The goal was clear for Lebanon entering its homecoming football game against Silverton on Friday: Win and clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2006.

The Warriors did just that.

Colton Scavone scored two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner with a little more than a minute left, as Lebanon shook off the rust from last week and slipped past the visiting Foxes 21-14.

"We were so proud of the boys and the way they came back from last week," coach Rob Allen said. "They buckled down and made it happen."

The Warriors clinched at least the fourth and final Mid-Willamette Conference seed to the state playoffs.

If they win Friday at Dallas, they will take the third seed and host a playoff game. If they're fourth, they'll play on the road.

The playoffs weren't guaranteed, especially considering how the Warriors played against Woodburn on Oct. 23, when they handed the Bulldogs their first conference win in four years.

"The kids needed to get back to believing in themselves and what they can do when they put their minds to it," Allen said. "I'm just so proud of them because of that."

Troy Sinn opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run to put Silverton up 7-0 with 7:01 left in the first quarter.

It was the first play after a controversial fumble by the Warriors.

Quarterback Colton Scavone threw what looked to be a forward pass that was knocked down at the line of scrimmage.

The play was ruled a backward pass and Silverton recovered the loose ball to set up Sinn's score.

Lebanon kept its composure and tied the game at 7 when Scavone scored from two yards out with 3:40 left in the first.

Both teams again traded touchdowns in the second quarter.

Dakota Koenig caught a 38-yard pass from quarterback Nic Reinhard with 10:39 left before halftime.

Ben Duerr, who split time with Scavone at quarterback, responded for the Warriors with a two-yard touchdown run to knot the game at 14 heading into the half.

Defense was the name of the game in the second half.

Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter and most of the fourth.

Scavone put Lebanon on top for good with 1:12 left in the game.

The Warriors picked up a couple of important first downs to eat away at the clock.

The game ended on a Silverton pass that fell incomplete.

"(Defensively we were) way better than last week," running back Josiah Olson said. "Our line was at the top of its game."

Lebanon got a group effort out of several of its running backs.

Adam Colwell led the way with 81 yards on 17 carries. Duerr added 34 yards on 13 carries, Scavone had 24 yards on eight carries and Olson chipped in 18 yards on six carries.

Silverton had 195 passing yards.

"Silverton executes its passing game really, really well," Allen said.

The Warriors hope to duplicate the success it found in 2006, when they won three playoffs games.

Lebanon plays at Dallas (2-6, 2-4 MWC) on Friday. The Dragons beat Woodburn 14-8 last Friday.

"This is the biggest game of the year for us right now," Allen said.

Lebanon 21, Silverton 14

Silverton 7 7 0 0 -14

Lebanon 7 7 0 7 -21

First quarterSil: Sinn 2 run (No. 7 kick)

 

Leb: Scavone 2 run (Duerr kick)

Second quarterSil: Koenig 38 pass from Reinhard (Gould kick)

 

Leb: Duerr 2 run (Duerr kick)

Fourth quarterLeb: Scavone 1 run (Duerr kick)

 

Individual statistics

Rushing: Lebanon, Colwell 17-81, Duerr 13-34, Scavone 8-24, Olson 6-18, Richards 3-(-2).

Receiving: Lebanon, Richards 4-66, Urrutia 1-4.

Passing: Lebanon, Duerr 3-12-65, Scavone 2-2-24.