Pirates shut out by Oakley
A rebuilding Prairie football team struggled in their opening game of the season as they lost to Oakley 0-56 in the 8-Man Showcase at Middleton Saturday, August 27. Oakley, who won the last two state championships, looked like they might be a good bet to win a third straight in the way they manhandled the Pirates.  Prairie started the game well as they received the opening kickoff and picked up a couple of first downs. After an 8 yard pass from Eli Hinds to Ben Elven, Trenton Lorentz picked up 10 yards for a first down at the Prairie 36. A couple of false start penalties set the Pirates back but on third and 13, Hinds passed to Lorentz . Lorentz caught the ball then fumbled but Blake Bunce recovered the ball and Prairie gained enough yardage for another first down. Two plays then netted 0 yards and another false start had the Pirates facing third and 15. Hinds fumbled the ball in the backfield and Oakley recovered at the Prairie 35. It took the Hornets just 2 plays to take the lead as they scored on a 29 yard pass play. Oakley added the 2-point conversion on a pass for a 0-8 lead. Turnovers killed the Pirates as they had the ball just 2 plays when Oakley intercepted a pass at the Prairie 42. The Hornets needed 8 plays to score this time with quarterback Porter Pickett going in from 3 yards out. The 2 point pass was dropped as Oakley now led 0-14. Prairie managed to pick up another first down on their next possession before turning it over again. Hinds converted a fourth and 5 with a 6 yard run but 2 plays later Oakley intercepted another pass. This time on a great catch by the defensive back as the ball went off the Prairie receivers hands and the defender made a diving catch at the Prairie 44. 3 plays later Oakley scored on a 23 yard run on the final play of the first quarter. They added the 2-point run for a 0-22 lead. On Prairie’s next possession they went for it again on fourth down deep in their own end but this Lorentz was stopped short on a fourth and 2 play and Oakley took over at the Prairie 24. Two plays later they scored again and added the 2-point run to make it 0-30. Prairie punted on their next possession but a bad snap led to a short punt as Oakley took over at the Prairie 30. Prairie got a break when Colton McElroy intercepted an Oakley pass on the next play giving Prairie back the ball at their own 25. Prairie was able to move the ball this time as Hinds converted a third down with a 7 yard run and Lorentz followed with a 12 yard run. A facemask on the play added 5 more yards as Prairie crossed the 50 for the first time in the game. Hinds ran for 16 yards to moved the ball to the Oakley 32. At that point things turned against the Pirates as a holding penalty set them back. They wound up missing on a pass on fourth and long from the 38 with Oakley taking over on downs. Oakley then completed a wide open screen pass to the right with the receiver having 3 blockers and no defenders within 10 yards. The play went for 62 yards and another Oakley touchdown. The 2-point try failed but Oakley now led 0-36. Prairie got deep into Hornet territory on their final possession of the first half. They started at the 35 and got a first down on a late hit penalty that put them at the 49. Hinds connected with McElroy for 23 yards on the next play to move the Pirates to the Oakley 28. A 7 yard run each by Lorentz and Hinds moved the ball to the 14. At that point the drive stalled as Lorentz was stopped after a 3 yard gain on fourth and 7 from the 11. Oakley took over and went to a 2-minute drill passing 4 straight plays to move the ball to the Prairie 37. They then ran the ball and time ran out in the half with the ball at the 20. Oakley received the second half kickoff and Prairie was able to force a punt after just 2 yards gained on 3 plays. Prairie took over at their own 36 but wound up turning the ball over on a fumble 3 plays later with Oakley taking over on the Prairie 39. The Hornets needed just 1 play to score. The 2-point run was