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Burns got off to a slow start in their semifinal game against the Banks Braves at Summit High School in Bend on Saturday, Nov. 22.

After being down 14-0 early in the second quarter, the Hilanders took their first lead of the game after an 83-yard and 11-yard touchdown passes from Jack Wright to Coltin Miller. Both two-point conversions were successful and Burns pulled ahead 16-14.

After an eight play drive on the ensuing kickoff, Banks drove down to the Burns 2-yard line and opted to kick a field goal, taking a 17-16 lead. Burns fought back with an eight play drive of their own after Wright ran the ball in from eight yards out for the touchdown. The two-point conversion pass to Miller was successful and the Hilanders had a 24-17 lead heading into halftime.

The Hilanders received the ball to start the second half and went three-and-out on their first drive. With great field position for the Braves, it took two plays for 25 yards to score and tie the game at 24-24.

The Hilanders answered right back with a nine-play drive for 74-yards that ended in a touchdown after Wright found Miller for a 38-yard touchdown. The ensuring two-point conversion failed and the Hilanders led 30-24 after the third quarter.

The Hilanders drove the field, putting together a seven play, 82-yard drive early in the fourth quarter after Wright ran it in from three-yards out. The ensuing two-point conversion failed and the Hilanders had a 36-24 lead.

Both teams were unable to move the ball and exchanged punts on their next series. With a little over six minutes on the clock, the Braves needed just four plays and 74-yards, closing Burns’ lead 36-31.

Both teams once again were forced to punt on their next series. The Hilanders started their last drive on Banks’ 46-yard line and was able to run out the clock and secure the victory over the Braves, 36-31.

Offensively, Jack Wright completed 12 of 23 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns along with one interception. Wright surpassed Kellen Clemens’ single season passing touchdown record after the victory. The old record Clemens held was 38 touchdown passes in a season and Wright now stands at 40 touchdown passes with one game to go.

Coltin Miller caught all three of those touchdowns passes, and ended up with six receptions for 165 yards. Miller surpassed Kelby Killgore’s single season receiving touchdown record with 21 touchdowns. Killgore’s record was 19 receiving touchdowns in a season.

Preston Hill caught three passes for 31 yards.

Tommy Winn rushed for 138 yards on 16 carries, averaging over 8.5 yards a carry. Wright ran for 50 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Wright led the team in tackles with 10 total tackles, including one and a half tackles for loss and one pass break up. Cannon Kemper finished with nine total tackles, with three tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and one forced fumble. Miller ended the day with seven tackles and one pass broken up. Joe Weil had six tackles, including three tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Hill had four tackles, one pass break up and one interception.

The 11-1 No. 3 ranked Burns Hilanders move on to the state title game against the 12-0 No. 1 ranked Cascade Christian Challengers. The game is set for Saturday, Nov. 29, at Summit High School in Bend. Kickoff is slated to start at 4:30 p.m.