Hawks struggle, but win again, go to 2-0

Southridge starts fast, uses its running attack to beat Tualatin 25-20

By Miles Vance

The Beaverton Valley Times, Sep 17, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Miles Vance / Beaverton Valley Times

ON THE MOVE – Southridge running back Dylan Simkins races upfield for a portion of his 136 rushing yards during his team’s 25-20 home win over Tualatin oin Friday night.

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BEAVERTON — Southridge is at it again.

The Skyhawks, the defending Class 6A state champions, ran their 2009 early-season record to 2-0 with a hard-fought 25-20 victory over Tualatin in Southridge’s home opener on Friday night.

The Skyhawks built their win on a fast start — they raced out to a 15-0 lead in the game’s opening quarter — and a punishing ground game that allowed them to control the clock through crucial portions of the second half.

“It was really big (to start fast),” said Southridge senior AJ Riley, who had a punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter and ended Tualatin’s last possession with an interception. “It felt great. We came out really hard in the first quarter and the second quarter.”

“We’ve got a bunch of new guys that can play football real well,” said Southridge senior tailback Dylan Simkins, who led his team with 136 yards rushing and a touchdown on 30 carries. “We just want to come out here and showcase our ability.”

Southridge-Tualatin Football 9-17-09 - Images by Miles Vance

“We won the game and we improved,” added Southridge coach Brad Mastrud. “Those were both positives.”

The Skyhawks created a number of “positives” in the opening quarter Friday, getting on the scoreboard first when Zack Thomas connected on a 39-yard field goal, then adding two touchdowns in that same first period.

Senior Willie Lowe scored the first of those two TDs when he capped a drive with a 15-yard touchdown run, and Southridge extended its edge to 15-0 later when Riley fielded a punt from Tualatin’s Dan Grimes and took it back 55 yards to score for a 15-0 lead.

“We knew they were going to come out for revenge after what we did last year, but we were ready for it,” Riley said.

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