While the scoreboard has yet to yield results, the Phoenix football team continues to make strides on the field. The Pirates dropped a 41-20 decision at Sutherlin a Far West League game on October 13. Phoenix led early, turning a bad punt snap into a short scoring drive, capped when Erik Calhoun threw a four-yard scoring pass to Sidney McQueen. Sutherlin scored 35 straight points after the early Phoenix touchdown. The Pirates managed a pair of fourth-quarter scores,with touchdowns coming on a pass from Calhoun to Wyatt Dean and a one-yard run by Braeden Winters. Parker Devey ran for 90 yards in the game while Calhoun threw for 134 yards. The Pirates (0-7 on the season) return to action Friday at Lakeview. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.    

Douglas 28, Phoenix 24: The visiting Pirates continue to knock on the door of a Far West League victory, dropping their second four-point game in the past two weeks. Senior Bryson Baird ran for four touchdowns, including the game-winner with 2:13 to play to propel Douglas to a homecoming victory. Phoenix got a big game from Tobias Akpan. The junior hauled in eight receptions for 138 yards, including a pair of touchdowns from classmate Payton Turner. Akpan made a leaping 38-yard catch on a fourth-down play, taking the ball away from a Douglas defender to keep a drive alive before catching a 10-yard scoring pass from Turner on another fourth down to tie the game at 22. Jackson Shilts added a two-point conversion off a direct snap to put Phoenix ahead 24-22 with 3:57 left to play. Douglas countered with its final scoring drive, converting a long third down before Baird capped off a 60-yard drive with a two-yard dive for a score. The senior opened the night's scoring with an 83-yard scamper and added two more touchdown runs before the game-winner. Phoenix moved the ball throughout the game but struggled to score in the first half. The Pirates had the ball in the red zone four times but managed only one touchdown when Kody Martin scored from three yards out in the second quarter to put Phoenix on the board. The Pirates trailed 14-8 at the half before taking a brief 16-14 edge in the third quarter when Akpan tipped a Turner pass to himself for a 13-yard touchdown. Turner hit 10 of 23 passes for 158 yards in the game. Martin led Phoenix in rushing with 65 yards on 18 carries while Akpan led the defensive effort with three sacks. Phoenix (0-4) returns to action Friday at Brookings.   D - Bryson Baird 83-yard run. Maxim kick D - Baird 8-yard run, Maxim kick P - Kody Martin 3-yard run. Jimenez 2-point run P - Akpan 13-yard pass from Turner. Shilts 2-point run D - Biard 15-yard run. Stiles 2-point pass from Robbins P - Akpan 10-yard pass from Turner. Shilts 2-point run   D - Baird 5-yard run, 2-point NG   P 0 8 8 8 - 24 D 7 7 8 6 - 28

The Phoenix football team is closing in on a win. The Pirates were hoping it would take place at home when they hosted nearby rival St. Mary's in what ended as a tough 10-6 loss at Jack Woodward Stadium. Phoenix (0-3 on the season) was competitive for the entire contest as it looked to end a streak of losses dating back to 2019. The Pirates trailed 10-0 in the first half before stopping the Crusaders for the remainder of the night. Meanwhile, the PHS offense got untracked when sophomore Cody Martin broke free for a 65-yard scoring run int he second quarter. Martin finished the game with 125 yards on 12 carries. The Pirates were on the verge of taking the lead late in the first half but a drive was stopped inside the five-yard line as time expired. The score stayed the same for ther rest of the night as both teams threatened but were unable to hit paydirt again. Junior Derek Corder, who had a big defensive game (finishing with 11 tackles), recovered an onside kick to open the second half, igniting a drive that was highlighted by a 45-yard reception by Wyatt Dean from Payton Turner. A pair of holding calls and an interception stalled the drive in what was the Pirates best chance to score for the rest of the night. Turner threw for 107 yards on the night. Phoenix returns to action on Friday when it visits Douglas. Kickoff is set for 7 pm in Winston.