With a perfect regular season on the line, the Hockinson Hawks defense was not about to rest.
Limiting R.A. Long to 93 yards of total offense, Hockinson completed a 9-0 regular season and wrapped up the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League championship. A win by R.A. Long (6-3, 4-2) would have meant a three-team tie for the league title.
“Our defense was spectacular. A complete team effort,” Hockinson coach Rick Steele said.
The Hawks next will host Black Hills for a Class 2A District 4 playoff game.
Two big plays gave the Hawks a 13-0 halftime lead.
Tommy Harshaw scored on a 62-yard run to give Hockinson a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. A 23-yard run by Austen Johnson made it 13-0 in the second quarter.
A 54-yard pass play from Conner Wallace to Payton Miller got the Lumberjacks within 13-7 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, a successful fake punt advanced R.A. Long to the Hockinson 33, but the Lumberjacks lost a fumble on the next play. The Hawks then went on a long drive before losing a fumble deep in Lumberjacks territory.
Take away the 54-yard touchdown and 26-yard fake punt pass and the Lumberjacks produced only 13 yards of offense.
Harshaw ran for 118 yards on 14 attempts, and Johnson finished with 98 yards on 21 carries.
“It’s a good feeling being No. 1 and going 9-0 for the first time. A (league) championship is nice,” Steele said.
HOCKINSON 13, R.A. LONG 7
Hockinson 7 6 0 0—13
R.A. Long 0 0 7 0— 7
First quarter
H — Tommy Harshaw 62 run (Quentin Bodenhamer kick)
Second quarter
H — Austen Johnson 23 run (kick failed)
Third quarter
RAL — Payton Miller 54 pass from Conner Wallace (Raul Balbuena kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING — Hockinson: Harshaw 14-118, Johnson 21-98, Joe Davis 6-26, Steven Carlisle 3-11, Jacob Pearrow 2-9, Mitch Lines 5-(minus 1). RAL: Lucky Davis 18-29, Wallace 3-(minus 2), Riley Opgrande 2-(minus 4).
PASSING — Hockinson: Lines 1-3-0-(minus 3). RAL: Wallace 6-20-0-70.
RECEIVING — Hockinson: Johnson 1-(minus 3). RAL: Miller 4-88, Ryan Geier 2-5, Hunter Jones 1-3.
