Football state championship game preview: Class 2A title game to see rematch between Oakland and Weston-McEwen/Griswold

While both Oakland and Weston-McEwen/Griswold have been to the state championship game before, the 2022 OSAA Class 2A title game will be the state’s first football crown decided in a nine-man football game.

Like some other football title games this year, the Class 2A championship game will see two teams that have faced each other previously this fall. Weston-McEwen beat Oakland 24-16 on Sept. 9.

The Class 2A title game will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Hillsboro Stadium.

Take a look at the two teams competing in Saturday’s contest:

No. 1 Oakland (11-1)

Top-ranked Oakland has been dominant this fall, as the only team to score over 500 points in Class 2A while allowing just 12 points per game to opponents. The Oakers have beaten every opponent by a double-digit margin except for Weston-McEwen/Griswold.

Oakland coach Ben Lane said that while the Oakers’ offense has been potent this fall, the team has really leaned on the defense to take over games. He praised the coaching of assistants David Henry and Josh Templeton in putting together defensive looks that are shutting opponents down.

Offensively, the Oakers rely on the running game.

“As a team we have overall excellent speed,” Lane said. “This has allowed us to cover the entire field on defense and use the entire field on offense.”

The loss to the TigersScots was both a season-high in points allowed for Oakland and a season low in points scored.

Lane said the Oakers are a very different team than they were in week two.

“There have been many changes since that contest. Besides some minor on the field changes in scheme and personnel, the biggest change has been in the team’s approach to the game,” Lane told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “That game was a wake-up call of what we could be and the hard work it was going to take to get to where we wanted to be by playoff time.”

For the Oakers to take back their win and grab the Class 2A championship, Lane said the team needs to win the turnover battle and avoid any costly penalties. The defense will be crucial, as the TigerScots have a fast attack through the air.

“They can strike quickly,” he said.

No. 7 Weston-McEwen/Griswold (9-2)

Despite already having a win on Oakland, Weston-McEwen/Griswold knows it can’t just come into Saturday’s game expecting the same result.

“Both teams have gotten better,” TigerScot coach Kenzie Hansell said.

To come home with the state championship on Saturday, Hansell said the TigerScots will need to stay disciplined while sticking to their style of football.

“We’ve just got to continue to do what we do,” he said. “Take care of the ball and take advantage of every opportunity.”

The last two weeks have seen the TigerScots go on the road and pick up one-possession wins over No. 2 Lowell and No. 3 Colton. Hansell said Weston-McEwen/Griswold is battle tested for Saturday’s game.

“I just want them to enjoy the moment,” he said.

Hansell is in his second stint coaching the TigerScots, totaling 10 years as the head coach at Weston-McEwen/Griswold. He said the TigerScot fans have traveled well this postseason, in hopes of seeing a historic first state championship for Athena.

“Every Friday night, the whole community is at our games,” he said. “That’s so special. Everywhere I go, everyone wants to talk TigerScot football. The support is huge. It’s a true honor.”

— Nik Streng, nstreng@oregonian.com, @NikStreng