Paque sets school record in rout of Berryhill

On November 19, the Heritage Hall Chargers played the 6th-ranked Berryhill Chiefs at Charger Stadium. Both teams were in the second round of the playoffs after the Chargers defeated the Pauls Valley Panthers and Berryhill defeated the Stigler Panthers.

For the first score of the game, the Chiefs kicker Aiden Horner booted one through the uprights to give Berryhill a 3-0 lead. The Hall would respond, though. On third and goal from the Chiefs' 4-yard line, Charger quarterback William Paque threw a touchdown pass to Gavin Freeman. Luke Butler tacked on the PAT to give Heritage Hall the lead at 7-3.

On first down and ten from the Chargers 39 yard line, Paque throws the key to Freeman who sliced in between two defenders with a nifty spin move to open scoring in the second quarter. Butler added another extra point to make it 14-3.

Unlike most opponents the Chargers faced this year, the Chiefs hung in there. On their next drive, Berryhill sent a direct snap to the running back Ethan Stites who rushed for the visitors' first touchdown of the game. After, Horner completed the PAT kick the Charger lead was trimmed to 14-10.

It didn't take long for Heritage Hall to pour on some more scoring. Paque connected with Liam Burton, who spun out of one tackle then carried a defender into the endzone with him. Another point-after kick from Butler made the score 21-10.

The Chiefs kicker was not to be outdone. On Berryhill's next drive, Horner kicked his second field goal of the game to cut the lead to 21-13.

On the next possession, Heritage Hall tailback River Faulkner charged his way into the endzone, which led to another PAT by Butler to extend the lead 28-13.

For the last touchdown of the half, Faulkner powered into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game, a one yard run. Butler kicked in the last point of the half to make the score 35-13.

To start the third quarter, Paque connected with sophomore wideout Orie Walker from 38 yards away to stretch the Heritage Hall lead to 42-13.

Paque and Walker weren't done, as the Chargers connected from 9 yards out for another score to make it 49-13.

The Charger defense continued it's domination, keeping the ball in the prolific offense's hands much of the game.

On third and 12 from the Chiefs 19 yard line, Paque found a new touchdown target as Cooper Cookson got in on the action. After another Butler PAT, the Chargers held a commanding 56-13 lead.

Although the outcome of the game was likely already decided, Berryhill kept slugging away. Stites ran the ball in for the Chiefs and his own second touchdown of the game. However, the Chargers blocked the point after attempt, which ended the third quarter 56-19.

In the fourth quarter, head coach Brett Bogert '05 slowly took the starters out to provide more playoff experience for some of the second team players. The Chargers went on to win 56-25, after giving up one Chiefs touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Paque led the passing attack with some amazing stats. The senior completed 18 of 21 passes to 5 different receivers. With 421 passing yards, he joins Graham Colton '00 as one of two Charger quarterbacks to amass over 400 yards in one game. His six touchdown passes in the game tied a school record, co-owned by Garrett Valdez '08 and Blake Adams '19.

Freeman caught the majority of passes from Paque, 8 for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Cookson hauled in 4 passes for 97 yards, and Burton 3 for 91 yards.

Faulkner recorded his 5th 100-yard rushing game with 101 yards on 18 carries. Sophomore reserve Jaxon Carter carried 9 times for 53 yards.

Defensively, the Chargers were paced by Cookson's 14 tackles. Nick Keith also tallied double-digits with 10 tackes. Seniors Mason Georgia and Brigham Evans each had 2 sacks; Georgia is 3rd all-time (24) while Evans now sits in 9th (15) on the career sacks leaderboard. Junior linebacker Zach Fetrow recovered a fumble in the game to go with 6 tackles, 2 for loss.

The quarterfinal win means the #2-ranked Chargers will advance to play the #1-ranked Lincoln Christian Bulldogs in a State Semifinal rematch at Oklahoma Baptist University. While the Chargers hold a 3-2 series lead, the Bulldogs have beaten the Chargers the past two years – so the Chargers are ready for revenge! You can watch the highly anticipated rematch with a paid account on NFHSNetwork.com. The semifinal winner will play either the Holland Hall Dutch or the Verdigris Cardinals in the State Championship at UCO's Chad Richeson Stadium.

Onward, Chargers!

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