Curtis Johnson wraps ups.Springfield continues their struggle to find their offensive voice as they traveled to Tri-Cities to take on the Umpqua Valley Knights last Saturday. This is the Buzzards fourth loss in a row with their only win of the season in the first week against the Oregon Outlaws.
Several players were not able to travel with the team which made the bench a little thin this week which was only intensified by the injuries the team would sustain throughout the game.
Rookie wide receiver Zack McGinnis for the Knights came out to play as quarterback Ryan Smedley hooked up with his first of two touchdowns to McGinnis, putting the Knights up 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. McGinnis would also get a rushing touchdown finishing the game with four rushing attempts for 20 yards and five receptions for 66 yards and three touchdowns on the day.
Several players were not able to travel with the team which made the bench a little thin this week which was only intensified by the injuries the team would sustain throughout the game.
Rookie wide receiver Zack McGinnis for the Knights came out to play as quarterback Ryan Smedley hooked up with his first of two touchdowns to McGinnis, putting the Knights up 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. McGinnis would also get a rushing touchdown finishing the game with four rushing attempts for 20 yards and five receptions for 66 yards and three touchdowns on the day.
Kurt Steele gets his first touchdown of the seasonSpringfield got on the board when Kurt Steele got his first touchdown of the season with 7:37 left in the first half on a quick slant from Jeremy Shay.
The only other score for the Buzzards came from Andy Becker when de caught a deflected pass intended for Jake Scott which ended the half with the Buzzards down 21-13.
#6 Andy Becker gets a touchdown to end the half.The second half did not go as well for the Buzzards as they struggled with injuries, penalties and turnovers. The Knights put up three more touchdowns ending the game 41-13 and helped the Knights clinch a playoff spot with a 5-1 record.
Shay would end the game with two touchdowns and complete 9 of 24 passes for 131 yards and six interceptions. Shay took a beating in the game and sustained a shoulder injury which effectively ended his season.
Another key injury was to Kevin Pardy who was injured in the first half and was sidelined for the remainder of the game, Pardy is still questionable for the game on Saturday as the Birds travel to Sisters to take on the High Desert Lightning at 6:00 p.m. at Sisters High School.
The team remains optimistic and hopes to get a win in Central Oregon as the Lightning have yet to win a game this season. When I asked Pardy how he feels about the game; “It’s tough to scout them [because] they change every week.”
Coach Wyatt plans on suiting up this week and says “Between Steele and I, we will be taking care of the QB job this week.”
It should prove to be an interesting game. Go Buzzards!
Curtis Johnson prevents another Umpqua score.
