HEPPNER – This season, the Heppner defense has held opponents to 66 total points through 11 games. 28 of those points came in a win in September versus Kennedy, the Mustangs’ archrivals. That defense again came through as the Mustangs downed Weston-McEwen, 40-0 in quarterfinal action of the state 2A playoffs.
Heppner was able to put points on the board in the first half courtesy of long drives. The first touchdown came off a 1-yard run by Caden George for the first score followed by Landon Mitchell on the quarterback keeper for a 14-0 margin at the half.
It was George again in the third on an 11-yard run for the Mustang’s third score of the game. Heppner exploded in the fourth quarter for three scores starting with Brock Hisler’s carry for 16 yards for the score. Jace Coe then got into the action with a 39-yard scoring run.
The defense scored the last points of the game for Heppner as Coner Brosnan scooped up a TigerScots fumbler and returned the ball 25 yards for the defensive points on the board.
Keeping with the Heppner game plan of running the ball, Hisler had 18 carries for 109 yards and the score. Mitchell kept the ball seven times for 40 yards while going 6-for-11 passing for 45 yards and one interception. Coe had three carries for 81 yards and a score.
Photo Gallery – Heppner v Weston-McEwen – Kirsti Cason
Heppner ended the game with 301 yards of total offense.
Hisler led the Mustang defense with eight tackles and Brosnan added seven tackles. A host of Mustang players, Blaine Mahoney, Toby Nation and Tucker Ashbeck, had six tackles each.
Heppner will now face fourth-ranked Coquille on Saturday, Nov. 20 at McMinnville High School in semi-final action. Game time is noon.
In the loss, Weston-McEwen ended the game with 76 total offensive yards. Blaine Peal went 5-for-20 passing for 38 yards. Levie Phillips was the bulk of the offense, carrying the ball 14 times for 46 yards.
The TigerScots ended the season with an 8-2 overall record and a second-place finish in the 2A Special District 5 behind Heppner.
