Blocked punt leads Jesuit to title

EUGENE, Ore. – Jesuit’s Collin Quade blocked his first punt since he played freshman football Saturday, and it couldn’t have been sweeter.

Jesuit quarterback Austin Pearce took advantage of the block to score on a 3-yard run with less than 3 minutes left and the Crusaders held on to win the Oregon Class 4A state football championship with a 14-10 victory against Lincoln at Autzen Stadium.

“That was exactly when it needed to happen and I’m just glad I was the one who could do it,” the senior fullback said after the game that gave the Crusaders their third state title.

Jesuit took over with 2:59 left and down 10-7. One play later, Pearce ran the ball up the middle for the winning score.

Paul Weatheroy led Jesuit with 133 yards rushing and one touchdown, while Lincoln was led by quarterback Connor Kavanaugh, who completed 29 of 45 passes for 290 yards. He also threw two interceptions.

The Cardinals, in their first championship game in school history, went on top 10-7 with 2:30 to go in the third quarter on a 2-yard TD run by Kavanaugh, a score set up by a 36-yard catch-and-run by Jordan Polk that put the ball at the 2-yard line.

“This was the first team that I’ve ever been on that we’re so close, we’re like a family,” Kavanaugh said. “I love these guys and I wish I could have won this game for them.”

That was the first score of the second half for either team, as Jesuit led 7-3 at the break thanks to Weatheroy’s 8-yard touchdown run with 3:43 left in the first half.

His score capped a drive that began at the Lincoln 40 after Jesuit stopped the Cardinals’ offense on a fourth-down try.

Jesuit quickly got the ball back when defensive back Keo Camat recovered a fumble by Lincoln receiver Jordan Polk following a long pass completion. The end result was a missed 20-yard field goal attempt with 34 seconds left before the break.