Final score: Mazama 55, Klamath Union 24.
The 46th Canal Bowl came early this season as the Vikings and Pelicans faced for the first time in recent memory in a non-league matchup to start the year. It was the first time in 22 years the two schools opened its football season's against each other.
Klamath Union will have all brand new opponents this year as it will be playing against OSAA Class 3A opponents, a part of 3A-SD5 Special District 5.
The Pelicans will face fellow Southern Oregon schools in its new district, which include Lakeview, St. Mary's, Medford, Cascade Christian, North Valley and Phoenix.
New Coach, Memorable Night
Klamath Union welcomed its new head coach, Josh Overstreet, a teacher at Ponderosa Middle School.
Though a very desirable victory against Mazama was not meant to be, Overstreet and his Pelicans impressed the faithful crowd at Modoc Field Thursday night.
It was also the debut for a new quarterback at KU, sophomore, Reese Johnson, who helped KU with four passing touchdowns on the night. It was Johnson who kept the rivalry game with Mazama close in the second quarter after he impressed everyone with a statement to open the anticipated matchup.
In response to a touchdown run to open the game for the Vikings, Johnson amazed all of Modoc Field when he found wide receiver Anthony Weiser alone for a 73-yard touchdown.
The Pels were able to get within one possession of the Vikings in the second quarter when junior Gavin Coe caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to make the game 20-12 with 6:47 left until halftime.
KU had a glimmer of hope and a chance to tie the Vikings when it recovered a fumble on its 3-yard line but fumbled on the ensuing play. The Vikings then pushed on the gas and scored three consecutive touchdowns before a 15-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Octavio Ortega stopped the bleeding, and made the score, 41-18, with 3:53 left in the third quarter.
Off a screen pass from Johnson, Weiser scored the Pels' final points, a 52-yard touchdown with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter.
The sophomore quarterback finished his debut 16-of-23 in passing for 225 yards. Weiser ended with three receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
"I am proud of everyone of our guys for how they played hard today," Overstreet said. "We kept up with Mazama and we kept coming and attacking, without giving up for the entire game. All our players should be very proud."
Canal Bowl History
The 31-point margin was the smallest in a Canal Bowl since 2019.
Klamath Union's 24 points was the most the football program has scored against Mazama since 2013.
This year's Canal Bowl was also the highest-scoring game ever in the series. Thursday night's 79 combined points beat the 68 points set in 2020.
