HEPPNER, Ore.-The Heppner High School Football Team will play Lost River for the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) 2A Football State Championship on November 29.
The Mustangs backed up a dominant regular season, where they went undefeated in league play, by posting back-to-back playoff shutouts against Nestucca and Lowell, before punching their ticket to the title game with a 56-16 takedown of St. Paul.
“As good as our offense is, I would say our defense is better,” said Heppner Head Coach Robert Wilson. “Our defense puts us in great positions to score.”
Heppner dominated both sides of the ball this season, posting five shutouts and holding opponents to single digits in five other games. Offensively, the team was only held below 40 points once.
For Coach Wilson, Heppner’s focus on team success has made this season special, with players genuinely happy for each other and not concerned about individual statistics.
Nine Seniors suited up for Heppner this year, with four of them anchoring the line, and their dedication has not been lost on their first-year head coach.
“These young men have been a great example of what it means to lead,” said Coach Wilson. “They come ready every day to work hard and get better. They are the true meaning of what it means to be a Mustang.”
Heppner played Lost River in an early season non-league game, handing the Raiders their only loss of the season 43-8.
The stakes are much higher this time around, and the Mustangs are staying hungry and not taking the game for granted.
“Lost River is a very good team,” said Coach Wilson. “All season long we’ve been focused on faceless opponents. If we play our style of football and trust in each other, then we can say at the end of the day we left it all out there, win or lose.”
Heppner will be looking for its fourth state title in school history, and the first since 2019, when it takes on Lost River, from Merrill, Oregon, about 24 miles Southeast of Klamath Falls, this weekend, and Coach Wilson knows the community is behind the Mustangs.
“Winning a title is always a great accomplishment, and the community is very supportive of Heppner Football,” said Coach Wilson. “My hope is that the boys take away all the memories from this season and don’t take them for granted.”
Kickoff of the OSAA 2A Football State Championship between Heppner and Lost River is set for 1 p.m. from Summit High School in Bend on November 29.
The game will stream on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Network.
