By CRAIG HALL
Heavener has not had much luck in the passing game this year.
Coach Jeff Broyles solved that for at least one night by inserting Zaid Rodriguez at quarterback in the Wolves’ 37-6 win over Prague.
The win improves Heavener’s record to 3-2 overall, 1-1 in district play. Prague, which won a district championship last year, fell to 2-3 and 0-2. The Red Devils host Kiefer next week.
It also avenged a 41-6 loss to Prague in the playoffs, almost 51 years ago in 1973, the only previous meeting of the two schools.
Heavener got its easiest win of the season by utilizing big plays on offense and a stingy defense, that combined together, led the Wolves to their best win of the season and snapped a two-game losing streak.
Rodriguez, a senior who last started at quarterback in the eighth grade, completed 8-11 passes with no interceptions for 127 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Jaxon Armstrong, one an 84-yard catch and run that was Heavener’s longest scoring play of the season.
While the Wolves had a good night through the air, the running game came up big, also. All season prior to Friday, Heavener had primarily run out of the wildcat formation with Jaxon Armstrong at quarterback. While Armstrong had no carries against Prague, Hagen Ritter rushed for 130 yards on 12 carries and Carson Payne lugged the ball 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Heavener finished with 363 yards of total offense while Prague was held to 76 yards rushing and completed 11-17 passes with two interceptions, one by Rodriguez and the other by Spencer Clubb. The Red Devils finished with 80 yards passing and only 156 yards of total offense.
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