Football: Late scores lead Lions over Fishermen
Oct. 2—The wildest game of the night in Oregon high school football took place at CMH Field, where Astoria was hosting St. Helens for homecoming.
Rarely does a team go on a 27-0 run during a game and lose, but that's what happened to the Fishermen in the Cowapa League opener for both teams.
Astoria rallied from a 22-6 first half deficit, dominated most of the second half and held a 33-22 lead with just 3:49 remaining.
But the playmaking Lions saved their best for last, scoring two touchdowns and recovering an onside kick in the final 3:11 for an unlikely 34-33 win.
It was the first league meeting between the two programs since 1999, when St. Helens defeated Astoria 7-6 to close out the 20th century.
Astoria had the first score in Friday's game, driving 68 yards in 11 plays, capped by a Tucker Golightly touchdown run and a 6-0 lead.
The Lions took advantage of Astoria turnovers on consecutive drives to score 22 unanswered points.
The Fishermen responded right away, driving 75 yards in the final 1:46 of the first half, with Niko Boudreau leading the 12-play drive with several completions, including a 5-yard TD pass to Brayden Rogers with three seconds left.
There was only one score in the third quarter, a 34-yard interception return for Rogers, bringing Astoria to within 22-19.
Boudreau and Rogers led Astoria's next offensive possession, which began at the Fishermen 1-yard line, and ended with Boudreau throwing a 31-yard scoring strike to Jase Junes for a 26-22 Astoria lead.
After forcing a turnover, the Fishermen scored again on a six-play drive, with Rogers running 20 yards for his third TD of the night. The third straight point-after kick from Mulu Starr-Hollow gave Astoria a seemingly safe 33-22 lead with 3:49 left.
The Lions countered with a two-play drive, scoring on a 52-yard pass from Tyler Tolles to Chase Ford; and St. Helens kicker Garrett Smith recovered the ensuing onside kick.
With 3:11 to work with, the Lions needed just over two minutes to score, as Skyler Bjornstrom took a short pass from Tolles for the go-ahead score with 1:07 on the clock.
Astoria moved to the St. Helens 33-yard line, but a Boudreau pass was intercepted in the end zone with 47 seconds left.
Rogers finished with 131 yards rushing and caught eight passes for 92 yards.
