Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 2016)
SPORTS WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS HERMISTON PENDLETON Herm- iston’s Mitch Brown gets brought down by Union’s Justin Durrett, left, and Alex Bar- rett in the Bulldogs’ 36-14 loss to the Titans on Friday in Hermis- ton. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Dawgs fall short against Union Quarterback Andrew James solid in Hermiston debut By ERIC SINGER East Oregonian Friday night was a night Andrew James had been dreaming about for a long time. It was his fi rst varsity football Football game as a Hermiston Bulldog, his fi rst time playing under the lights of Kennison Field, and it just so Union (WA) happened he was starting at quarter- back. And in his fi rst varsity game, the sophomore quarterback nearly led a comeback for the ages as he threw two touchdowns and ran for another Hermiston to take his team from a 36-7 defi cit near the beginning of the fourth quarter to a nine point defi cit. But in the end it wasn’t enough as the Union (WA) Titans held on for the 36-27 victory over the Bulldogs. “I’m very proud of the guys for fi ghting back,” 36 27 Staff photo by E.J. Harris Hermiston’s Vaemu Ena and Joe Gutierrez (31) wrap up Union’s Kai Gambie in the Bulldogs’ 36-14 loss to the Titans on Friday in Hermiston. See DAWGS/2B Bucks topple Tigers East Oregonian LA GRANDE — The Pendleton Buckaroos opened the 2016 season in a big way, defeating the La Grande Tigers 48-28 at Community Stadium on Friday night. “I think all over we came out against a good La Grande team and to get a win this early is a huge start for us,” Pendleton coach Erik Davis said. “I’m just excited for the kids.” All eyes were on junior quar- terback Nick Bower as he Football made his fi rst career start and he left Davis and the Buck- Pendleton aroos (1-0) impressed, as Bower completed 17-36 passes for 250 yards La Grande and three touchdowns. He did have a pair of inter- ceptions late in the game on a pair of deep balls. “Nick threw the ball extremely well,” Davis said. “There were a few drops, but he complete quite a few balls and I think he threw it quite a bit in his fi rst game so I’m really proud of that young quarterback.” On the receiving end, Shaw Jerome and Nick Lani had big games for the Buckaroos, as Jerome tallied seven catches for 87 yards and a second quarter touchdown catch and Lani hauled in four catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter. Deven Page was Pendleton’s leading rusher with 73 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries and Jamal Vann added a touchdown and 25 yards on eight carries. 48 28 STANFIELD Stanfi eld stays hungry after blowout win over Enterprise Tigers running game overpowers Outlaws By WILL DENNER East Oregonian A dominant season- opening victory would have most teams excited, yet Stanfi eld players and coaches walked away from Friday’s 54-22 victory over Enterprise longing for more. The Tigers jumped on the Outlaws early with a run-heavy attack that yielded 28 fi rst-quarter points. Makiah Blankenship and Thyler Monkus – Stanfi eld’s leading rushers from last year — each scored on touch- down runs, giving the Tigers Football Enterprise Stanfi eld 22 54 a two-score lead less than six minutes into the game. By halftime Stanfi eld led 35-6, but Enterprise’s offense showed some fi ght nearing the end of the half, marching down the fi eld and punching it in on Trent Bales’ three- yard run. The Outlaws carried momentum into the second half with a couple of touch- down drives orchestrated by Outlaws quarterback Tate Olsen. Although the game result was never really in doubt, Stanfi eld head coach Davy Salas wants to see a more complete game from his team start to fi nish. “We can’t take plays off because we’re up 35 to nothing,” Salas said. “We have to have that killer cham- pionship mentality. That’s gonna be key this year.” Mentioning the word championship might seem premature in early September, but that’s where Stanfi eld has set its bar. Playing the underdog role last season, the Tigers made it all the way to the 2A semifi nals before losing to Kennedy 34-20. The hype has been building around this team ever since. Now they’re intent on proving 2016 wasn’t a fl uke. “Last year we kind of See TIGERS/2B Staff photo by Kathy Aney Thyler Monkus, of Stanfi eld, runs up the fi eld escorted by two of his teammates during Friday’s home game against the Enterprise Outlaws. Sports shorts Earnhardt Jr. done for 2016 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss the rest of the NASCAR season — 18 races total — as he continues to recover from a concussion. NASCAR’s most popular FACES driver fi rst began experiencing concussion-like symptoms in late July. “To say I’m disappointed doesn’t begin to describe how I feel, but I know this is the right thing for my long-term Earnhardt Jr. health and career,” Earnhardt said in a statement Friday. Earnhardt said doctors have seen progress in his recovery, and he plans to be back in the car next February for the season-opening Daytona 500. Jeff Gordon and Alex Bowman will continue to share seat time in the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. “Like many players, he drives himself and he drives his teammates. At the end of the game, he kept saying it, ‘We’re so much better than this. We’re so much better.’ It’s not about his yards, not about his carries, it’s about our machine when we’re humming.“ — David Shaw Stanford head football coach on running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey scored a pair of touchdowns to help No. 8 Stanford to a 26-13 win over Kansas State on Friday. Milton Freewater, the horse, loses in stakes race DEL MAR, Calif. — Milton Freewater, the 2-year-old thoroughbred running in top-level races in Southern California, fi nished fourth in a $150,000 stakes Friday at Del Mar Racetrack. Going off at odds of 5-1 in a fi eld of seven horses, he stalked the pace, was caught in behind horses at the top of the stretch and fi nished evenly for fourth. Longshot Mo Soul won the race and paid $43.20 on a $2 bet. The $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes was restricted to California breds. Milton Freewater was ridden by leading rider Flavien Prat, and is trained by defending Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill. THIS DATE IN SPORTS 1989 — Chris Evert defeats 15-year-old Monica Seles 6-0, 6-2, for her 101st and fi nal U.S. Open win. 1995 — The Carolina Panthers lose to the Atlanta Falcons 23-20 in their fi rst NFL game and the Jackson- ville Jaguars lose their fi rst game to the Houston Oilers 10-3. 2007 — Pedro Martinez completes his comeback from major shoulder surgery, becoming the 15th pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters in his career. The New York Mets’ right-hander fans Aaron Harang for the milestone in a 10-4 win over Cincinnati. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com
