RIVALRY REVISITED: La Grande quarterback Landon Weaver hands off to Jeremy Blakely Friday against Baker City. Weaver rushed for 195 yards, rushed for a touchdown and passed for a touchdown in the Tigers 20-14 win. (For The Observer/KATHY ORR).

Cameron Parkinson

The Observer

BAKER CITY The La Grande football team improved to 2-0 in the Greater Oregon League with a 20-14 victory in Baker City Friday.

"We talked about the rivalry game all week and the kids came out and played a great game," said La Grande head coach Lance Lovitt.

La Grande fell behind 14-0 after Baker capitalized on a first half interception, but rallied back with two third quarter touchdowns.

The Tigers controlled the ball in the fourth for the win over the league rivals.

"We went in at halftime and made some adjustments," Lovitt said. "Then we just came out and played La Grande football."

La Grand held Baker to 161 total yards of offense and didn’t allow any second half points.

"They did a great job," said Baker head coach David Johnson. "They are a well coached team and they deserved the win today."

La Grande quarterback Landon Weaver’s third quarter 26-yard touchdown run tied the game for the Tigers 14-14.

"I just made the read and the hole opened up," Weaver said. "Everything went in slow motion. I had some great blocks and I got into the end zone."

Weaver rushed for 195 yards on 20 carries, threw for 71 yards and caught one pass for 13 yards while accounting for two of La Grande’s three touchdowns. Weaver also threw three interceptions.

"It was a slow start and it was great to comeback and win," Weaver said.

La Grande’s Jeremy Blakely caught an 11-yard pass from Weaver, putting La Grande up for the first time of the game 20-14.

"To be down two scores and come back like that will help us later if we get into another situation like this," Lovitt said.

Tiger running back Jordan Lanman rushed for La Grande’s first score in the second quarter and finished with 43 yards on eight carries.

La Grande was cheered on by a large crowd of traveling Tiger fans who were often louder than the home Baker crowd.

"We’ve got to thank the twelfth man," Weaver said, pointing toward the stands. "The fans helped a lot."

With the win La Grande claimed sole possession of first place in the GOL.

"I don’t care if we can’t get into the top 15 tomorrow," Lovitt said. "We have to take the GOL title and get our respect that way."

La Grande 20, Baker City 14

La Grande 0 7 13 0 – 20

Baker 7 7 0 0 – 14

B – Suitter 35 run (Howerton kick)

B – Taylor 30 pass from Suitter (Howerton kick)

L – Lanman 1 run (Lanman kick)

L – Weaver 26 run (Lanman kick)

L – Blakely 11 pass from Weaver (kick failed)

RUSHING – La Grande, Weaver 20-195, Lanman 8-43, Blakely 7-38, Burgess 5-24, Sofe 3-9. Baker, Taylor 13-29, Suitter 10-24, Collard 5-19, Lincecum 1-9, Brose 2-6, Banta 3-4.

PASSING – La Grande, Weaver 8-20-3-71, Burgess 1-1-0-13, Willmarth 0-1-0-0. Baker, Suitter 6-14-2-70, Howerton 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING – La Grande, Willmarth 2-13, Helou 2-9, Fox 2-5, Spencer 1-33, Weaver 1-13, Blakely 1-11. Baker, Howerton 3-38, Taylor 1-30, Collard 1-2, Kercheski 1-0.