E AST O REGONIAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
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A8
Pendleton steps up to take on 6A Southridge
Skyhawks feature
a large line and 3
veteran receivers
By ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — The
Bucks went from having
their fi rst game of the season
canceled to picking up a
game against 6A Southridge
all in a span of 48 hours.
Pendleton will travel to
Beaverton on Friday, Sept.
3, to take on the Skyhawks
of the Metro League.
“We got some film,”
Pendleton coach Erik Davis
said. “They are very big
up front. That is going to
be something we will fi ght
a little bit all year. We are
going to see if we can hang
with a 6A team.”
Davis and Southridge
coach Kevin Bickler were
quarterbacks together at
Western Oregon University,
which Davis said will lead to
similar off ensive game plans.
The Bucks, who went 4-2
last season, likely will start
Jack Lieuallen at quarter-
back and move Collin Primus
to receiver. Both have been
taking snaps at quarterback.
“Putting Collin out at
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Pendleton’s Ben Jennings (6) hauls in a pass under heavy coverage from Hermiston’s Erlin
Delgado (14) during a scrimmage Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, at Pendleton High School. This was
the fi rst time the former rivals met on the fi eld of play in almost four years.
receiver and keeping Jack at
quarterback I think is going
to make us a better off ensive
team,” Davis said. “I think
you will see both of them at
quarterback at some point.”
Running backs Kyle
Liscom and Payton Lambert
bring a little spice to the
off ense coming out of the
backfi eld.
“They are able to bring a
little heart when they run the
football,” Davis said. “They
aren’t going to back down
from anyone. You want them
to stay healthy — you don’t
want them to take a big hit
every time. We are as thin as
can be depth wise.”
Also look for the Bucks
to incorporate sophomore
Ben Jennings into the mix at
receiver and in the second-
ary. He also handles the
kicking duties.
The Skyhawks, who
went 2-4 during a COVID-
19-shortened season in the
spring, have some size up
front with center Danny
Battilega (6-3, 310), TE/DE
Dominick Menegas (6-2,
250), OL/DL Ethan Sanft
(6-3, 280) and Sol Sagiao
(6-4, 265).
“Looking at their D-line,
they lean on you and wear
you out,” Davis said. “They
have a running back who is
kind of a load. Defensively,
we have to match their phys-
icality and maybe try to wear
their big guys down.”
That Southridge running
back is Cypress Albright
(5-8, 200), who averaged
seven yards a carry last year.
He also lines up at linebacker.
Quarterback JC Klee, in
his second year as starter,
will have options with
receivers in Nathan Aviles,
Omar Carranza and Alisjah
Tucker. All three also play in
the secondary, and combined
for 75 tackles last season.
The Skyhawks, coming
off their seventh consecutive
losing season, are looking
for their fi rst winning season
since 2013. One area they
need to shore up to accom-
plish that goal is ball control.
They turned the ball over 17
times in six games last year.
The first game of the
season always is a question
mark for teams, but it gives
them an opportunity to see
what works.
“We are untested under
Friday night lights,” Davis
said. “We’ll see what
we can do.”
Injuries plague Dawgs before football season starts
Hermiston loses 4
starters for most of
the season
By ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — The
Bulldogs haven’t even
kicked off the season but their
injured reserve list looks like
an end-of-season tally.
Hermiston, which is down
four key players, will host
Kamiakin in their Mid-Co-
lumbia Conference season
opener Friday, Sept. 3.
“Since we have been in
the Tri-City league, there
have been injuries,” Herm-
iston coach David Faae-
teete said. “(Andrew) James
tears his shoulder up, Chase
(Elliott) breaks his leg, then
COVID happens. Now we
lose four seniors before the
season even starts.”
That list includes line-
backer Koi Mikami (knee),
receiver KJ Ramirez (foot),
r un ning back Thomas
Reagan (knee) and defensive
end Ryker McDonald (medi-
cal issue).
