The Regis Rams jumped out to a big lead against Stanfield Saturday and never looked back in a 53-14 win over the Tigers to give them the Class 2A state football championship.
The win gave Regis their first state title since 1987.
Stanfield came into the game with an 11-1 record, which included a 20-14 win over Regis back in September. But on Saturday at Hermiston’s Kennison Field, the Tigers were no match for the Rams.
Regis put up 27 unanswered points in the first half before Stanfield got on the board just before the half on a long touchdown run by Dylan Grogan to make it 27-7.
Regis opened the scoring in the third quarter on one of the stranger plays of the season when quarterback Bryce Piete threw a deep pass to Eric Gustin that was tipped by a Stanfield player and landed on Gustin’s back in the end zone. Another Regis player picked it up off Gustin’s back and the play was ruled a touchdown since the ball hadn’t hit the ground.
The strange play gave Regis a commanding 34-7 lead that only grew as the game went on. Early in the fourth quarter, the Rams built their lead to 53-7 and a running clock was put into effect.
Stanfield was hurt throughout the night by turnovers – Regis recovered two fumbles and had three interceptions. Grogan was 7-of-19 for 107 yards passing. Regis’ Piete was 8-for-15 for 139 yards passing and five touchdowns.
Both teams finished the year 11-2. Stanfield finished their conference season with a 4-0 record.
