Late on Friday night, with many of the fans having already left the Redwood Bowl, the Eureka Loggers served up a thrilling finish that might just kickstart their season.
In an entertaining and back-and-forth showdown with Marshfield, it appeared as if the game had gotten away from them.
The visitors led by eight with just seconds remaining.
But incredibly they opted to run the ball instead of taking a knee and Scotty Brogan made the play of the season so far in this year’s H-DNL when he recovered a fumble and returned it 45 yards to the visitors’ five.
Moments later Tyler Johnston ran into the end zone from three yards out to pull the Loggers within two.
Quarterback Bryson Burns then tied the game on a successful two-point conversion run to force the overtime period.
But the excitement was just getting started.
On the opening possession of the extra period, after the Loggers deferred, the Eureka defense made a huge goal-line stand, with junior defensive end Nevan Rose making a tackle in the backfield to deny Marshfield.
“It was literally fourth-and-inches,” Eureka head coach Sam Edmonds said. “It was a textbook defensive play. We controlled the line of scrimmage.”
On the ensuing possession, with momentum firmly on their side, the Loggers would secure a 33-27 walk-off win when Burns scored on a five-yard run.
“It was huge,” Edmonds said. “We’ve been talking about it all week, playing together as a team, being united as a team, and honestly our defense played lights out.”
The win not only gives the Loggers a huge boost heading into their bye week, but it also ended an 11-game losing streak dating back to the season opener of 2025.
And it was an outstanding response from a Eureka team that was coming off back-to-back losses to start the year, losing by a combined 83-6 to Windsor and Shasta.
Marshfield, out of Coos Bay, is the 35th ranked team in Oregon, according to MaxPreps.
“It gives us confidence moving forward,” Edmonds said. “We still have a lot to work on, but it gives us the opportunity for positive momentum heading into our bye week.”
Rose and Burns each scored touchdowns earlier the night, the latter coming on a 75-yard QB keeper.
Senior defensive end Angel Figureoa also was instrumental in the win, finishing with three sacks for 43 yards.
“Every sack he had it was for a huge loss,” Edmonds said.
Sophomore Lynden Taerea, who was just called up from the JVs this week, had a big fumble recovery in a varsity debut he won’t easily forget.
A strong night running the ball behind an effective offensive line paved the way for victory.
“Honestly, we ran like crazy. We ran a lot and we controlled the clock,” Edmonds said. “The whole offense did well. Tonight we finally started to click on all cylinders.”
And they played for all four quarters, and some more after that.
“They were ecstatic,” the Eureka coach added of his players. “They didn’t quit. It was awesome. They kept fighting for all four quarters.
“I’m just proud of the team. It was pretty magical. I’m still in shock.”
I’m proud of my grandson, Max Hickcox.