Hampshire fall in 2 OTs
OREGON -This was the effort Hampshire football coach Dan Cavanaugh wanted to see.
The result - not so much.
Despite pitching its best defensive effort of the season against Oregon's strong running game, Hampshire fell 11-8 in double overtime in a Big Northern Conference crossover.
The Whips (0-3) held Oregon (3-0) scoreless throughout regulation and forced 7 turnovers before Jeff Yount nailed a 25-yard field goal in the second overtime to end the game.
"We had a lot of intensity coming in here," said Hampshire cornerback Ron Laramie, who recovered a fumble and picked off Oregon quarterback Ryan McWethy. "We came in fired up. We knew we had to play our best."
Hampshire looked at its best after McWethy ran in a 2-yard touchdown and 2-point conversion in the first overtime.
Whips' quarterback Evan Brenner completed 3 of 3 passes, hooking up with a wide open Bo Price in the right corner of the endzone to put Hampshire within a 2-point conversion.
Brenner, who had went 1 of 10 for 13 yards during regulation, then found Price again, this time on the left side to tie the game at 8.
The senior QB led all players with 14 carries for 77 yards on the ground.
"It was just like practice," Bremmer said of the overtime score. "I was wiping my hands off. We knew we could play like this."
Coming into the game, Oregon was the favorite in the BNC West, and welcomed the return of McWethy from a 2-game suspension. The Hawks had rushed for 371 yards in the previous week's 44-19 victory over North Boone.
Hampshire held them to 154 yards on the ground, with Oregon fumbling 7 times. The Whips finished with 156 yards on the ground and turned the ball over just 3 times. Laramie stood out on the defense.
"They played well," Cavanaugh said. "I thought the defense played well. Ron is a heady player. He's a tough kid. I'm real proud of our guys."
The defensive effort shined brightest after an Oregon punt return set up first-and-10 from the Hampshire 13-yard line. McWethy fumbled the next snap and the Whips' defense snagged the ball preventing what looked like a sure score with 1:29 left in the first half.
Hampshire then responded when Laramie picked off McWethy on the first play from scri mmage to open the second half. In all, Oregon was shut out on 4 trips to the redzone during regulation.