The Phoenix football team made a statement on Saturday night. And they kept making them.

Hosting a Class 4A play-in contest in what was the only high school game in the Medford area on Satuday night, the Pirates  left little doubt about what they had accomplished during the regular season as well as where they might be heading in the post-season in a 60-13 shellacking of Newport at Jack Woodward Stadium.

PHS scored early and often, rolling up a 46-7 halftime lead. The firepower that led PHS to the sixth spot in the state's final computer rankings of the season was on a full display as the Pirates turned in a dominating performance on both sides of the ball. Phoenix rolled up 503 yards of offense while limiting the visiting Cubs to only 108 yards in the game.

The win was the fifth straight for the Pirates (7-2 overall) and advanced them to the first round of the OSAA playoffs, where they will host LaGrande on Friday night (7 pm kickoff).

Other than a kickoff return for a score in the first half and third-quarter drive that resulted in a touchdown, the Newport offense found little luck against a defense that continues to improve. Phoenix seized control of the game on both sides of the line of scrimmage, scoring seven times in the first two quarters. Typically a standout on defense, Mason Firestone led the offensive surge, running for three touchdowns before halftime. Javon Gail threw scoring strikes to Jonathan Halligan and Nick Goff while also running for a score. Dylan Knudson returned from a shoulder injury suffered earlier in the month and added a running touchdown. Cori Romig scored a pair of running touchdowns in the second half to finish off Newport.

A total of 302 running yards featured gapping holes opened by an offensive line, which like the of the team is getting healthy for the PHS playoff run. And it looks like that "run" could last for a while.