FOOTBALL
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
5A SPECIAL DISTRICT 1
East Oregonian
Hermiston Bulldogs
T
he Summit Storm ruled the
IMC and Special District 1
for the past few seasons, but
their reign may end this season.
On paper, Hermiston looks to be
the strongest team in the league,
returning seven all-league
players and 11 total starters.
Mountain View should be strong
again as well, and Pendleton
could push for a postseason
spot. The top four teams earn a
playoff berth.
2016 Results
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Playoff
Projected Finish
vs. Union (WA)
at Lewiston (ID)
vs. Mtn. View
vs. Summit
at Hood River
vs. Ridgeview
at Bend
at Redmond
vs. Pendleton
at St. Helens
L 38-27
L 38-13
W 35-21
L 27-14
W 36-6
W 54-0
W 28-7
L 26-14
W 13-12
L 12-7
2017 Schedule
Hermiston Bulldogs
Mtn. View Cougars
Pendleton Buckaroos
Summit Storm
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Bend Lava Bears
Redmond Panthers
Hood River Eagles
Ridgeview Ravens
(Rankings based on coaches and media votes)
2016 Final Standings
Conf.
Summit*
7-0
Redmond*
5-2
Hermiston* 5-2
Mtn. View* 4-3
Bend
4-3
Pendleton
2-5
Ridgeview
1-6
Hood River 0-7
Page 3C
Ovr.
9-2
6-5
5-5
6-4
6-3
3-6
1-8
0-9
In this 2016 file photo, Hermiston quarterback Andrew James looks to hand off
to Johnathan Hinkle in the Bulldogs’ 36-14 loss to Union (WA) in Hermiston. With
a lot of weapons back on offense, including James, the Bulldogs appear to be a
team to beat in Special District 1 again this season.
Head coach: David Faaeteete,
3rd year (10th overall)
Assistant coaches: Scott
Hammond (defensive coordinator),
7th year; Mike Mosher
(quarterback coach),
2nd year; Rick Wells
(offense line coach),
2nd year; Gary Posten
(linebacker, JV head
coach), 2nd year; Jared
Munsterman (freshman quarterback
coach), 4th year; Nolan West
(offensive line coach), 3rd year;
Andy Hall (linebacker and freshman
head coach), 2nd year; Travis Jones
(running back coach), 3rd year; John
Christy (offensive and defensive
line coach), 1st year; Eddie Lopez
(defensive line coach), 7th year;
Chris Gilchrist (wide receiver coach),
1st year
Returning starters: Taylor
Arnold, OT, sr.; Beau Blake, OL/
DT, sr.; AJ Fernandez, OT/DT, sr.;
Joe Gutierrez, DB/WR, sr.; Jonathan
Hinkle, RB/LB, sr.; Jose Huato, OL,
sr.; Tyler Hunter, DE, sr.; Dayshawn
Neal, WR/DB, sr.; Tyler Rohrman,
WR/DB, sr.; Eric White, TE/DE, sr.;
Andrew James, QB/LB, jr.
Returning lettermen: Keaton
Mikami, DE/TE, sr.; AJ Tuia, WR/
OLB, sr.; Peter Earl, RB/LB, sr.; Jacob
Liebe, C/DT, jr.
On offense: The Bulldogs
work with a spread offense, using
multiple formations and personnel
Sept. 1
at Union (WA) 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 vs. Lewiston (ID) 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Mtn. View*
7 p.m.
Sept. 22
at Summit*
7 p.m.
Sept. 29 vs. Hood River*
7 p.m.
Oct. 6
at Ridgeview*
7 p.m.
Oct. 13
at Bend*
7 p.m.
Oct. 20
vs. Redmond*
7 p.m.
Oct. 27
at Pendleton*
7 p.m.
*-denotes league game
groups throughout the game.
On defense: With an even front
team with multiple coverages, the
Bulldogs stay in their base package
and will blitz when they feel it gives
them an advantage.
Primary goals for the season:
Faaeteete wants the team to
get better each day, and put in
championship work every day.
Faaeteete’s key to season:
“Trust the process. Preparation
every week is why great teams are
great, and why they win. Prepare
every week like it is the last game
you will ever play in or coach and
pay attention to the details — that
is our key to victory.”
*-made postseason
Pendleton Buckaroos
Returning All-League
Hermiston — Dayshawn Neal,
WR, sr.; Andrew James, QB, jr.;
Jonathan Hinkle, RB/LB, sr.; AJ
Fernandez, OL, sr.; Joe Gutier-
rez, DB, sr.; Beau Blake, OL/DL,
sr.; Tyler Rohrman, DB/WR, sr.
Hood River Valley — Wade
Pickering, OL, sr.; Patrick Estes,
LB, sr.
Pendleton — Shaw Jerome,
WR/DB, sr.; Nick Bower, QB, sr.;
Greg Lee, DL, sr.
Mountain View — Rylee
Ettinger, DL/OL, sr.; Brandt
Waller, OL, sr.
Redmond — Dillon Taylor,
RB, sr.; Colton Mortenson, DB,
sr.; Tyson Hester, TE, sr.; Brian
Lopez, K, sr.
Ridgeview — Jace Reitz, LB, sr.
Summit — Ben Graziani, WR,
sr.; Noah Turnbull, OL/DL, sr.;
Cian Marderos, DL/OL, sr.;
Evan Heimuller, LB, sr.
