Lions fend off late Gresham rally to win 31-28

By Matthew Sherman

The West Linn Tidings, Nov 13, 2009, Updated Nov 18, 2009

West Linn's Keaton Hedman breaks a 64-yard touchdown run to start the second half giving the Lions a 17-7 lead over Gresham.

Vern Uyetake / West Linn Tidings

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After West Linn blew a late lead in the playoffs to Beaverton last year, the team had to be feeling some deja vu when, after holding a 31-14 lead with 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter against Gresham, the team was suddenly playing defense with just a three-point lead and two minutes left in the game.

But, this time, the Lions came up with the stop they needed. Gresham reached midfield but, on fourth down, Seth Wegner batted down Zach Scherba's final pass attempt to seal the gameJust a few minutes earlier, however, not many people could have guessed that the game would end that dramaticallyAfter a slow-paced first half in which Gresham bled the clock with its methodical running game, the game took off just seconds into the third period.

The Lions led 10-7 and received the ball to start the second half. On the second play from scrimmage, Keaton Hedman broke a 64-yard touchdown run to bolster the lead.

Gresham rallied back, marching 74 yards in 14 plays punctuated by Justin Potter's one-yard touchdown.

Then West Linn took control of the game. Hedman scored again on a 13-yard run late in the third quarter and, after a three-and-out from Gresham, it took the Lions just four plays to find the end zone again. Hedman punched in his third touchdown of the game from seven yards out to make it 31-14 with 10:15 to play.

Gresham was then forced to pass and the Gophers responded. Scherba completed long passes to Wes Meng and Quintin Hardgrove before Potter punched in another score.

Gresham then stopped the Lions on fourth down and, after a 14-yard scramble, Scherba hit a wide open Potter for a 67-yard touchdown with 3:43 to play. Gresham's onside kick attempt failed but the Gophers came up with a stop and received the ball again at their own 20-yard line with 2:01 to play.

After a pair of first down passes, Gresham was thwarted by an ineligible man penalty and couldn't get into scoring range.

The Lions advance to play Westview in the second round of the playoffs next week.