“When Koi told me at
practice, I almost lost it,”
Faaeteete said. “He’s pretty
positive. He’s trying to fi nd a
way to get through it and be
there for his teammates. It’s
tough to put in all this time
and work to be sidelined. It
sucks. As a coach, it’s tough.”
Reagan, who is a speed-
ster, will be sorely missed in
the backfi eld.
“He is one of our explo-
sive guys,” Faaeteete said.
“We are going to have to rely
on our young backs to give
us something.”
McDonald, who also
comes out of the backfi eld,
will leave a gaping hole on
both sides of the ball.
“It’s hard to be an athlete
and a Type 1 Diabetic,”
Faaeteete said. “It’s tough
for them. I think it hurts him
more not to be there for his
teammates.”
Ramirez hopes to return
midseason, but it will depend
on how quickly his foot heals.
Despite the setbacks, the
Bulldogs move forward.
“Those four guys are
giant contributors to the
squad,” Faaeteete said. “We
will fi nd out what we really
have in the cupboard. Young
guys will get to play early
and often.”
With all that said, the
Bulldogs will have their
hands full with the Braves,
who are ranked No. 7 in the
MaxPreps preseason poll.
“They are pretty solid,”
Faaeteete said. “They looked
good in the 7-on-7 league.
Coach (Scott) Biglin always
has them working hard. He
has a good group. He has tons
of kids and athletes. He was
three deep at wide receiver,
and they are athletes.”
Hermiston does return
Elliott at quarterback, Sam
Cadenas on both sides of the
line, and Caden Hottman at
linebacker.
The Bulldogs also got a
transfer by the way of Texas
in 6-foot-6, 235-pound
senior Kael Hottman, who
will play tight end and defen-
sive end.
“He is getting more confi -
dent as he is learning the
system,” Faaeteete said.
While there are players in
place, Faaeteete is still fi lling
in the pieces around them.
“We have been able to
pare things down, and we
are still evaluating kids in
the roles that they can best
serve our program,” he said.
“We have guys but they are
young. We will have fi rst-
game jitters, but we can’t
give up big plays and we have
to stop the run. What you are
going to see on Friday is us
doing the best with what we
have, and trying to put points
on the board.”
ON THE SLATE
Thursday, Sept. 2
Prep football
Irrigon at Baker JV, 7 p.m.
Cove at Pilot Rock, 7 p.m.
Prep volleyball
South Wasco County, Irrigon
at Heppner, 4 p.m.
Pilot Rock at Imbler, 6 p.m.
Stanfi eld at Griswold, 4 p.m.
Umatilla at Griswold, 4 p.m.
Umatilla vs. Stanfi eld at Gris-
wold, 5:30 p.m.
Lyle/Wishram at Ione/
Arlington, 5 p.m.
Prep girls soccer
Ontario at Pendleton, 4 p.m.
McLoughlin at Riverside,
4 p.m.
Prep boys soccer
Pendleton at Ontario, 3 p.m.
McLoughlin at Riverside,
6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 3
Prep football
Pendleton at Southridge,
7 p.m.
Kamiakin at Hermiston,
7 p.m.
Heppner at Toledo, 7 p.m.
McLoughlin at College
Place, 7 p.m.
Ione/Arlington at Perrydale,
TBD
Lyle/Wishram/Klickitat at
Riverside, 7 p.m.
Colton at Stanfi eld, 5 p.m.
Echo at Joseph, 7 p.m.
Culver at Weston-McEwen,
7 p.m.
Prep volleyball
Delphian at Weston-McE-
wen, 5 p.m.
Echo at Joseph, 5 p.m.
Prep girls soccer
Trout Lake at Stanfi eld/Echo,
4 p.m.
Prep cross-country
Pendleton, Hermiston at
Hanford jamboree, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 4
Prep volleyball
Weston-McEwen at East
vs. West Tournament at
Heppner, 9 a.m.
Pendleton at McKay Tourna-
ment, 7 a.m.
Powder Valley at Nixyaawii,
10 a.m.
Powder Valley at Griswold,
1 p.m.
