Greenville Varsity challenges Portola JV — ends in tie
By Mari Erin Roth
The Greenville Division 6 varsity football team challenged the Portola Division 5 Junior Varsity boys resulting in an outstanding match on the field April 9.
“I am pleased we were able to tie a quality team. Portola has one of the great legacy programs in the Northern Section,” said GHS head football coach Dave Keller. “They win a lot of championships and, even when they don’t, they’re always in the running for one.”
The teams battled back and forth for the entirety of the game with plenty of room for each team to try out all their best plays. “At the same time, we should have won the game,” said Keller. “We played well enough and we had numerous chances to put the game away, but we are young and inexperienced and having a competitive edge over our opponents takes time and patience. We are close to being in that place, and that is encouraging. Our players worked hard and gave 100 percent all game long, and the coaching staff was pleased.”
Junior quarterback Wade Neer had five completions of seven attempts for a gain of 118 GHS yards. Neer also had five quarterback carries for 48 yards. Sophomore Cayden Taddei had five carries for 41 yards rushing. Junior David Washoe had three carries for 31 yards and sophomore Conner Barr had two carries rushing for 16 yards. Barr caught four passes for 102 yards and Greenville freshman Cane Joseph caught one pass for a gain of 16 yards.
GHS Indian defense was hard at work. Washoe led with 15 tackles. Barr made eight, sophomore Cayden Taddei landed seven and Joseph made five. Neer, freshman George Fellos, and sophomore Jake Smalley all made four tackles. Barr brought down the quarterback three times! And Taddei and Washoe also successfully sacked the quarterback. Washoe made two interceptions and Barr made one interception. Smalley punted five times for 221 yards. Scoring was accomplished with rushing touchdowns from Neer and Taddei, and a pass from Neer caught by Barr carried into the end zone. The same trio, Neer, Taddei and Barr, all were successful scoring 2-point rushing conversions after TDs.
“We received terrific games from Cayden Taddei, Jake Smalley, Harvey Merino, David Washoe and Connor Barr. They each played a significant role in this close game.”
Referees are in short supply as every sport on the high school schedule is trying to get on the field at once after the Covid safety shutdown the majority of the school sports year. For that reason, the Greenville football team traveled to Portola to meet the JV football team for what was to be a GHS home game. Greenville is scheduled to travel to Loyalton for an afternoon game Saturday, April 17 and hopes to host the Quincy Trojans for their final game, Friday, April 2.
The Tigers varsity squad hosts Quincy for the rivalry trophy game Friday, April 16, and hopes to travel to Loyalton for their final game Saturday, April 24. So far, the skies are predicted to be sunny.
Even at 6’1 and 180 pounds, GHS No. 61 David Washoe, is having a hard time shaking the Tigers on his tail! Photo by Mari Erin Roth
Cayden Morton successfully intercepts an Indian pass intended for GHS Connor Barr. Freshmen Jacob Juarez is PHS No. 34 Photo by Mari Erin Roth
