Ontario High School varsity football quarterback Kenji Teramura searches for a place to run during a game Friday night against Mazama. Mazama went on to clinch a 33-7 non-league victory. (The Enterprise/Pat Caldwell)
ONTARIO – Ontario High School quarterback Kenji Teramura went six of 11 passing for 105 yards and teammate Bonoak Shaw threw for a touchdown in the first half, but the inexperienced Tiger squad couldn’t stop Mazama’s running game on the way to a 33-7 defeat Friday.
“We hung with them in the first half. And we didn’t give up. They came in wanting to prove a point with their running game. They proved their point,” said Tiger Coach Eric Johnson.
The Vikings went ahead 7-0 on a 35-yard toss from quarterback Tristan Lee to Zach Gibson but Ontario responded quickly and knotted the score when Shaw hooked up with Colton Seal on a 20-yard scoring strike near the end of the first stanza.
After that, it was all Mazama as the Vikings built a 15-7 lead at intermission and then added one touchdown in the third quarter and two in the fourth frame to seal the win.
Time of possession was crucial, said Johnson. Mazama’s ball-control offense had the ball almost three times as long as Ontario.
“That’s a big disadvantage. Not having the ball was an issue and our inexperience got the best of us when we did have the ball,” said Johnson.
The Tigers had moments of offensive brilliance but were plagued by inconsistency.
Johnson said, however, that overall, he isn’t too concerned.
“After reviewing film, we played pretty well on defense,” he said.
Johnson said adjustments will be made this week before the Tigers take on Weiser.
“Our mistakes are fixable ones which is good to see,” said Johnson.
The Tigers will face Weiser Friday at 7 p.m. for their first road game of the season.
Reporter Pat Caldwell: [email protected] or 541-473-3377.