stopped leaving the Hornets with 0-42 lead. That started the running clock mercy rule. This is the first time Prairie has been on the wrong side of the mercy rule since the 2013 season when they lost to eventual state champion Kamiah. Prairie fumbled again on their first play after the ensuing kickoff with Oakley taking over at the Prairie 24. Hinds wound up leaving the game with an injury after the play. Oakley scored again and added the 2-point try for a 0-50 lead. Another fumble quickly ended Prairie’s next possession with Oakley taking over at the Prairie 6 yard line. Prairie was able to stop the Hornets forcing a turnover on downs at the 3. The Pirates picked up a first down on an 8 yard run by Lorentz that moved the ball to the 16. 3 plays later they went for it on fourth down but a bad snap killed the play and McElroy’s pass fell incomplete. Oakley took over at the 20 and converted a fourth down before scoring on what turned out to be the final play of the game to cap a 0-56 win. It was the first time the Pirates had been shutout since a 0-50 loss to Lapwai in 2004, the year that Prairie dropped down to the 1A division and played 8-man football for the first time since the 1969 season. Prairie wound up with 161 yards of offense, 101 on the ground. Lorentz had 68 yards rushing on 19 carries and caught 2 passes for 26 yards. Hinds gained 42 yards rushing on 13 carries and completed 7 of 13 passes for 60 yards with 2 interceptions. McElroy caught 3 passes for 21 yards and Elven caught 2 for 13 yards. Oakley had 100 yards rushing on 23 attempts and 269 yards passing for 369 total yards. The Pirates wound up with 6 turnovers on 4 fumbles lost and 2 interceptions. Prairie is 0-1 on the season and opens league play this Friday, Sept. 2 as they host Troy in their home opener. Prairie 0 0 0 0 - 0 Oakley 22 14 14 6 -56 O-Duncan 29 pass from Pickett (Praegitzer pass from Pickett) 7:03 1st O-Pickett 3 run (pass failed) 4:13 1st O-Bingham 23 run (Bingham run) 0:00 1st O-Bench 19 pass from Pickett (Toribau run) 9:35 2nd O-Praegitzer 62 pass from Pickett (pass failed) 2:26 2nd O-Duncan 39 pass from Pickett (run failed) 9:34 3rd O-Beck 24 pass from Robinson (Bench pass from Robinson) 4:23 3rd O-Sherfey 1 run (run failed) 1:20 4th  Trenton Lorentz runs through a big hole early in the game against Oakley. Blocking at left are Blake Bunce and Ben Elven. Next to Lorentz is Colton McElroy and at right blocking #11 is Shane Hanson.  Quarterback Eli Hinds tosses a pass to Colton McElroy for a short gain.  Shane Hanson tackles an Oakley ball carriet.  Eli Hinds picked up a first down on this run against Oakley. Also shown are Shane Hanson, 12, and Ben Elven, 7.  Dylan Uhlenkott carries the ball on a kickoff return. PIRATES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR 2022 27-vs. Oakley at Middleton, 5:00 p.m. MDT -lost 0-56 SEPTEMBER
2-Troy*, here
9-Potlatch*, here 16-BYE 23-Genesee*, there 29-Kamiah*, here, Homecoming, Currently scheduled for Thursday, trying to move to Friday, subject to availability of officals. OCTOBER
7-Lapwai*, there
14-C.V.*, there 21-Logos*, here, Senior Night 28 or 29-Higher Seed host, State NOVEMBER
4 or 5-State Quarterfinals
11 or 12-State Semifinals 18 or 19-State Champ., UI or BSU *League Game JV FOOTBALL
6-Kendrick, there, 6 p.m.SEPTEMBER 12-Lewis County at Nezperce, 4 p.m.--Cancelled 19-Logos, here, 6 p.m. 26-Lewis County, here, 6 p.m. OCTOBER
3-Kendrick, here, 6 p.m.
10-BYE or possible game against Pomeroy More games may be added once teams know how many players they have PIRATES JR. HIGH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR 2022
SEPTEMBER
8-C.V., here 4:30 p.m.
12-Orofino, there, 4:30 p.m. 22-Lapwai, there, 4:30 p.m. 27-Timberline, there, 5 p.m. OCTOBER
6-Kamiah, here, 4:30 p.m.
13-Lewis County, here, 4:30 p.m. 20-#1 South at #1 North; #2 South at #2 North; #3 South at #3 North; #4 South at #4 North; #5 South at #5 North; #6 South at #6 North, all games start at 5 p.m.
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