Assistant Coach Bryce Kershner and Coach Billy Wortman react to a fourth-quarter defensive stand by the Adrian/Jordan Valley Antelopes to seal a state championship title on Saturday, Nov. 30, in Hermiston. (Angie Sillonis – Special to the Enterprise)
HERMISTON – The Adrian/Jordan Valley Antelopes came from behind late in the game to score on an 80-year touchdown pass against St. Paul that put the Lopes ahead for good to win the 1A state football championship. The final: 38-32.
The game was played in frigid conditions at Hermiston High School. The Lopes finish the season 13-0.
The Lopes trailed in the fourth quarter, starting at their own 20-yard line with 1:53 left in the game. On the first play in the drive, Conley Martin connected with Mike Babcock on a pass that went into the end zone and Martin finished the game scoring by adding a two-point conversion.
St. Paul started its final drive and an attempt to take back the game from its own 48-yard line but four passed failed, and the Lopes took over on downs with 53 seconds left in the championship game. Adrian/Jordan Valley got off three plays to run out the clock and take the title – the first for Adrian since 2014. Jordan Valley’s Mustangs merged with Adrian in 2017.
The teams were tied 14-14 at the half. St. Paul led 26-22 at the end of the third quarter and went up 32-22 on a 3-yard scoring play with 7:51 left in the game.
Martin accounted for four touchdowns on the ground and one by pass. He rushed 35 times for 201 yards and was 13-for-22 passing with no interceptions for another 237 yards. Babcock had 14 carries for 86 yards.
Assistant Coach Bryce Kershner reacts to a fourth-quarter defensive stand by the Adrian/Jordan Valley Antelopes to seal a state championship title on Saturday, Nov. 30, in Hermiston. (Angie Sillonis – Special to the Enterprise)
The Adrian/Jordan Valley Antelopes poses with their championship trophy in Hermiston after defeating St. Paul 38-32 in the 1A state football title game. Angie Sillonis – Special to the Enterprise)
The head coach is Billy Wortman. The player roster includes:
Birch Eiguren
Robert Garza
Carter Bayes
Sully Ward
Wade Bond
Misael Munoz
Chase Andrade
Sebastian Munoz
Manuel Aguirre
Michael Babcock
Thomas Stephens
Kort Skinner
Jace Martin
Conley Martin
Logan Griffin
Sergio Gomez
Gavin Bayes
Riley Griffin
Adan Bautista
Blaise Warn
Wes Bayes
Logan Vickers
Clay Ready
Toby Clow
Torben Rosenow
Sam Kiely
Brock Bertalotto
Mats Ollenhauer
Don Youren
OTHER PLAYOFF NEWS:
Santiam Christian, which defeated Nyssa and Vale in early rounds of the state 3A football playoffs, won the state title Saturday, defeating Hidden Valley 41-34.
In 4A play, La Grande faces Banks in the state title game, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday.