IMBLER — On paper, Imbler had the advantage. The football team was playing at home and possessed the better seed, and the black and orange were riding a six-game winning streak. The issue came when someone forgot to tell St. Paul.

The fifth-seed Buckaroos stunned No. 4 Imbler, 34-22, on Saturday, Nov. 11, in quarterfinal action of the OSAA Class 1A 8-man state playoffs.

“This was a game where explosive plays hurt us,” Imbler head coach Dustan Adams said. “St. Paul did a great job handling us on the defensive side.”

Panther fans saw the two teams tied up early, and the Buckaroos led only by a score of 14-6 at the half. The game was tied early in the third quarter, but late scores in the fourth quarter by St. Paul sent Panthers fans home disappointed.

Game and individual statistics were not available.

“We had a good year and this team has nothing to be ashamed of,” Adams said.

Imbler closes the season with a 8-2 overall record, good enough for a second-place showing in the 1A 8-man Special District 2 standings.

When Imbler takes the field next season, the coach will be without seniors Trevor Treat, Henry Treat, Jeremiah Martin, Jared McKaig, Dallin Rasmussen, Kale Bingaman, Jack Fisher, Eli Mola and Justin Frost.

“The seniors are a big part of what we have accomplished,” Adams said. “Most of these kids have played all four years and have seen a lot of time on the field for those four years. We have a talented group of freshmen coming and we are looking forward to this year’s eighth graders finally getting into high school.”