By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ
HEPPNER — Alakae Rodriguez returned an interception for a touchdown, and had 10 tackles as Heppner beat Weston-McEwen 20-0 on Friday, Oct. 11, for a Blue Mountain Conference win at Les Payne Field.
“Alakae is right in the middle of most things we do,” Heppner coach Greg Grant said. “I thought he gave a tremendous effort.”
On the night, Heppner rolled up 234 yards rushing, while holding the TigerScots to 173 yards of offense.
“They ran an 8-man front on us and we had trouble blocking and making decisions,” Grant said. “For the most part, we were able to move the ball. I really thought the offensive line took control of the game in the second half.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Rodriguez got the Mustangs on the board in the second with a pick six off a throw by Weston-McEwen’s Jace Dunlap.
Heppner added to its lead before the half as Mason Orem connected with Nick Wenberg for a 19-yard touchdown for a 12-0 lead.
Tripp Stewart scored the final touchdown for the Mustangs in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard run. Rodriguez ran the ball in for the 2-point conversion.
On defense, Rodriguez had 10 tackles, while Zach Brown had seven, and Orem, Jaime Cavan and Landon McMahon each had five. Stewart and Brown each had fumble recoveries, while Orem had an interception.
The Mustangs (6-0 overall, 3-0 BMC) have allowed just 50 points in six games, making them one of the stingiest 2A teams in the state.
For the TigerScots, Easton Berry completed 8 of 19 passes for 69 yards and one interception. He also ran for 35 yards. Dunlap, who threw for 25 yards, also ran for 42.
“Les (Payne) and I were talking about how they moved the ball some, but we made the plays we needed to keep the ball out of the end zone. We contained Easton Berry and did not let him get away. I thought we played their screen game really well. Good job by the kids to sticking with the plan and playing fundamental.”
The TigerScots fell to 1-2 in the BMC standings. They will host Irrigon on Oct. 18.
PERRYDALE 30, PILOT ROCK 20 — Carter VanHouten threw three touchdown passes, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Rockets fell to the Pirates on the road in a Special District 3 game.
“It was a game we could have won,” Pilot Rock coach Shane Munkers said. “We ran the ball really well in the first half, then they shut that down. We threw pretty well in the second half.”
VanHouten threw his first touchdown pass to Tracen Hamby, the second to Krister Litfin, and the final one to freshman Gage Williams — his first touchdown of the season.
Williams also had an interception on defense.
“Krister and Carter played pretty big roles on defense with each having double digit tackles,” Munkers said.
The Rockets (0-6 overall, 0-2 SD3) will host Country Christian on Oct. 18.
