Polson continues winning streak against Ronan

Polson continued its winning streak against Mission Valley rival Ronan, defeating the Chiefs for the fifth-straight time in a 48-10 Western A victory at home on Friday, Sept. 15. The Pirates also returned to the .500 mark (2-2), which will be key heading down the stretch of conference play.

“I feel like every week, we put new wrinkles in the offense and defense,” Polson Head Coach Carson Oakland said. “Kids are grasping it pretty well. We want to be playing our best football in late October and November by improving week by week, staying focused, and being locked in. Obviously, we didn’t start the season the way we wanted and experienced a little adversity.”

Still, the Pirates approached this rivalry game by focusing on what they could control after an 0-2 start to the year. It was very clear that Polson quarterback Holden Emerson was an offensive force, rushing for 124 yards on the ground and three touchdowns while throwing for 220 yards and another score.

“It’s a little bit different from the passing offense in the past,” Oakland said. “We’re running first to open up the passing game. Holden has done a great job taking care of the football and running hard downhill.”

Oakland added having a running quarterback makes it hard on the defense, and Emerson has made impressive progress as a sophomore QB.

With the homecoming festivities off the field, Polson kept its head in the game. In the first quarter, Emerson scored on a one-yard run for the 6-0 lead. Ronan answered back with a 28-yard field goal by Jason Matthew Teague II. Emerson rushed for another touchdown to put the Pirates up 12-3 after one quarter of play.

Polson would then pile it on in the second quarter. Emerson scored on his third touchdown run of the evening to go up 20-3. Ronan did get a touchdown pass from Kolby Finley to Laurance Lozeau to make it 20-10, but the floodgates then opened for the Pirates.

Uriah Ulutoa punched the ball in from two yards out, and then Tommy Sherry hauled in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Emerson for the 35-10 halftime lead.

After a scoreless third, Polson got another touchdown run from Ulutoa, and then Brenden Griffin rounded out the scoring on a 50-yard interception return.

“Our defense has stepped up a lot these past two weeks, and they understand their assignments,” Oakland said. “Our offense puts points on the board, but our defense has been able to get the ball back in the hands of them.”

Daniel O’Roake had 47 yards on six carries for the Pirates, while Ulutoa had 10 carries for 33 yards. Ronan’s Michael Ramirez had 23 yards on the ground off eight carriers, and Finley had 23 yards off eight carries.

Finley went 8-for-25 for 101 yards passing. Lozeau had four catches for 84 yards.

Ronan fell to 2-2 on the year.

At Polson

POLSON 48, RONAN 10

Ronan - 3 - 7 - 0 - 0 - 10

Polson - 12 - 23 - 0 - 13 - 48

SCORING SUMMARY

P — Holden Emerson 1 run (kick failed)

R — Jason Matthew Teague II 28 FG

P — Emerson 5 run (pass failed)

P — Emerson 1 run (Tommy Sherry pass from Emerson)

R — Laurance Lozeau from Kolby Finley (Teague kick)

P — Uriah Ulutoa 2 run (Ulutoa run)

P — Sherry 43 pass from Emerson (Lucian Sawyer kick)

P — Ulutoa 5 run (Sawyer kick)

P — Brenden Griffin 50 interception return (kick failed)