Heppner, OR– Last season Heppner made the four-hour trip to Clatskanie and came up empty-handed after a 46-0 rout on opening night. The feeling sat with them for over a year and they got their shot at revenge Friday Night.
The first quarter was scoreless, and the defenses stood strong. Although in the quarter, Clatskanie’s all-state lineman Timber Zea injured his hand which would eventually keep him out the entire contest. Two minutes into the second quarter, Heppner junior Jayden Wilson, took a quarterback keeper in from 20 yards to score the first points of the contest. After the teams exchanged a few stalled drives, Clatskanie’s James Helmen threw a 34 yard pass that connected to fellow senior Sam Shockley, to bring the Tigers within one. The two point conversion from the Tigers was stuffed by the Mustang defense. It looked as if the game would be 6-7 at half but a short kickoff from Clatskanie sophomore Andre Combs allowed Heppner to get it to the Clatskanie 41 yard-line. A few plays later, the Mustangs pulled out a “flea-flicker” where junior Jackson Lehman found his senior brother Mason from 11 yards out that would put Heppner up 13-6 at the break.
After both teams exchanged three-and-outs, Heppner’s Jayden Wilson found Mason Lehmen who realed in a pass from 55 yards for the touchdown. The Mustangs would then fake the extra point and power the ball in to go up 21-6 with six minutes left in the third. Clatskanie would immediatley respond after converting on a few third downs, the Tigers drove 60 yards down the field, and Helmen punched in a touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 3. Again the Tigers would go for two, attempting the same play they had just scored on, but the Mustangs stopped them just short of the goaline. With a minute to go in the 3rd Quarter, Heppner led 21-12. On Heppner’s opening 4th quarter drive they would punt, but quickly got the ball back after Mustang sophomore Kason Cimmiyotti caught a deep interception. Heppner would take this momentum and drain five minutes of clock going down the field, and with six minutes to go Jayden Wilson punched it in from three yards out. Heppner would attempt the two-point conversion to go up three possessions but Clatskanie snuffed it out and stopped them short. With six minutes left to go in the contest, Heppner led 27-12. But just like they had all night, Clatskanie responded. A quick two minute drive was capped off with James Helmen hitting junior Jkari Combs in stride for a 44 yard score. The Tigers then put the game on the line by going for two, which if they didn’t convert the contest surely would’ve been
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