Jacob Ogden’s TD run breaks tie, Wilsonville holds off Bend in 5A semifinal

No. 2 Wilsonville 23, Bend 14

Jacob Ogden’s touchdown run in the fourth quarter broke a 14-14 tie, and the Wildcats thought two later Lava Bears drives to ice the OSAA Class 5A semifinal victory at Barlow High School in Gresham.

After Ogden’s scoring run made it 20-14, the Lava Bears (10-2) turned the ball over on downs at their 36. The Wildcats’ Greg Keswick kicked a 37-yard field goal for a nine-point lead, and Mason Seal intercepted a pass at the Lava Bears’ 38 to end Bend’s final possession.

The Wildcats (10-2) repelled three earlier Lava Bears possessions that broke midfield, holding on downs twice and recovering a fumble on the other.

The Lava Bears went ahead 6-0 on their first possession, driving 89 yards and finishing on a one-yard touchdown run by Malakai Nutter (42 carries, 242 yards).

On Bend’s first possession of the second quarter, Jonatan Lazaro-Hampton forced a fumble that was returned 70 yards for a touchdown by Cooper Hiday for a 7-6 Wildcats lead. The Wildcats went up 14-6 on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Kallen Gutridge to Mark Wiepert 19 seconds before halftime.

The Wildcats had a chance to widen their lead after Gavin Waddell made an interception on the Lava Bears’ first possession of the second half, but Bend held on fourth-and-10 from its 21. That defensive stand led to Nutter’s second touchdown and a 14-14 score with 3:18 left in the third.

Lazaro-Hampton finished with 19 tackles, Wesley Hur was in on 13 stops, and Wiepert had 10 (one for loss).

Kaleo Kelly and Sam Armstrong made six tackles apiece for the Lava Bears.

Photo by Dan Brood

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