Hockinson gears up for next week with solid victory

HOCKINSON — Hockinson doesn’t boast the prototypical playmaker who everyone in the stadium knows his name.

That suits Hawks quarterback Jess Krahn just fine.

The senior displayed his vast arsenal of weapons Friday night in a 35-14 Greater St. Helens 2A League-opening home win over Ridgefield.

He spread the wealth among a bevy of skill players, completing 19 passes to nine different receivers while throwing for 228 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score as the Hawks (4-1, 1-0) built a 28-0 second-quarter lead.

“We’ve got a whole stable of guys who can make the medium plays,” Krahn said. “They get you 15-, 30-yard chunks, and that works just as well.”

Hockinson didn’t get caught looking ahead to next week’s showdown with fellow GSHL powerhouse Mark Morris in Longview. The Hawks cashed in on two early fumbles by the Spudders (0-5, 0-1), as Krahn threw short TD passes to Dylan Osborne and Nick Barclay.

“We try to have the same intensity and focus each game, whether the opponent is 4-0 or 0-4,” Krahn said. “But the game at Mark Morris is definitely the biggest game of the year for us. This year, our league is pretty stacked, but that’s the game we’re looking at right now.”

Nick Lines’ fourth-down sack stopped Ridgefield’s most promising drive of the opening half late in the first quarter, and six plays later Krahn hit Kedrick Johnson on a 20-yard TD pass.

Barclay’s 20-yard punt return set up Hockinson’s fourth touchdown, as Krahn powered behind the middle of his line in on fourth down from the 1.

Krahn’s only mistake came late in the second quarter, when Josh Mason jumped a outside route and made a juggling interception that he returned 85 yards for a touchdown, bringing Ridgefield within 28-6 at halftime.

But the Hawks defense wouldn’t let the Spudders mount any type of second-half charge.

Hockinson forced six turnovers, batted down seven passes and held Ridgefield to just 186 yards of total offense.”Our defense has been solid all year,” said Hawks coach Brian Schott. “They’ve kept us in every game this year. They got us some turnovers early today, and that was huge. They got our offense some short fields, and we capitalized on them.”

HOCKINSON 35, RIDGEFIELD 14

Ridgefield 0 6 0 8–14

Hockinson 14 14 7 0–35

First quarter

H — Dylan Osborne 4 pass from Jess Krahn (Quentin Bodenhamer kick)

H — Nick Barclay 11 pass from Krahn (Bodenhamer kick)

Second quarter

H — Kedrick Johnson 20 pass from Krahn (Bodenhamer kick)

H — Krahn 1 run (Bodenhamer kick)

R — Josh Mason 85 interception return (kick failed)

Third quarter

H — Tommy Harshaw 12 run (Thomas Brennan kick)

Fourth quarter

R — Safety, Kevin Kirschenbaum tackled in end zone

R — Mason 3 run (run failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Ridgefield: Jonah Roberts 11-18, Mason 5-16, Nathan Eggleston 5-9, Tyler Adams 1-(minus 6), Nick Martin 1-(minus 5), Tyler Adams 1-6, team 1-(minus 2). Hockinson: Austen Johnson 7-25, Krahn 7-6, Harshaw 7-55, Kirschenbaum 4-(minus 7), Louden Seekins 2-9, William Carlisle 1-2, Jared Oja 1-0, Justin Held 1-0, team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING — Ridgefield: Roberts 8-22-2-141, Martin 1-8-1-9. Hockinson: Krahn 19-30-1-228, Osborne 3-8-0-44.

RECEIVING — Ridgefield: Mason 4-70, Adams 3-19, Eggleston 1-9, Noah Couch 1-52. Hockinson: Barclay 5-30, Taylor Guzman 4-55, Cameron Loos 4-79, Devan Riggs 2-14, K.Johnson 1-20, Osborne 1-4, Held 1-19, A.Johnson 1-5, Justin Anderson 1-11, Mitchell Cotton 1-12, Oja 1-23.