Ione/Arlington at Prairie
City/Burnt River, TBD
Irrigon at Stanfi eld, 9 a.m.
Elgin at Stanfi eld, 10:30 a.m.
Joseph at Stanfi eld, noon
Elgin vs. Irrigon, at Stanfi eld,
12:45 p.m.
Wallowa at Echo, 9 a.m.
Union at Echo, 10:30 a.m.
Prescott at Echo, noon
Prep girls soccer
Hanford at Hermiston, noon
Prep cross-country
Heppner, Umatilla at The
Ultimook Race, Tilla-
mook,11:30 a.m.
Pilot Rock will be tested by Cove in season opener Sept. 2
Rockets are young
but talented
By ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
PILOT ROCK — The
football season opens
Thursday, Sept. 2, and
Pilot Rock kicks things off
hosting Cove in an 8-man
showdown.
“I’m so glad we get to
play,” said Rockets coach
Mike Baleztena, whose
team was supposed to play
in a jamboree last week.
The Leopards went 0-3
in their makeshift spring
season, while the Rockets
went 4-2 after dropping
their fi rst two games of the
season.
Balez tena lost f ive
seniors off last year’s team,
but returns sophomore
quarterback Jace Otteson,
sophomore receiver/defen-
sive back Austin Ford,
senior running back/line-
backer Wyatt Stillman,
and a couple of beefy
sophomore linemen Broc
Er ick son a nd Ta n ner
Bedard. Sophomore James
Lunzman also returns at
center.
“We are still young, but
they are a little bit bigger
and stronger,” Baleztena
said. “They are solid play-
ers and they are smart.
They remind me of the
team from three years ago.”
The Leopards have
some size on their line,
with three guys tipping the
scales between 260 and
280 pounds, but the real
issue will be stopping the
speedy Rockets.
“The whole plan when
they are 280 is to try and
stay away from that bunch
of guys and make it a speed
game,” Baleztena said.
Games on tap for Friday
include Heppner at Toledo,
McLoughlin at College
Pla ce, Ione -A rl i ng-
ton at Perrydale, Colton
at Stanfield, Culver at
Weston-McEwen, Echo at
Joseph and Lyle/Wishram/
Klickitat at Riverside.
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
Pilot Rock’s Jace Otteson (11) runs the ball during the fi rst half against the Imbler Panthers on
Thursday, March 18, 2021. The Rockets defeated Imbler 30-24.
SPORTS SHORT
EOU kicker Zachary Cahill earns NAIA honor
East Oregonian
LA GRANDE — Eastern
Oregon University kicker Zachary
Cahill received recognition from
the National Association of Inter-
collegiate Athletics for his perfor-
mance in the opening week of the
2021 season.
The NAIA on Monday, Aug. 30
released its fi rst National Player of
the Week award winners for the
new season. Cahill made the debut
list as the Special Teams Player of
the Week.
Cahill’s kicking proved key
in the opener for No. 18 EOU in
its 26-24 road win over Montana
Tech.
Cahill was 4-4 in fi eld goal
attempts with two coming from
40-plus yards out. He also nailed
both PAT attempts to finish
the game 6-for-6 in scoring
attempts.
For the game, Cahill fi nished
with 14 points and nailed what was
the game-winning fi eld goal in the
fi nal minute from 42 yards out.
For his efforts, the Frontier
Conference Special Teams Player
of the Week award also went to
Cahill.
Cahill joins JD Woods of Baker
University and Dylan Martinez of
College of Idaho as the recipients
of the NAIA National Player of
the Week list. Woods was named
for off ense, while Martinez was
tabbed to the defense.
The Mountaineers will play
their home opener Saturday, Sept.
4, when they take on the Montana
Western Bulldogs. Kickoff is set
for 1 p.m. at Community Stadium.
Esma Oribio/Eastern Oregon University
Eastern Oregon University kicker Zachary Cahill was named the NAIA
Special Teams Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 30, 2021. Cahill
was 4-4 in fi eld goal attempts in the fi rst week of the season.