In a dominant Northwest Premier Junior Football League 14U playoff performance, HEIR defeated Benson 38-0, securing a spot in next Sunday’s championship game at Renton Stadium. From quick offensive strikes to a relentless defense, HEIR took control from the opening drive, leaving little opportunity for Benson to mount a comeback.
HEIR quickly set the tone. Benson’s first drive was cut short when HEIR’s Andrew Peapea intercepted a pass, returning it to the Benson 38-yard line. Running back Elijah Littles took advantage with back-to-back runs of 5 and 15 yards, advancing HEIR to the 18-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Cordae Norling connected with Justin Suega on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Kicker Brody Robertson nailed the PAT, giving HEIR an early 8-0 lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter.
Benson regained possession but struggled with penalties, which moved them back to 1st and 20. Just a few plays later, HEIR’s Keh’ano Corpuz intercepted another pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Though Robertson’s PAT attempt was blocked by Benson’s Ahlijah-Raymond Atofau, HEIR’s lead grew to 14-0 with 5:04 left in the quarter.
On their next drive, Benson continued to struggle against HEIR’s defense. Faced with a 3rd-and-18 after a holding penalty, Benson was forced to punt. HEIR wasted no time, as Norling connected with Dash Jones on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Robertson’s PAT was good, and HEIR extended its lead to 22-0 with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter. After recovering their onside kick, a penalty pushed HEIR back, but a series of well-executed passes by Norling brought them close to scoring again before Benson’s defense, led by Jamari Jones and Jeremiah Tupou, forced a turnover on downs.
HEIR’s defense remained dominant, with Corpuz making his presence felt again. As Benson struggled to make offensive progress, Corpuz returned a Benson punt 43 yards for a touchdown. Robertson’s PAT kick was good, extending HEIR’s lead to 30-0 with 4:28 left in the half. Benson’s Thomas Marshall connected with Jones on a 33-yard pass into double coverage, but HEIR’s defense stepped up once more. A personal foul penalty advanced Benson to the 16-yard line, but Peapea intercepted another pass in the end zone to end Benson’s last scoring opportunity of the half.
With less than a minute in the half, HEIR’s Norling connected with Jones on a 20-yard pass and then followed up with a 33-yard pass to Suega, closing out the half on a high note and maintaining their 30-0 lead.
HEIR opened the second half with a strong drive led by Littles, who carried the ball for gains of 11 and 3 yards. Norling added a 10-yard run to the drive, advancing HEIR to Benson’s 36-yard line before Benson’s defense forced a turnover, recovering a fumble by HEIR’s Kamari Wilson.
Benson’s offense showed resilience in the third quarter, with Marshall finding Jones for an 11-yard pass and running back Jack Failautusi powering forward on multiple runs. However, penalties continued to hamper their progress, and they ended the quarter still scoreless.
In the fourth quarter, Benson began to gain momentum, with Marshall moving the ball downfield with short passes to Failautusi and Jones. HEIR’s defense held strong, however, with Corpuz intercepting a pass and returning it 18 yards to HEIR’s 23-yard line. Littles then broke through with consecutive gains of 7, 25, and 9 yards, pushing HEIR down the field. Norling capped off the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Peapea with just 50 seconds remaining. Robertson’s PAT was good, bringing the final score to 38-0.
Key Performances
HEIR Offense:
• Cordae Norling: 4 touchdown passes, including 18 yards to Justin Suega, 19 yards to Dash Jones, and 14 yards to Andrew Peapea
• Elijah Littles: Over 60 rushing yards, including multiple key runs to set up scoring drives
• Dash Jones: 19-yard touchdown reception, 20-yard catch
• Justin Suega: 18-yard touchdown reception and 33-yard reception
HEIR Defense:
• Keh’ano Corpuz: 65-yard interception return for a touchdown, 43-yard punt return touchdown, second interception in the end zone
• Andrew Peapea: 2 interceptions, including one in the end zone, and a 14-yard touchdown reception
• Brody Robertson: 4 successful PATs