PR Sports

Salmon running back Brady Nettinga bowls over Shelley's Cory Walker at Holt Arena on Thursday. Robert Bower / rbower@postregister.com

The No. 1-ranked and undefeated Shelley Russets kept their title dreams alive by surviving defending champion Salmon 28-27 in the 3A state quarterfinal in Holt Arena.

A potential game-winning drive by the Salmon offense was squelched at the Shelley 33-yard line.
With Salmon facing fourth and three, Shelley defensive back McCade Bono blitzed and got a hand on quarterback Riley Session’s pass.

The tipped ball fell to the Astroturf, giving Shelley the ball on downs and preserving the narrow victory.
Sessions read the blitz and attempted to throw to an open Trey Infanger on a slant, but Bono got just enough of the ball.

Salmon coach Ken Miner said with two minutes remaining, a conversion on fourth down likely changes the outcome of the game.

“If we complete that, we’ve got time, and Trey is a great field goal kicker,” Miner said. “We would have already been in his range.”

Shelley (10-0) advances to the state semifinals for the fifth straight year.

The win was all the sweeter for Shelley, who was knocked out of the state semifinals by Salmon last year before Salmon went on to win the state title.

Shelley running back Aaron Adams said the win was all about payback.

“I have no words for this feeling,” Adams said. “It’s the best to send them home, send them packing while we move on.”

Adams was the workhorse for Shelley, running for 208 of Shelley’s 238 rushing yards.

Adams opened the game quickly, taking Shelley’s first play from scrimmage 39 yards, then the second play 27 yards for a touchdown.

However, Adams had trouble finding room, running for only 21 more yards on seven carries before the half.
“He had a great run early, then they did a great job of shutting him down,” Shelley coach Dwight Richins said. “We challenged him and the line to get after it. They did a great job in the second half.”

Adams shouldered the load on a critical Shelley drive in the third quarter.

After a Salmon punt pinned Shelley at its four, the Shelley offense executed a 14-play, 94-yard touchdown drive. Adams ran for 75 yards on nine carries and converted on three fourth downs to keep the chains moving.

“I’m glad coach Richins believed that I could make the drive,” said Adams, who finished with 208 yards on 26 carries. “Our linemen get it done.”

Shelley appeared to have the game in hand when, leading 28-19, Salmon turned the ball over on downs with 8:33 remaining. But instead of milking the clock, quarterback Chase Richins took a shot at the end zone. Salmon defensive back Trey Infanger made a leaping interception to keep Salmon alive.

Soon, Infanger hauled in a 55-yard touchdown reception to pull Salmon within one. Then, on Shelley’s ensuing possession, Infanger picked off Richins again to position Salmon for the win.

Dwight Richins regretted calling pass plays when Shelley’s enemy was the clock and not the scoreboard.

“I feel terrible about those calls,” Dwight Richins said. “Some times I make good calls, and sometimes I make bad calls. That’s part of the game.”

By winning the game, Shelley withstood a virtuoso performance by Infanger, who caught five passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns as well as returning kicks 96 and 59 yards for two more scores.

Salmon ends the year at 5-5. Four losses came by a total of 10 points, including two losses to Shelley by a total of three points.

Shelley will play the winner of the South Fremont-Weiser game in Weiser on Saturday. The semifinal game will be in Holt Arena next week.

Shelley beat Mountain Rivers Conference opponent South Fremont 36-25 when the teams met this season in St. Anthony.

Shelley's Cody Andersen hauls in a pass against Salmon on Thursday at Holt Arena. Robert Bower / rbower@postregister.com

Shelley 28, Salmon 27
Salmon 6 13 0 8 – 27
Shelley 14 0 6 8 – 28

First quarter
Shel – Aaron Adams 27 (kick failed)
Sal – Trey Infanger 96 return (kick failed
Shel – Cody Andersen 77 pass from Chase Richins (Adams run)

Second quarter
Sal – Infanger 59 punt return (run failed)
Sal – Infanger 10 pass from Riley Sessions (Infanger kick)

Third quarter
Shel – Adams 1 (pass failed)

Fourth quarter
Shel – Gabe Nii 1 (Andersen pass from Richins)
Sal – Infanger 55 pass from Sessions (Infanger run)

Individual statistics

RUSHING – Salmon: Riley Sessions 8- -2, Brady Nettinga 9-46, Derek Blake 3-13, Luke Weaver 1-6, Trey Infanger 1-3. Shelley: Chase Richins 5-16, Aaron Adams 26-208, 2 TD, McCade Bono 2-1, Gabe Nii 8-16, TD, Cory Phillips 1-(-3).

PASSING – Salmon: Riley Sessions 13-28, 160 yards, 2 TD, INT. Shelley: Chase Richins 7-11, 118 yards, TD, 2 INT.

RECEIVING – Salmon: Derek Blake 2-23, Brady Nettinga 2-9, Trey Infanger 5-90, 2 TD, Luke Weaver 1-15, Austin Nooner 2-16, Derek Olson 1-7. Shelley: Aaron Adams 3-10, Cody Andersen 2-80, TD, Jason Christensen 1-14, Gabe Nii 1-(-1).