were on the board when quarterback Curtis Fernandez, sophomore, threw a 63 yard pass to receiver Da’Marea Stigler, junior and Grant was right back in it.

Germain continued to blaze the Generals defense as he scored from a yard out and could have had a longer run on the previous play had he not been tackled at the one yard line. Lions quarterback Hayden Coppedge, senior, threw his first touchdown of the night when he converted on a two yard pass to Kevin Edwards, senior. At halftime, West Linn had a 28-7 lead.

The Generals’ next score came on a pick six from Juwan Curtis, sophomore. Grant’s defense was tackling Coppedge to the ground as he attempted to throw the ball away. Curtis stepped in front of the pass and took it back six yards for the score.

The Lions responded later in the third quarter when none other than Germain scored on a 31 yard dash to extend West Linn’s lead 35-13.

As the fourth quarter rolled around, the game was just about out of hand for the Generals. Grant scored when Tahri Robertson, senior, took a handoff all the way to the house for 52 yards. Germain added his final score of the night on a three yard run and when the final buzzer sounded, the Lions had won 42-20.

Germain finished the night with a career high of 348 yards and five touchdowns. West Linn will take on the Southridge Skyhawks (6-3, 3-2 Metro League) next Friday at Southridge High School at 7 p.m. The Lions lost last year’s matchup against Southridge in the playoffs 59-14.