Posted Monday November 1, 2010

HERMISTON - The Hermiston Bulldogs (2-6) defeated the Milwaukie Mustangs (1-7) by a score of 63-28 on Friday, October 29, 2010. It was a first round OSAA 5A football playoff game. It was one of the smallest crowds to watch the Bulldogs in some time. The Bulldogs played more like the Oregon Ducks with a fast paced high scoring offense that seemed to work particularly well against Milwaukie.

Temperature at game time was about 50 degrees with clear skies. As the game progressed the temperture dropped and a light fog moved in.

Hermiston's first score came on their first possession at 8:59 of the first quarter. It took Hermiston five plays to finally set up Jacob Almaguer's 41 yard run for a touchdown. The PAT by Jerod Munsterman was good to give Hermiston the 7-0 lead.

The Milwaukie Mustangs put together a nine play series that was capped by a 13 yard touchdown pass by Travis Walker. The PAT was good tieing the score at 7-7.

Hermiston took the kickoff and on the seventh play Jacob Almaguer scored on an 11 yard run with 1:23 to go in the first quarter. Munsterman hit the PAT giving Hermiston the 14-7 lead.

The Mustangs scored next on a series of plays that started in the first quarter and finished 11 plays later at 9:10 of the second on a two yard run. The PAT was good tieing the score at 14-14.

Hermiston came right back to score on the Milwaukie kickoff. Jeremy Holden of the Dawgs took the kickoff and ran it down the left sideline about 80 yards for the touchdown in about 12 seconds. The PAT by Munsterman was good giving Hermiston the 21-14 lead.

The next score came following Milwaukie's punt to the Dawgs at 7:51. Two runs by Jacob Almaguer set up a 34 yard touchdown pass from Tim Rude to Jeremy Holden at 6:56 of the second quarter. The PAT my Munsterman was good giving Hermiston the 28-14 lead.

Milwaukie took the kickoff and 11 plays later the drive lost steam on a 4th and 14 on the Dawgs' 15 yard line. The Mustangs' place kicker Josh Whitaker then hit the field goal at 2:07 to close Hermiston's lead to 28-17. That ended being the score at the end of the first half.

Hermiston took the opening kickoff of the second half. Five plays later Tim Rude connected on a pass with Joey Burns on a 23 yard pass for a touchdown. The PAT my Munsterman was good to give Hermiston the 35-17 lead with 10:32 to go in the third.

The next scoring drive by Milwaukie began at the 8:40 mark of the third quarter. Six plays later the Mustangs scored on a 1st and goal from the 1 yard line on a quarterback keeper by Travis Walker. The PAT was good by Whitaker closing the gap with Hermiston to 35-24.

Hermiston the following kickoff and scored in a three play series on a 26 yard run by Almaguer. The PAT was good making the score 42-24 with 5:41 to go in the third.

The next scoring drive for Hermiston began at the 3:56 mark of the third. The eight play series was a mix of five runs and three passes. The touchdown came on a 1st and goal from the 4 yard line by Almaguer. The PAT was good to make the score 49-24 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.

Hermiston's next scoring drive began at 11:46 of the fourth quarter. The six play drive had two passes and four runs. A touchdown pass to Joey Burns on a 1st and goal play at the one foot line came with 10:53 to go in the game. The PAT was good giving Hermiston the 56-24 lead.

Milwaukie took the ensuing kickoff and put together a 12 play series that led to a 25 yard touchdown pass from Walker to Kenny Spencer. The PAT was good making the score 56-31 with 5:37 to go in the game.

Hermiston took the onside kick and put together their own six play touchdown drive. Brett White scored for Hermiston on a 27 yard run with 3:48 to go in the game. The PAT by Munsterman was good giving Hermiston the 63-31 lead.

Kenny Spencer of Milwaukie took the kickoff and returned it to the Hermiston 41 yard line. Five plays later Nick Kill carried the ball in a zigzag run from the 29 yard line for a touchdown with 2:16 to go in the game. That made the score 63-38.

Hermiston nearly scored again on their last series of plays. The Dawgs started on their own 34 yard line and made it to the Mustang's 2 yard line in seven plays as time ran out. The Bulldogs won 63-38.

Hermiston will play Portland's Jefferson Democrats (8-0) on Friday, November 5, 2010 time to be announced.

Photos by Terry Aichele