MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week: Gladstone football

For the Gladstone football team, it was all about timing.

The Gladiators won their first state football title since 1978 with a 35-17 4A championship win over North Bend/Oregon Coast Tech on Saturday.

First-year head coach Jon Jedrykowski has been in the Gladstone program for 14 years, the previous eight as the defensive coordinator. When Jon Wolf, who went 61-30 in eight successful seasons, stepped down, Jedrykowski stepped up.

So did Gladstone, which won Saturday behind 21 carries for 212 yards from halfback Handsome Smith and 121 yards rushing and a score by fullback Zach Smith. The Gladiators rushed for 375 yards, according to The Oregonian.

For their tremendous effort, the Gladiators have been selected as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"I felt I needed to give it (head coaching) a try and see how it went," Jedrykowski said. "Fortunately it went very well. We won a state championship so fast because we have unbelievable kids with unbelievable coaches."

The defense did an unbelievable job holding down an offense that had averaged more than 50 points per game in its previous three games. Gladstone held North Bend to two touchdowns, thanks to strong play from Sterling Berks and Eric Prom.

"The defense is effective because my defensive coordinator is very good," Jedrykowski said. "We have a lot of athletic kids and when they are put in the right positions and can play fast, good things happen, which apparently they did."

They had two talented Smiths carrying and controlling the ball as well.

Handsome Smith scored on the game's third play on a 59-yard run. They also took a 14-10 halftime lead on his 24-yard touchdown reception.

After North Bend took a 17-14 lead on a Levi Rider 4-yard TD catch from Cameron Lucero, Zach Smith's 3-yard touchdown run put his team up for good. It came on Gladstone's next possession.

Handsome Smith then scored on a 5-yard run with 7:27 left in the game to go up 28-17 and then he sealed it with a 51-yard touchdown run.

"Handsome is the ultimate football player," Jedrykowski said. "He does whatever is asked, can play multiple positions and is both a highly instinctual runner and has a nose for the ball."

Handsome is much more than a football player, the coach said.

"He's got a quiet confidence with just enough swag to keep him away from being arrogant about his abilities," Jedrykowski said. "In fact, he's very, very humble and would rather see praise go to his teammates."

Especially his offensive line, that paved the way to almost 400 yards against a very good defense.

"The offensive line played their best game on the biggest stage," Jedrykowski said. "They were making the right call all night and it showed. This can be highly attributed to great line coaching and offensive play calling by my offensive coordinator. He's pretty special too."

It was also special to win a title it last won nearly 40 years ago.

"It means everything to win this for our school, our kids and our community," Jedrykowski said. "Thirty-six years is a long time, which made this an even better win."