Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2016)
FOOTBALL Wednesday, August 31, 2016 5A SPECIAL DISTRICT 1 T he Columbia River Conference and Intermountain Conference will be combined with the exception of The Dalles to form Special District 1 this season. There will be four playoff spots available from the eight-team league. Projected Finish Summit Storm Hermiston Bulldogs Redmond Panthers Mountain View Cougars Pendleton Buckaroos Bend Lava Bears Hood River Valley Eagles Ridgeview Ravens East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald Page 3 Hermiston Bulldogs Hermiston senior Mitch Brown takes a handoff during a practice on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Kennison Field in Hermiston. Brown is expected to see a lot of carries for Herm- iston this season. (Rankings based on coaches and media votes.) 2015 Results Week 1 vs Hanford (WA) L 41-20 Week 2 at Kamiakin (WA) L 54-6 Week 3 at Springfi eld L 52-20 Week 4 at Lewiston (ID) L 56-37 Week 5 vs Coeur d’Alene (ID) L 42-10 Week 6 vs Sandy W 13-7 Week 7 at The Dalles* W 56-10 Week 8 at Hood River* W 36-28 Week 9 at Pendleton* W 28-12 1st Round vs Wilsonville L 49-14 2016 Schedule Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Staff photo by E.J. Harris Players To Watch John Bledsoe, Summit (SR) vs Union (WA) at Lewiston (ID) vs Mountain View* vs Summit* at Hood River* vs Ridgeview* at Bend* at Redmond* vs Pendleton* 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. *-League game Quarterback (6-foot-3, 200 lbs) Bledsoe was the 5A Offensive Player of the Year for the state-champion Storm in 2015. He passed for 212 yards a game with 31 touchdowns and three interceptions. Vaemu Ena, Hermiston (SR) Safety/Wide receiver (6-foot-1, 183 lbs) Ena was an honorable mention All-State safety as a junior, and recorded 40 tackles and fi ve inter- ceptions. He’ll also have an expanded role on offense this season. Head coach: David Faaeteete, 2nd year (9th overall) Assistant coaches: Scott Hammond (Def. coordinator), 1st year (6th over- all); Matt Bruck (wide receivers), 5th year; Eddie Lopez (defensive line), 5th year; Travis Jones (running backs), 2nd year; Mike Mosher (quarterbacks), 1st year; Rick Wells (offensive line), 1st year; Oliver Browning (linebackers/special teams), 1st year; Anthony Volker, 5th year; Jerrod Munsterman, 2nd year; Gary Posten, 1st year; Andy Hall, 1st year. Returning lettermen: 18 Brent Yeakey, Ridgeview (SR) Running back/Linebacker (6-foot-0, 220 lbs) Yeakey was an honorable mention All-State running back last season after he racked up 1,305 yards at 7.2 per carry with 12 touch- downs. Michael Jones, Hood River (JR) Running back (6-foot-0, 180 lbs) Jones was an honorable mention All-State running back that helped the Eagles offense average 33.8 points a game last season. Columbia River Conference Conf. Overall Hermiston* 3-0 4-6 Hood River* 2-1 5-5 Pendleton 1-2 3-6 The Dalles 0-3 1-7 Pendleton Buckaroos Head coach: Erik Davis, 5th year Assistant coaches: Fred Phillips (def. coordinator/linebackers), 10th year; Josh Linehan (offensive line), 7th year; Aaron Schmidt (wide receivers), 7th year; Wes Armstrong (running backs), 1st year; Drew Hubel (quarterbacks), 2nd year; Marc Sokoloski (defensive backs), 7th year; Ron Murphy (defensive line), 2nd year; Nels Nelson (stats) Returning lettermen: 26 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 vs Summit vs Ontario at La Grande at Bend vs Ridgeview at AC Davis (WA) at Hood River* vs The Dalles* vs Hermiston* Intermountain Conference Conf. Overall Summit* 4-0 12-1 