Heritage Hall comes out on top
CHOCTAW — Heritage Hall quarterback Blake Adams couldn’t describe the feeling.
As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard at Bill Jensen Field in Choctaw on Friday night, it dawned on Adams this was the end.
“Nothing is better than this feeling,” Adams said. “There’s just no way to describe it.”
Adams and the Heritage Hall Chargers squeezed out the Class 4A championship against Ada, toughing out a brutal defensive battle 14-0 to claim the title.
Heritage Hall started off moving easily on the Ada defense, driving down to the 6-yard line on its opening drive where they had first and goal.
But the Ada defense stood tall, forcing the Chargers to kick a 27-yard field goal that sailed wide left.
Heritage Hall forced Ada into a three and out and then went 59 yards in 12 plays for the game’s opening touchdown, a 10-yard pass from Adams to junior receiver Conner Carey to make it 7-0 in the first quarter.
It looked like the high-flying Heritage Hall
offense, which had averaged 42 points per game coming into the championship, was kicking into gear when Adams scored in the second quarter on a 3-yard keeper to make it 14-0, but Ada would not go away.
“They are such a tough team,” Heritage Hall coach Brett Bogert said. “We told our kids all week how they are a second-half team. Don’t sleep on them.”
The second half was filled with huge defensive plays for both teams, as the Heritage Hall pass rush got to Ada quarterback Jackson Mcfarlane eight times, including four by junior defensive end Jaden McDaniel.
“The offense wasn’t clicking so we knew we had to step up,” McDaniel said. “We forced them into a tough situation and chased their quarterback around all night and never let him get comfortable.”
Ada was able to drive to the Heritage Hall six yard line with under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but came up empty as Mcfarlane was sacked by a host of defenders for the Cougars last offensive play.
For Ada, McFarlane finished 15 of 27 for 168 yards.
Heritage Hall running back Billy Ross Jr. had a big night on the ground for the Chargers, rushing for 133 yards on 23 carries.
Adams finishes his career at Heritage Hall with a 39-0 record as the starting quarterback, and two state championships. Adams missed the playoffs last season after breaking his collarbone.
“It just showed me how much I love this game,” Adams said. “It made us so hungry coming into this year.”