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5 takeaways from Week 8 of Eugene-area high school football

edith noriega, eugene register-guard
·4 min read

Eugene-area high school football wrapped up Week 8 of play, and teams have one week remaining before playoffs begin.

Here are five key takeaways from games this week.

Quinton Buckland shines as Elmira defeats Harrisburg

ELMIRA — Senior quarterback Quinton Buckland threw two touchdown passes and rushed for one, lifting the Elmira football team to a 34-15 victory over the Harrisburg Eagles (2-6, 0-5) in a Class 3A Mountain Valley Conference game.

"It means everything," Buckland said of Elmira's win on senior night and homecoming. "I've been playing with these kids since I was young, so it's sad watching it be the last home game of the season."

Elmira quarterback Quinton Buckland rushes for a touchdown as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School. at Elmira High School.
Elmira quarterback Quinton Buckland rushes for a touchdown as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School. at Elmira High School.

Buckland completed 14 of 18 passes for 254 yards. Sophomore Kyron Smith had a pair of TDs — one rushing and one passing.

Things didn't start off smoothly for Elmira (6-2, 5-1) after a pair of turnovers prevented the Falcons from scoring early in the game. Elmira fumbled for a third time but recovered the ball near the Eagles' 35-yard line.

On the next play, wide receiver Keelan Hecker connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kyler Colwell as time ended in the first quarter.

The Eagles had a chance to even the score, but quarterback Jack Lidbeck's pass to wide receiver Jackson Davis was swatted out of his hands by Donovan Hartley. Smith recovered the fumble in the end zone.

Harrisburg running back Devin Martin is brought down amid a pack of players as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School.
Harrisburg running back Devin Martin is brought down amid a pack of players as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School.

Hecker picked up a 75-yard reception on the next play followed by Buckland's 3-yard TD run, extending the Falcons lead to 13-0.

Smith's 8-yard TD run extended the Falcon's lead, but it was Hecker's interception that maintained Elmira's 20-0 lead at halftime.

Elmira linebacker Keelan Hecker intercepts a pass intended for Harrisburg wide receiver Jackson Davis as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School.
Elmira linebacker Keelan Hecker intercepts a pass intended for Harrisburg wide receiver Jackson Davis as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School.

Harrisburg attempted to get back in the game on Davis's reception, but Buckland stripped the ball and gained possession on the Falcons own 15-yard line early in the third quarter.

Buckland connected on a 21-yard TD pass to Smith with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.

Harrisburg got on board when Lidbeck connected on a 36-yard TD pass to Parker Hughes to cut the Eagles deficit to 27-7 with 11:18 remaining in the game.

Buckland connected on a 12-yard TD pass to Hartley. But it was the Eagles that had the final say on Lidbeck's 10-yard TD pass to Christian Baird.

Harrisburg quarterback Jack Lidbeck looks to pass as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School.
Harrisburg quarterback Jack Lidbeck looks to pass as the Elmira Falcons defeated the Harrisburg Eagles 34-15 Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Elmira High School.

"The message all year has always been rally to the ball and we've been doing a really good job of that," Elmira head coach Justin Peeler said. "Then our D line is so solid that it's really hard for anybody to run on us."

Harrisburg finished the night with just 100 total rushing yards.

Harrisburg will travel to Sisters (7-1, 5-0) for a league matchup at 7 p.m. Friday.

Elmira travels to Valley Catholic (3-5, 1-5) for a nonleague game to close out the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday.

Sheldon silences Grants Pass

Senior quarterback Colby Parosa rushed for three touchdowns and passed for one as Sheldon football defeated Grants Pass 49-0 in a Special District 1 league game on the road.

Cody Shields and Marley Bonin each had a Pick 6. Kelsen Sperry and Jake Jorgensen connected for a 36-yard touchdown. Tyler Wright and Shields connected on the two-point conversion.

Sheldon (6-2, 6-0) hosts West Salem (4-4, 4-2) in a league matchup for the final regular season game at 7 p.m. Friday.

Connor Dye leads Springfield to victory over North Eugene

Connor Dye rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns as Springfield defeated North Eugene 33-11 in a Special District 2 league game on the road.

Dye caught a 63-yard touchdown pass from Zach Sherman in the second quarter. Sherman completed 5 of 12 passes for 101 yards.

The Highlanders finished with 199 total offensive yards.

North Eugene (2-6, 1-5) heads to Willamette (0-8, 0-6) for a final league matchup at 7 p.m. Friday.

Springfield (6-1, 4-1) hosts Eagle Point (5-3, 5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Thurston remains undefeated in league play

Thurston defeated Willamette 63-6 in a Special District 2 league game on the road.

Thurston (6-2, 6-0) travels to Churchill (3-5, 3-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Marist gets the win over Cascade

Marist defeated Cascade 22-15 at home on the Spartans' senior night.

Marist (7-1, 5-0) hosts Junction City (7-1, 5-0) at 7 p.m. Friday in a game that will decide the Class 4A Special District 3 champion.

Edith Noriega is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at ENoriega@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Noriega_Edith

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Takeaways from Week 8 of Eugene-area high school football