Redmond* 3-1 8-3 Bend* 2-2 6-4 Ridgeview 1-3 4-5 Mountain View 0-4 1-8 2016 Schedule *-Made playoff s *-League game Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 4A GREATER OREGON LEAGUE N ot much changes in the GOL for 2016 as all four teams were relatively young last season and return several key starters. The only new head coach is at Mac-Hi, but Gary Robertson isn’t totally new and was an assistant last season. The league gets two automatic postseason berths, but the No. 3 team could also have a chance to play its way in based on OSAA ranking. Projected Finish La Grande Tigers Baker Bulldogs Ontario Tigers McLoughlin Pioneers (Rankings based on coaches and media votes.) 2015 Final Standings La Grande* Baker* Ontario McLoughlin *- Made playoffs On offense: The Bulldogs are looking for balanced production out of their West Coast offense that utilizes zone blocking on the line. The Bulldogs threw the ball just 38 percent of the time last season, but 36 percent of their runs were by quarterbacks, and more than half were by seniors. With Neal (85 carries) moving to receiver Hermiston may be closer to a 50-50 split in 2016. On defense: Hermiston uses multiple fronts to attack opposing offenses with the emphasis on playing sound funda- mental defense. The unit returns three of its top six tacklers but none that recorded a sack in 2015. Faaeteete’s key to the season: “Take it one day at a time, bring a pos- itive attitude to practice, play fast, play hard, and fi nish every play, every down, in every game.” Pendleton’s Nick Lani (2) gets wrapped up by Kirk Liscom (21) and Morgan Hol- comb (11) during the Buck Bowl & BBQ in Pendleton. Staff photo by E.J. Harris 2015 Results 2015 Final Standings Conf. 3-0 2-1 1-2 0-3 Returning All-CRC: Kaden Caldwell, DL/OL, sr.; Vaemu Ena, DB/WR, sr.; Tucker Salinas, WR/DB, sr.; John Henry Line, LB, sr.; Mitch Brown, RB/KR, sr.; Corey Mason, DT, sr.; Jerry Ramirez, HB, sr.; Brady Christianson, WR, sr.; AJ Fer- nandez, OT/DT, jr.; Tyler Rorhman, DB/ WR, jr.; Joe Gutierrez, DB/WR, jr. Other returning starters: Dayshawn Neal, DB/WR, jr.; Beau Blake, OG/DT, jr. Other seniors: Adan Gutierrez, OL/DL; Nick Jones, WR/DB; Oscar Lopez, DL/P; Ryan Lawson, DL/OL; Emilio Landin, DL/OL; Bradlee Giutsi, TE/LB/DL; Cody Moss, Brandon Possada. Impact transfer: Damien McLeod, LB/ QB, sr. (Ridgeview) Newcomers: Sophomore quarterback Andrew James will start at quarterback. James quarterbacked the freshman team last season. Overall 7-2 5-5 1-7 0-8 L 62-13 W 27-13 W 25-24 L 26-23 L 41-27 L 26-19 L 42-21 W 49-20 L 28-12 at La Grande at Putnam at Summit* at Ridgeview* vs Redmond* at Mountain View* vs Hood River* vs Bend* at Hermiston* 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. Returning All-CRC: Nick Lani, WR/S, sr.; Sebastian Corona, K/WR, sr.; Deven Page, RB/DL, sr.; Jamal Vann, RB/DE, sr.; Grant Kennedy, OL/LB, sr.; Cade Ander- son, OL/LB, sr. Other returning starters: Gabe Walk- er, RB/DL, sr.; Morgan Holcomb, LB, sr.; Matt Fowler, TE/DE, sr.; Jacob Dicker- son, OL/DL, sr.; Shaw Jerome, WR/DB, jr.; Tanner Stephan, WR/DB, jr.; Brendon Bedolla, LB/RB, jr. Newcomers: Junior Nick Bower will start at quarterback, and several sophomores are vying for time at wide receiver. On offense: The Buckaroos want to keep defenses guessing out of its spread formations, and one way the Bucks plan to do this is with additional runs and screens. On defense: The Bucks’ formation will largely depend on personnel, and the Bucks return all-league players at each level. They’ll look to keep opposing of- fenses out of rhythm using