The odds were stacked against Lebanon from the get-go.

The Warriors were playing at two-time defending 5A state champion West Albany, a team that beat them 55-0 in Lebanon last year.

It also was the Bulldogs homecoming game, which marked the return of Anthony LaCoste, considered by many as one of the best running backs in the state.

Despite it all, Lebanon was able to make a game out of it before falling 34-20.

LaCoste, a senior who missed the two previous games due to a knee injury, made his return against the Warriors.

It's safe to say he's healthy again.

LaCoste ran for 231 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns.

"He's got great speed and he's really strong," Lebanon coach Rob Allen said.

LaCoste opened the scoring on a 26-yard run with 8:42 left in the first quarter to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

West Albany quarterback Nick Orsborn then found Chase Thomas on a five-yard touchdown pass with 11:55 left in the second quarter.

Paul McHenry scored from two yards out with more than nine minutes left to give West Albany a commanding 20-0 halftime lead.

Lebanon fought back in the second half.

Brendon Richards returned the opening kickoff in the second half 92 yards for a touchdown to close the gap to 20-7.

LaCoste responded with a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Colton Scavone, who replaced L.T. Avants at quarterback in the second half, scored two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late for Lebanon.

"We just had a few breakdowns and they took advantage of them, which a really good team will do," Allen said.

Scavone, a senior who started at quarterback last season, finished with 84 yards rushing on 14 carries.

"He came in and did a good job for us," Allen said.

Avants was replaced because he had a sore shoulder, Allen said.

Adam Colwell added 36 yards on 10 carries and Tance Privratsky chipped in 23 yards on five carries.

Junior Cameron Thompson led the Warriors receivers with 64 yards on four receptions.

The Warriors fell to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mid-Willamette Conference.

They have three games remaining against the bottom teams in the conference.

If they win them all, Lebanon will make the playoffs.

"The toughest part of our schedule is out of the way," Allen said. "Our playoff hopes are still alive and kicking."

Next up is a game at Woodburn on Friday.

Woodburn is 2-5 overall and 0-4 in conference play, but Allen said the Warriors will be prepared.

"They're doing a good job of rebuilding and they're much improved from last year, so we're looking for a tough game," Allen said.

West Albany 34, Lebanon 20

Lebanon 0 0 7 13 -20

West Albany 7 13 7 7 -34

First quarter

WA: LaCoste 26 run (Davis kick)

Second quarter

WA: Thomas 5 pass from Osborn (kick failed)

WA: McHenry 2 run (Davis kick)

Third quarter

Leb: Richards 92 kickoff return (Scavone kick)

WA: LaCoste 2 run (Davis kick)

Fourth quarter

Leb: Scavone 9 run (kick failed)

WA: LaCoste 54 run (Davis kick)

Leb: Scavone 2 run (Scavone kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing: Lebanon, Scavone 14-84, Colwell 10-36, Privratsky 5-23, Avants 5-0, Richards 1-11, Olson 1-4.

Passing: Lebanon, Avants 6-12-60, Scavone 6-15-58.

Receiving: Thompson 4-64, Richards 7-24, Pruett 2-30.