Stevens, Roper have big games in 22-20 loss

PLUMMER — Battling injuries and a 20 mph wind, sophomore quarterback Wade Stevens threw for three touchdown passes, but a late comeback attempt fell short as the Wampus Cats lost 22-20 to Timberline in a White Star League season finale Friday night at Lakeside High School. 

After a scoreless first half, almost unheard of in the eight-man game, the two teams traded touchdowns in the second, with the Wampus Cats (5-3) driving for the winning score in the final minute before an interception ended their season.

“We lost a heartbreaker. I told the guys afterward that I’d go into a foxhole with those guys any day. Their heart and their fight, they fought their butts off to the end,” praised head coach Brian Arthun. “It was really impressive.”

Already thin with injuries, the Cats lost Jensen Heisel and Tyler Hammack to injuries, and running back Taylor Davis hurt his leg early in the game. With a thin line and not much running game, Stevens was forced to carry much of the load through the air, and he found Dylan Roper on scoring strikes of 25 and 45 yards, and Bryant Stevens on a 65-yard strike.

“Wade had a great game despite the high winds,” said Arthun of his two-way starter, who finished with 213 yards passing and a bunch of tackles. “He stepped up and carried us offensively.”

Roper had a big game on both sides of the ball as well, hauling in six catches for 120 yards, and also nabbing two picks.

Despite all of the setbacks, the young Cats nearly pulled off another big win.

“This season has been horrible as far as the injury bug. It was next man up,” said Arthun, who already had a thin bench. “We weren’t able to control the line of scrimmage. Dylan had an amazing game.”