Grant Union to battle Weston-McEwen Friday for playoff spot

Published 12:49 pm Tuesday, October 23, 2018

It’s do or die for the Grant Union Prospector football team as they battle for a state playoff spot Friday.

The Prospectors (4-4, 2-1) will face the Weston-McEwen TigerScots (3-4, 2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Three Flags Field in John Day.

The game will decide which team moves on to the OSAA first-round state playoffs as No. 2 in the 2A Special District 6 — only the top two advance.

The Heppner Mustangs (6-2, 3-0) sealed the district title after defeating Grant Union 47-14 Friday night in Heppner.

Heppner kept control throughout the battle, holding Grant Union scoreless until late in the game.

Russell Hodge scored Grant Union’s first touchdown with less than 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard run. Hodge ended up with 79 yards rushing on 15 attempts.

Jordan Hall intercepted a Heppner pass and ran it back 63 yards for the other score with about 2:25 left in the contest.

Grant Union, ranked No. 19 among OSAA’s 2A teams, has scored 186 points and allowed 166. Weston-McEwen, No. 26, has scored 181 and allowed 182.

“The (Weston-McEwen) game will decide who goes to state in second place,” Prospector coach Jason Miller said. “It will be a tough game, and we look forward to the challenge.”