Gods stay above Potatoheads

Olympia didn't win quite the way did in their regular season meeting, holding Idaho to only six points, but QB Xavier Onassis pulled out even more fireworks and bombs this time as perhaps the biggest surprise playoff team justified being here in a thriller.

After taking the lead on the opening drive, Olympia gave up a safety and TD then chased Idaho the rest of the game. In the fourth quarter, Onassis struck twice on long bomb TD plays with WR Carson Trucks, one of 77 yards, one of 66, each a single-play drive, but each time only catching up to within two points of Idaho. But then Onassis took the lead for good after stopping Idaho, passing 35 yards to RB Fredo Nutten to the Idaho 28 yard-line, then three plays later taking it in himself from 20 yards out.

While it was Idaho who was expected to shut down Olympia's receivers, Onassis still picked the Potatoheads apart while the Gods held Idaho to 191 yards passing. Both Idaho running backs Roy Dreige and Ruud van Nastibooy, had more then 100 yards rushing, as the Potatoheads looked to control possession, but they could not stop the big plays. Van Nastibooy had a 47-yard TD run in the third quarter to put Idaho up 23-14, and it appeared they had taken charge of the game.

While Idaho seemed the only team left who could really compete with Casper, Olympia in the same division finished off the most surprising season, thanks mostly to Onassis. The Gods will now go to Abilene for a conference semi matchup.

Natives crash Cliffs

Columbus ran away from Montgomery in the second half, confirming an early regular season win and advancing to the Eastern semis against top-seeded Connecticut.

Columbus QB Bug Zappa had TE Phil Awful to his advantage. Awful led all receivers and scored a TD on a reception and another rushing, and was the major Native weapon Montgomery could not contend with. He helped Zappa to 312 yards passing, though 114 of that also came from WR Gunther Pott, who completed a 46-yard play for the punctuation TD in the fourth quarter. Columbus RB Dave Rath rushed for 75 yards and a TD.

For the Cliffs, RB Elvis Eros was the best offense they could muster, as Columbus effectively neutralized their passing game. QB Elian Spahn had only 152 yards passing. TE Rob Beef had 5 catches for 51 yards, while the starting wide receivers, Doug Deep and Juan Abifri, had only the former's one catch for 9 yards between them.