Thurston High School showed resilience on Friday night, Nov. 13, when it erased a 14‑point halftime deficit to defeat No. 7 Sandy 23‑14 and advance to the OSAA 5A semifinals. The comeback was powered by a tenacious defense and a clutch performance from backup quarterback Dean Knowles.
Key moments of the comeback
Sandy jumped out to a 14‑0 lead early, with quarterback Micaiah Turin connecting with tight end Cameron Caruso for a one‑handed touchdown and senior Mason Fredrickson adding a 50‑yard receiving score. The Pioneers then stalled, and Thurston’s defense began to turn the tide.
Defensive back Quintin Fisher tipped a second‑down pass and returned it 42 yards for Thurston’s first score. After a safety forced by the defense inside Sandy’s 20‑yard line, the Colts took the lead with Knowles’ 33‑yard touchdown pass.
Leofatu Filipe, a senior defensive end, recorded 2½ sacks and a fourth‑quarter receiving touchdown, anchoring the defensive surge. “I just trust the process,” Filipe said after the game, acknowledging a dropped pass earlier but emphasizing his confidence in the team’s effort.
Coach Starck’s message on adversity
Head coach Justin Starck noted that his squad had not faced true adversity all season, having run clock‑controlled games and gone undefeated in league play. “We haven’t had any in six, seven weeks, so they get complacent,” Starck said. “Adversity’s coming. Great teams are coming. We’re going to have to be ready to respond.”
The halftime locker‑room talk, according to Starck, centered on challenging the linemen to “get it done,” a rallying cry that seemed to ignite the second‑half performance.
Looking ahead
Thurston now prepares to meet No. 3 West Albany, the only team to beat it during the regular season, at a neutral site on Nov. 20. The winner will advance to the 5A championship game.
Senior quarterback Emmit Distefano, who watched from the sideline after a recent injury, remains committed to playing at George Fox University. His presence on the bench served as motivation for Knowles, who praised Filipe’s leadership throughout the comeback.
“I’m still trusting (Filipe),” Knowles said. “In practice, he’s number one, he’s always doing the right thing.”
Other Lane County results
- Lake Oswego 35, Willamette 13
- Tualatin 46, Sheldon 38
- Cascade Christian 49, Junction City 0
- Culver 58, Lowell 12
- Crow 45, Ione‑Arlington 24
The quarterfinals showcased the depth of high‑school football talent across Lane County, and Thurston’s comeback will be remembered as a testament to perseverance and teamwork.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
