QB Cranmore Scores 5 TDs, Leslie Routs To Win Conference Championship

Leslie High School football player Joel Cranmore (12) celebrates after scoring his second touchdown of the first half. Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

David Rice | JTV Sports

Saturday October 26th

(10-26-2024, 3:00PM): Saturday’s Cascades Conference championship game became as good as advertised, both teams reached the title game for the first time in program history for Leslie and Hanover Horton. 

Leslie took control first to open the game, forcing a 3-and-out and a Comets punt after the first four minutes. Sophomore QB Joel Cranmore and the Blackhawks opened the scoring on the next possession. 

After a 76-yard pass to Jacob Phillips was called back for an offensive holding, Cranmore connected on two passes to Jayden Colby (12 and 44 yards). Leslie capped off the drive with a 23-yard QB keeper from Cranmore to make it an 8-0 Blackhawks lead with 5:25 left. 

HH was stopped again on defense again and forced to punt, giving Leslie the ball back. They responded quickly on offense, doubling up off another QB keeper from Joel Cranmore to make it 14-0 Leslie after 1. Hanover Horton opened the next drive with passing plays, something that hasn’t been done often this year. It paid off as QB Luke Soper connected on three passes that drive, setting up for a 6-yard TD run by Austyn Hocter to make it 14-8.

Leslie led 14-8 going into the halftime break, after throwing an INT to Hanover’s Jaxon Johnson, the Blackhawks responded by recovering a fumble at the end of the half. Hanover Horton continued to struggle in the second half, including a fumbled recovered by the defense with 5:12 left in the third quarter. From there on, the dominance of the Blackhawks offense continued. 

Braydin Johnson hauled in an 80-yard TD pass from Cranmore to make it 28-7, and Jayden Colby scored another TD, this time a catch for 34 yards with 4:22 left in regulation. 

Leslie was able to hold off HH on Saturday and win 35-14 to win its first ever Cascades Conference Football Championship in school history. Leslie QB Joel Cranmore finished with 5 TDs (3 passing, 2 rushing). Jayden Colby and Braydin Johnson also scored for the Blackhawks. Luke Soper and Austyn Hocter scored for the HH Comets.

“This is right where we wanted to be, playing on that last Saturday of the season winning the big game” said Leslie HC Tim McCann. “Our guys came out, played four full quarters and got the job done”. 

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Hanover-Horton High School running back Austyn Hocter (9) avoids a tackle during the Cascades Conference championship game at home Saturday. Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.