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West comes up just short in semis
West watched a 20-7 lead in the third quarter evaporate after a fumble into the end zone was recovered by the Timberwolves with nine minutes left in the game. It was a miscue they could not overcome in losing 21-20 at PGE Park in Portland. The stinging loss ended West's quest for a trip to the state championship game for the first time in school history. Tualatin will face Sheldon, who beat Grant 41-21 in the first semi-final match up. The two teams will square off at Reser Stadium in Corvallis Saturday at 5:30 pm.
It looked like West might break the game wide open when on their next possession, quarterback Aaron Hire found tight end John Gallagher on a 57 yard pass play to move to the Tualatin 22 yard line. But Hire was intercepted on the next play by linebacker Robert Kennedy, who returned the ball to the West Salem 42 yard line. The Timberwolves then used their hard nosed running attack, getting to the end zone on seven plays, with all-Pacific Conference running back Dennis Ranck bulling in from two yards out to tie the game at seven.
In the third quarter, West Salem started with the football and began a methodical drive from their own 32 yard line. The drive stalled at the Tualatin 35 yard line, but coach Shawn Stanley elected to go for it on fourth down and six. Hire hit a diving Matt Alto with a 32 yard pass along the sideline to give the Titans a first and goal at the three. Jenkins then took it in from there, but Ryan Allen missed the extra point and West's lead was just 20-7 with 6 1/2 minutes left in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Tualatin controlled the ball with their run game--led by Ranck who carried the ball 19 times in the second half. The Timberwolves moved down to the West Salem 16 with just over nine minutes in the game, and elected to go for it on fourth down and six. A pass by quarterback Levi Lavasa was knocked down, and the Titans took over on downs. But on the next play, Hire's pitch to back up running back Thomas Hoover was mishandled, and the ball was pushed back into the end zone, where Tualatin's Grey Carkner recovered the ball for a touchdown. The extra point by the T-Wolves' Wes Neary was down the middle to give Tualatain their first lead at 21-20 with 8:54 remaining. West had two more opportunities to respond. On the next drive, Hire appeared to have hit fullback Chase Sexton with the go-ahead touchdown on a 62 yard pass, but the play was called back for movement on the Titan line. West moved the ball into Tualatin territory, but failed on a fourth and 12 play, giving the ball back to the T-Wolves with just under five minutes left. Tualatin appeared to have the game in hand, driving to just outside the West 20 yard line when running back Phil Pauly fumbled on a handoff exchange with Levasa and Tanner Salem recovered for West with 2:05 left. But the Titans turned the ball over on downs, and the Timberwolves (9-3) took three straight knees to win the game and advance to the championship contest for the first time in four semi-final appearances. West Salem ended the season with a school best 10-2 record. Jenkins rushed for 55 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries for the Titans. Hire threw for 160 yards on 10 of 25 passing with two interceptions. Bishop ended with six catches for 53 yards. Steven Ellis also had a pass interception for West. For complete OSAA game statistics, click here GAME PHOTOS BY JOE GOTTSCH AND JIM ROWLAND
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The stunned silence on the West Salem sideline was deafening at the end of the OSAA 6A football semifinal game Friday between the Titans and Tualatin. 
The Titans got off to a strong start, stopping the Timberwolves on their first possession and forcing a short punt to give themselves a first and ten at the Tualatin 29 yard line. Three plays later, wide receiver Jordan Bishop scored on a ten yard end-around play to give the Titans a 7-0 lead just over two minutes into the game.
The score would remain unchanged until under a minute was left in the first half. The Titans drove 52 yards on ten plays, capping the drive with a one yard TD run by CVC player of the year Jordan Jenkins to go up 14-7 with 32 seconds left.
Tualatin cut the lead to 20-14 just four minutes later, as they ran behind the strong legs of Ranck, who finished the game with 191 yards on 29 carries. He finished off the 12 play, 80 yard drive with another two yard run with 2:15 left in the third.