GOTW: Mazama Football, 6x Skyline Conference Champs
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Jason Ortega, back up fullback for the Vikings powers into the end zone to give the Viks the winning score and securing the 6th consecutive Skyline Conference Championship for Mazama. October 25, 2019 (Image: Brian Gailey / Klamath Falls News)
The Klamath Falls News Game of the Week is presented by CrossFit APE.
Ball placement with 4th and inches to go before an encroachment penalty from Henley moved the ball half as close to the goal line. October 25, 2019. (Image: Brian Gailey / Klamath Falls News)
Hollywood could not have written a more dramatic script to determine the regular season football champion for the Skyline Conference.
The Henley Hornets and the Mazama Vikings came into the game evenly matched and well versed in the opponent’s skills and inabilities. It was a close game throughout, with the entire regular season coming down to just one play - inches from the goal line.
If Mazama scores, the Vikings are champs; if Henley holds, the Hornets are champs.
15-seconds on the clock. Vikings trail the Hornets by 3-points. The ball is just inches goal line, 4th down.
Coach Vic Lease has the option to kick a field goal to tie the game and potentially go into overtime. However, Coach Lease wants to go for the win. He calls up one of the strongest plays in his playbook, a fullback draw. A play that has been solid for them all year long at the hands of Senior Fullback Charlie Baker. Baker proudly carried the team and the ball all season on his broad shoulders. Yet, for the final play, Baker is on the sidelines thanks to an injury he suffered earlier in the game, Junior Fullback Jason Ortega is in.
Vikings break the huddle and come to the line; Henley's defense stands firm inside their own end zone. It all comes down to this.
Down…Set...GO!
In just the blink of an eye - Freshman Center Nate Tramp snaps the ball to Junior Quarterback Tristian Lee who then hands it off to Junior Running Back Jason Ortega. Hornets defense builds a human wall and pushes up to stop the Vikings. The Vikings O-line creates a gap on the left side, Ortega finds the hole, dives forward, Touchdown Vikings.
Aydin Smith kicks the PAT and is good. Vikings now lead 14-10 with 11 seconds remaining on the clock. Henley had one more chance.
On the kickoff Smith drives the ball out of the field of play. 1st and 10 Hornets from their own 20-yard line.
Low shotgun snap to Junior Quarterback Tim Orr, blown dead by the officials – Illegal procedure penalty, moves Henley back 5-yards. 1st and 15, 10 seconds remaining.
Shotgun formation, four receivers left, Orr throws to Junior Tight End Joe Northcutt on a screen pass. Northcutt dances and scrambles his way to the 25-yard line where he is brought down by a group of Vikings.
Horn sounds, end of came, Vikings win 14-10 over the Hornets and claim their sixth Skyline Conference Championship in a row.
More photos below.
Road to the Championship
2019 OSAA 4A Football State Championship. As of 10/27/2019. Click for larger.
The road to the OSAA 4A State Champion ship will roll through Henley and Mazama at least once during the playoffs. OSAA has frozen the rankings following the completion of week-8 and are as follows:
1. Banks, 8-0
2. Mazama, 7-1
3. La Grande, 8-0
4. North Marion, 6-2
5. Marist Catholic, 7-1
6. Gladstone, 6-2
7. Henley, 7-1
8. Baker, 5-3
9. Cascade, 7-1
These first 9 schools have automatically qualified for the OSAA 4A State Championship and have been seeded in the playoff bracket. The remainder of the teams will be inserted into the bracket following the play-in games to be held on November 1.
• Valley Catholic @ The Dalles
• Crook County @ North Valley
• Sweet Home @ Estacada
• Tillamook @ Elmira
Both Henley and Mazama will be hosting first round playoff games on November 8, 2019. Henley will host the 10th seed, Mazama will host the 15th seed.
According to the OSAA 4A State Championship playoff bracket as it stands today, if both Henley and Mazama win in the first round, Mazama will host Henley on November 15, in the Quarterfinals.
GOTW Week 8 Statistics
Team Stats
GOTW Week 8: Game Leaders
GOTW Photos
Senior Night
Friday night was Senior Night at Mazama High School. The following senior athletes were honored in a ceremony before the game.
Charlie Baker
Cadence Baltz
Nate Beck
Trevon Daniels
Blake Englestadter
Jullin Gardner
Isaac Hagerty
Cooper Hamilton
Chris Heath
Ben Hoegee
Justin Ivy
Chadow Rivera
Aydin Smith
Brenden Valdez
Jacob Wyatt
Connor Wynne
Homecoming
Not only was it senior night for Mazama it was also home coming. A video from the halftime homecoming celebration is below. Courtesy Mazama High School’s Facebook Page.
Thriller
In addition to the crowing of the Homecoming King and Queen the Mazama Marching Band, the Tsunami of Sound, performed Michael Jacksons’ Thriller at halftime.
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