Dufur High showcased its dominance in the OSAA eight-man state playoff quarterfinals by defeating Perrydale 36-6 on November 14 at Dufur High School. The Rangers, under the guidance of ten-time state champion head coach Jack Henderson, improved their season record to 10-0, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in Oregon eight-man football.
Utilizing a balanced offensive strategy, Dufur excelled both on the ground and through the air while controlling the clock to limit Perrydale”s opportunities. “We did great things,” Henderson stated. “Probably our best effort this season overall defensively. Perrydale is a good team. We held them to six points, and that”s a huge thing. So yeah, hats off to the defense. Coach Smith does a great job with them, and we flew around and we were physical, limiting their big plays, and that”s just a great thing.”
Returning quarterback Gavin Anderson, playing his first game back in a couple of weeks, performed admirably, completing passes effectively. The Rangers also benefited from strong performances by Chase Richards and his freshman brother, Choice Richards, who contributed significantly on the ground. Henderson praised the youthful roster, noting that most players are freshmen and sophomores who had not previously experienced playoff action. “Just a great effort, but there”ll be a lot of things that we need to clean up for next week, and we look forward to doing that. Just happy to still be playing football,” he added.
Next, the Rangers will face Crosspoint Christian, who holds an 8-2 record, in the 1A state semifinals at 11 AM on November 22 at Summit High School in Bend. Earlier in the season, Dufur defeated Crosspoint 20-12 in a non-league match. In their quarterfinal matchup, Crosspoint emerged victorious against Elgin with a score of 22-20.
The game against Perrydale began with both teams tied at 6-6 early in the second quarter. However, Dufur dominated the remainder of the game, scoring the final 30 points. Anderson connected with Chase Richards for a 36-yard touchdown pass, initially putting Dufur ahead 6-0 in the first quarter. Perrydale responded with a touchdown from Broden Ferguson, who rushed for 36 yards at the start of the second quarter. Dufur then established control with a 55-yard TD pass from Anderson to Chase Richards, followed by an 18-yard touchdown connection to Choice Richards, extending their lead to 22-6.
With just over a minute left in the first half, Dufur capitalized on a drive that began at Perrydale”s 45-yard line, culminating in a touchdown pass from Anderson to Chase Richards with only 10 seconds remaining, giving Dufur a commanding 30-6 lead at halftime. The Rangers” defense continued to apply pressure, forcing a turnover early in the second half. On the very first play following the turnover, Choice Richards sprinted 90 yards for a touchdown, further solidifying Dufur”s control of the game with a score of 36-6.