Head coach: Erik Davis, 6th year
Assistant coaches: Fred Phillips
(Def. coordinator/linebackers),
10th year; Josh Linehan (offensive
line), 8th year; Aaron Schmidt (wide
receivers), 8th year; Wes
Armstrong (running
backs), 2nd year; Drew
Hubel (quarterbacks),
3rd year; Mark Sokoloski
(defensive backs), 8th
year; Ron Murphy (defensive line),
3rd year.
Key returners: Nick Bower, QB, sr.;
Shaw Jerome, WR/DB, sr.; Greg Lee,
DL/TE, sr.; Tanner Stephan, WR/DB,
sr.;
Impact newcomers: Willie Camp,
WR, sr. (transfer from La Grande).
On offense: The Buckaroos want to
keep defenses guessing out of its
spread formations, and senior QB
Nick Bower will look to fellow senior
Shaw Jerome to attack defenses
downfield.
On defense: The Bucks have some
holes to fill along the front seven,
but return enough in the secondary
to help balance it. They’ll still look
to keep opposing offenses out of
rhythm and use aggressive pass
rushes and coverages.
4A GREATER OREGON LEAGUE
T
he Greater Oregon League was
pretty balanced among the top
three teams in 2016, with Ontario,
La Grande, and Baker each tying for
first place and making the postseason.
However, all three teams lost a lot of
players to graduation, which could allow
for Mac-Hi to creep into the top three.
La Grande should be the team this
year with all-state QB and Utah State
commitment Andrew Peasley leading
the way.
Projected Finish
La Grande Tigers
Baker Bulldogs
Ontario Tigers
Buckaroo
quarterback
Nick Bower
avoids a
tackle during
a 2016 game
against Red-
mond at the
Round-Up
Arena. Bow-
er returns to
lead Pendle-
ton’s offense
as the Bucks
look to get
into the
playoffs.
Staff photo by
Kathy Aney
2017 Schedule
Sept. 1
Sept. 8
Sept. 15
Sept. 22
Sept. 29
Oct. 6
Oct. 13
Oct. 20
Oct. 27
2016 Results
vs. La Grande
vs. Putnam
vs. Summit*
vs. Ridgeview*
at Redmond*
vs. Mtn. View*
at Hood River*
at Bend*
vs. 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.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
at La Grande W 48-28
at Putnam
L 49-21
at Summit
L 55-17
at Ridgeview W 29-25
vs. Redmond L 49-21
at Mtn. View
L 35-18
vs. Hood River W 33-23
vs. Bend
L 22-7
at Hermiston L 13-12
*-league game
McLoughlin Pioneers
Head coach: Gary Robertson,
2nd year (3rd year overall)
Assistant coaches: Rory
Simpson (defensive
coordinator), 3rd
year; James Wilbourn
(Offensive/Defensive
line), 1st year; Mike
Lesko, 1st year.
Returning starters:
Drew Birdwell, QB/DB, sr.;
Michael Breeding, DE/RB, sr.;
Brandyn Chaney, LB/TE, sr.; Zach
Crisman, WR/DB, sr.; Kyler Kelly,
OL/DL, sr.; Allen Mendoza, DB/
WR, sr.; Salvador Patino, LB/TE,
sr.; Alejandro Saldana, LB/OL, sr.;
Josh Torres, OL/LB, sr.; Spencer
Wells, OL/DE, sr.
Other returners: Wyatt
Bamford, RB/DB, sr.; Alex
Doherty, OL/DL, jr.; Cruz Garcia,
DL/OL, sr.; Wyatt Gilmore, QB/
DB, sr.; Alfredo Lopez, WR/DB,
sr.; Joey Olson, OL/DL, sr.; Tristan
Brennan, RB/LB, soph., Marcellus
Brinkley, RB/DB, soph., Zach
Hodgen, TE/DE, jr.; Alexis Perez,
OL/DL, jr.; Dylan Quist, TE/LB,
soph.
Impact newcomers: Hector
Castillo, fr.; Andrew Ceja, fr., Nick
Doherty, fr., Devin Humber, fr.;
Rafael Pereydn, fr.; Eli Springer,
fr., Kiez White, fr.
On offense: The Pioneers are a
run/pass/option team that runs
out of the spread formation with
four wide receivers at a time.
On defense: Mac-Hi goes with
a stacked box on most plays,
running a 4-4 base formation,
and the Pioneers intend to up
its aggressiveness in playcalling
and utilize more blitzes and
pressures.
Robertson’s key to the season:
“Health. If we can keep our
starters healthy and continue to
improve as we did last year, it’ll
be a good year.”
Mac-Hi Pioneers
2017 Schedule
2016 Final Standings
Conf. Overall
Ontario*
La Grande*
Baker*
Mac-Hi
*-made playoffs
2-1
2-1
2-1
0-3
7-3
4-6
7-3
2-5
Sept. 1
Sept. 8
Sept. 14
Sept. 22
Oct. 6
Oct. 13
Oct. 20
*-league game
at Dayton-Waitsburg (WA)
vs. DeSales (WA)
at Weston-McEwen
vs. Riverside
vs. Ontario*
at La Grande*
vs. Baker*
2016 Results
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
vs. Waitsburg (WA)
vs. Desales (WA)
at The Dalles
at Riverside
at Ontario*
vs. La Grande*
at Baker*
W 14-7
L 28-27
L 36-0
W 41-26
L 53-0
L 68-20
L 48-7