After Courtroom Drama, Heritage Hall Beats Locust Grove To Advance To 3A Title Game

A judge's ruling this week cleared the way for Locust Grove to move into the Class 3A state football semifinals after OKC Douglass challenged the quarterfinals' outcome in court.

Friday, December 12th 2014, 11:27 pm

By: News On 6

After Courtroom Drama, Heritage Hall Beats Locust Grove To Advance To 3A Title Game

A judge's ruling this week cleared the way for Locust Grove to move into the Class 3A state football semifinals after Oklahoma City Douglass challenged the outcome of the quarterfinals in court.

After waiting on the sidelines, Locust Grove and Heritage Hall finally took the field on Friday in Sapulpa, with an added security presence monitoring the stadium and game.

Coaches from both schools were waiting for the night to happen while lawyers challenged the results of the Locust Grove/ Douglass High School game.

And after a 53-42 barn-burner at neutral site Sapulpa, Heritage Hall will move on to the state championship game.

12/11/2014 Related Story: Judge: Locust Grove-OKC Douglass Game Won't Be Replayed

The Locust Grove Pirates practiced all week for another chance under the Friday Night Lights.

The Pirates waited while a judge reviewed a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma City Public Schools challenging OSSAA's ruling that allowed Locust Grove to advance.

The controversy over the game was how the penalty in a sideline interference call was assessed by the referee in the Locust Grove/Douglass game.

The judge ruled there wasn't a statute or case law that allows the court to order a replay of the game.

Read the judge's order

"It's really exciting to be here in Sapulpa tonight because we've been waiting for two weeks to play and the whole community has been patiently waiting for a chance to get the play in the playoffs," LG alumna Melody Blackbear said. “I think it's a good turnout. I think we have more people here that we would ever expect."

Most of all, the coaches were happy to get their players back on the field.

“I'm glad [the judge] made the call that we could play [tonight], let's put it that way,” Heritage Hall head coach Andy Bogert said. “I would sure hate this thing to go into January and not know anything so I'm glad he made the call that we're playing."

Locust Grove head coach Matt Hennesy added,"It's been a process. Everything they done to get to this point right here. Just go have fun and leave it are out there.”

12/3/2014: Related Story: No Replay For Locust Grove, Douglass; Controversy May Not Be Over

And leave it all on the field they did. The Pirates, led by junior quarterback Mason Fine, scored nearly half a hundred. But it wasn't enough to stop Heritage Hall.

It was a see-saw game, full of offensive fireworks until the last tick.

The Pirates recovered a Heritage Hall fumble and drove to the 4 with a minute left and down by two scores, but failed to convert on fourth down.

Despite a state-record setting performance by Fine, who broke the career touchdown mark (111) in the third quarter, Locust Grove fell 53-42.

Heritage Hall will face Cushing in the 3A state championship game.