This just in: The Banks football team likes to score. A lot. It’s in their eyes. In the tone of their voice when they speak. There must be something in the water.
The Braves beat the North Marion Huskies, 42-14, Friday night. It was the sixth time this season Banks has scored more than 40 points. The last time they were held under 30 it was against Astoria in the first week of October. Since then, they have scored 192 points – an average of five touchdowns and a field goal every week.
“We’ve got a lot of skill [position] players and we can put up some points,” Banks head coach Ben Buchanon said.
Friday night was just business as usual for Banks.
“It felt good,” senior running back Nick Turner said. “It felt nice to get back into the playoffs and do what we do best.”
What they “do” best, apparently, is score.
“That was a great game,” Buchanon said of his team’s fifth straight win. “The guys came out and responded early.”
Usually, “responding” follows some sort of perturbation. Only, Banks didn’t allow North Marion to offer one. On the second play of the game Banks, Turner ran through a hole on the right side of the offensive line, broke through three tacklers and eluded another defender on a 74-yard scamper to the end zone. It was his 50th touchdown as a varsity player. After a missed extra point the score was 6-0.
“Ever since the Scappose game, our offensive line has been doing very well.” Turner said of his teammates.
Banks scored on it’s next offensive play. This time on an 80-yard flea-flicker pass from John Criswell to junior Colby Seyferth. Banks added the two-point conversion to pull ahead 14-0 with 7:53 to go in the first quarter.
Three plays, two scores, one happy coach.
“[Score on every play], that’s always the plan,” Buchanon said of the immediate 14-0 lead. “And we’re capable of that.”
North Marion answered back on a 10-play 61-yard drive. Senior receiver Klint Pippert scored on a 12-yard “fly sweep” to make it 14-7. Huskies junior running back Alvin Castro had 35 yards rushing on the drive and finished the game with 130-yards on the ground.
But that was as close as the Huskies would get.
On the ensuing possession for the Braves it was right back to work. Senior Brock Markham tallied 30 Y.A.C yards and scored on a 35-yard touchdown reception. It was 21-7 with under a minute to go in the first quarter.
“I was nothing special, just an out,” Markham said after the game in-between high-fives and hugs from family and friends.
Markham scored again. With 3:10 left in the first half he blocked a punt and fell on the ball in the endzone. Score: 28-7.
“It was one of those things that just happened so fast. Coach told us to get after the punter. Then we got it and I knew I was in the endzone.”
That score would hold until halftime.
“We wanted to force these guys to pass because they are a running team. When we got up 28-7 it put a lot of pressure on them.”
The pressure turned out to be too much. North Marion punted on the opening possession of the second half and allowed Banks to march down the field and score on just four plays. Turner took his second trip to the end zone from 15-yards out to pull the lead to 35-7 only two minutes into the second half.
“This could have been my last game,” Turner said. “So, I’ve put it all out on the line. That’s how I’m treating every playoff game.”
Turner has been spending his time off the field evaluating his options at the next level.
“I’ve been looking at some [Division III] schools like Linfield, Willamette or Pacific,” he said.
Banks scored again with 3:30 to go in the third quarter to make it 42-7. Seyferth grabbed a 10-yard pass for his second touchdown of the day.
North Marion added a touchdown late. Huskies junior tight end Kip Pearson caught a TD pass to make it 42-14.
This game was more lop-sided than a football itself. Banks finished with 456 yards of total offense and racked up 310 in the first half. Banks quarterback, John Criswell completed 10-of-12 passing for 217 yards and three touchdowns. If he were in the NFL, his quarterback rating was 158.3. Two of his touchdowns went to Seyferth who finished with four catches for 149 yards.
Turner ran the ball a dozen times for 174 yards – 153 were in the first half.
The Braves now get ready to take on the Ontario Tigers in Ontario Saturday at 1pm. Banks fans may feel like the Tigers are a familiar foe.
“All we know is,” Buchanon said. “They are fast and like to score a lot of points.”
Talk about a great season. Those kids busted their backsides all season long but came up a bit short in the end. Good news is a lot of the kids are coming back and will be in better shape (a lot of them are in track this spring).
As for the game, North Marion didn’t have a chance.
In my opinion, you are not right. Write to me in PM.
This phrase, is priceless. it is pleasant to me 🙂
No new stories about Banks? What happened Nick? Have you quit the newspaper biz?
Nathan, I haven’t quit. But my last day is coming up soon. Right now, I a heavier than normal load at my day job that has been taking me away from doing the fun stuff – like writing for the paper. I’m trying to get Amanda Miles (my apparent replacement) to post some of her stories on here… but that is moving slowly.
Keep checking back for updates. I’m sure I’ll find some way to keep you informed!