Riddle beats Mapleton in close six-man battle

Oct. 4, 2022 — On Sept. 30, Riddle and Mapleton played a tightly contested six-man football game. The home team held the lead for the entire first half and into the third quarter, but after the Sailors turned the ball over three times in the redzone, Riddle took the lead and eventually prevailed 24-14.

Going into the fourth quarter, Riddle was up 18-14. The field was covered in a thick fog.

Emotions were high for both teams. Both coaches spent the fourth yelling instructions from the sideline.

“It’s not over till it’s over,” said Mapleton Assistant Coach Tucker Ford.

Sadly for the home team, eventually it was over as time ran out on the Sailors’ comeback effort.

Junior Keevyn Walker, #8, scored both touchdowns for the Sailors. He also ran in a conversion for the extra point on one of the touchdowns and threw a pass to senior Jeff Bernhardt for the other extra point.

In six-man football, when a team throws or passes it in after a touchdown, it is worth one point. When a team kicks a field goal after a touchdown it is worth two points.

Walker finished the game with 12 completions on 21 passes for 165 yards passing. He also rushed for 132 yards. Senior Tristan Stewart, #84, had 76 yards receiving. Fellow senior Mason Flansberg, #55, caught a long pass for 45 yards receiving of his own.

Leading tackler for Mapleton was also Walker with 8.

The loss puts Mapleton’s record at 1-4 on the year. Riddle is 3-1.

Next up for the Sailors is a trip to Siletz Oct. 7 for a Special District 2 North game against Siletz Valley. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.