PORTLAND – As Chris Taylor struggled to his feet following the opening kickoff of Saturday’s State Class B title game, he had no idea of the impact he just made.

Mountain Valley’s sophomore reserve lineman had knocked the ball loose from Winslow returnman Jared Maroon with a bone-jarring collision. The hit was so hard at the middle of the field that the ball bounded away about 15 yards toward the Winslow sidelines where it was recovered by Mountain Valley’s Devin Roberts.

The hard hit also knocked the wind out of Taylor. It was a small price to pay for igniting a 21-7 win and the Falcons’ first state title.

A few plays later the Falcons would capitalize on a two yard touchdown run by tailback Aaron Arsenault.

“(Maroon’s) knees went right into my stomach,” said Taylor who didn’t realize he had caused a fumble until after he pulled himself off the turf.

“We look at some of these young guys to give us all they can for one play,” said Falcon defensive co-cordinator Ryan Casey on the special team’s contributions. “It’s great to see a kid work his way into such a (small role) and make a huge play that meant something in this game.”

Taylor’s hit forced the first of five Winslow turnovers. The Falcons caused five fumbles, recovering three while also intercepting a pair of Stephen Siviski passes. Each time a Falcon defender would tackle a ball carrier, there’d be two more trying to rip the ball free.

“That’s been our strength all year,” said Mountain Valley coach Jim Alyward about being on the plus side of the turnover ratio. “We practice and teach the first guy making the tackle and the second and third guys coming in to strip the ball. People don’t realize that’s by design. We stress putting a helmet on the ball to cause a fumble.”

The Falcons went up 13-0 late in the first quarter on fumble number two by the Black Raiders. Siviski faked a hand off near midfield and turned around to see three Falcons bearing in. Chris Lever was the first to get to the Winslow signal caller. As Lever bear hugged the quarterback, the ball squirted loose.

“That was crap luck,” said Lever of the fumble. “I just tied him up so he couldn’t throw.”

Pat Knapp was the second Falcon onto the scene. The ball bounced right into his arms with nothing but vacant real estate in front of him. He returned the fumble 45 yards for the insurance score.

“I didn’t think I could run that fast,” said Knapp. “I just booked it.”

The Falcons ball hawking didn’t stop there. Chris Smith picked off Siviski in the third quarter to end one Winslow drive.

Shawn Marr’s interception on the final offensive play by the Black Raiders fittingly put the finishing touches on the defensive masterpiece by the Falcons and triggered a sideline celebration by the Mountain Valley contingent.