HERMISTON – As the 2A high school season wound down, the Heppner Mustangs continued to win games, ending the regular season undefeated. Even with the march, the number one ranking continued to go towards the defending champion Kennedy Trojans. As the two offensive powerhouses met for a state title on Saturday at Kennison Field, defense, not offense, proved to be the deciding factor. Heppner, by way of a 12-7 victory, took the field as the 2A Oregon state championship team.
The game started looking like a scoring shootout. With just 54 seconds off the clock, the Mustangs were on the board after a 56-yard run by Jayden Wilson. With the point after pass going wide and unsuccessful, the Mustangs led 6-0.
Fans attending the game were not to see either team put further points on the board until midway in the final quarter. In the interim, defense and turnovers were the keys to the game.
Mustang fans had their worries just before the half. With Heppner driving down the field, Wilson’s pass was picked off by Kennedy’s Jamarcus Martinez. Martinez then started a run down the home side of the field, dodging tacklers. With the clock showing zero on time left, Martinez was finally tripped up by Jackson Lehman inside the Heppner 20, ending the half.
Heppner picked up the team’s second score with 5 minutes, 35 seconds left in the game. Starting the drive earlier, the Mustangs marched 77 yards in nine plays, culminating in a 2-yard run by Wilson for a 12-0 margin.
Kennedy scored with only 45 seconds left in the game on a 13-yard pass play from Dylan Kleinschmit to David Reyes.
The Trojans attempt at on onside kick was foiled when Jason Lehman came up with the recovery to seal the Mustang win.
For two teams known for putting up points during the season, defense was the key to the Heppner win. The Mustangs held the Trojans to 162 total yards of offense and sacked Kleinschmit on four occasions. The Heppner secondary also picked off the Kennedy quarterback twice while holding him 11-for-23 for the day.
The Heppner offense combined for 240 yards with Wilson leading the run game with 84 yards. The Kennedy defense held Blake Wolters to 82 yards. Wilson, in a limited passing game, ended 6-for-13 for 79 yards.
Both Mason Lehman and Brock Hisler led the Mustangs with eight tackles to hold Kennedy to a single score. Jackson Lehman, Wolters and Jace Coe ended the game with five tackles each.
The win marks the third state title for Heppner. The Mustangs took the trophy home in 1992. Heppner waited until 2015 to repeat the feat before Saturday’s victory for the third time.