aggressive pass rushes and tight coverage. Davis’ keys to the season: “Continue to develop an overall program. Continue to push for 100 percent ‘buy in’ to what we are trying to do. We have to stay healthy fi rst and foremost. Nick Bower will need to develop quickly, and have a running back or two have breakout sea- sons. Defensively, we have to stop run!” McLoughlin Pioneers Head coach: Gary Robertson, 1st year (2nd overall) Assistant coaches: Rory Simpson (def. coordinator), 2nd year; Jim Gilmore (linemen), 1st year; Jeff Bockert (running backs/linebackers), 1st year. Returning lettermen: 17 Returning All-GOL: Donald Clark, OL/ DL, sr.; Riley Chester, WR/DB, sr. Other returning starters: Tylor Fehrenbacker, RB/DB, sr.; Robert Walton, OL/DL, sr.; Kaden Kilburg, RB/DB, sr.; Austin Leonetti, QB/DB, sr.; Spencer Wells, TE/DL, jr.; Salvador Patino, OL/LB, jr.; Michael Breeding, RB/DB, jr.; Levi Gregerson, OL/LB, jr.; Kyler Kelly, OL/DL, jr.; Justin Carlson, OL/DL, jr.; Josh Torres, OL/LB, jr.; Drew Birdwell, QB/ DB, jr.; Cruz Garcia, OL/DL, jr.; Brandyn Chaney, OL/DL, jr.; Sam Carlson, RB/LB, so. On offense: Robertson is also the team’s offensive coordinator, and will look to push the tempo with a spread offense. It’s a completely new system for the Pioneers, but Robertson said they are picking up the concepts quickly. On defense: The Pioneers will run a 4-3 base formation and Robertson said he wants his defenders using a “predator mentality.” Like on offense, defenders Players To Watch Andrew Peasley, La Grande (JR) Connor Brandt, La Grande (SR) Zach Forsythe, Ontario (SR) Quarterback (6-foot-2, 180 lbs) DE/Guard (6-foot-2, 220 lbs) Center/LB (5-foot-11, 180 lbs) Peasley was the GOL Of- fensive Player of the Year and honor- able mention All-State as a sophomore. He passed for 1,753 yards with 21 touchdowns and three interceptions. He added 12 rushing TDs. Brandt was the GOL De- fensive Player of the Year, a Second Team All-State de- fender, and an honorable mention All-State guard on offense. Forsythe was an honorable mention All- State center as well as First Team All-GOL. He was also Second Team All-GOL on defense. Mac-Hi’s Spencer Wells (55) sacks Weston-McEw- en quarterback Brent Speed during their game in Athena during Week 4 of the 2015 season. Wells is one of many returners on defense for the Pioneers. Staff photo by Kathy Aney are being asked to learn a new system, which should be a welcome change. The Pioneers had the dubious distinction of allowing the most points (390) while also scoring the fewest (30) in Class 4A last season. Robertson’s key to the season: “Conditioning will be our key to success. We are undersized and slower than most, so conditioning is our forte.” 2015 results 2016 Schedule Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 at Waitsburg (WA) vs Crook County vs The Dalles at Weston-McEwen at DeSales (WA) at La Grande* vs Ontario* vs Baker* L 45-7 L 60-0 L 43-0 L 37-6 L 33-7 L 56-3 L 56-7 L 60-0 Sept. 1 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 vs Waitsburg (WA) vs DeSales (WA) at The Dalles at Riverside at Ontario* vs La Grande* at Baker* 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. *-League game H AMLEY S TEAK H ouse & S aloon We are proud to offer affordable, traditional Ranch Cookin’ ~ something for everyone, including USDA PRIME STEAKS • BUNKHOUSE PASTA • POP’S POT ROAST •FIRE ROASTED SALMON • COUNTRY FRIED STEAK HAMLEY SALOON open at 4 PM • DINNER in STEAKHOUSE at 5 PM HAMLEY CAFÉ - Open 8 AM -4 PM Breakfast 8-11 AM , Lunch 11 AM -3 PM COURT & MAIN, PENDLETON • 541.278.1100
