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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 2016)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 12, 2016 12A COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12 Boys Soccer: Central at Lebanon, 4 p.m. Silverton at Dallas, 4 p.m. Cross-country: Central, Dallas at Lebanon, TBA. Girls Soccer: Lebanon at Central, 4 p.m. Dallas at Silverton, 6 p.m. Volleyball: Central at Dallas, 6 p.m. Perrydale at Jewell, 5 p.m. THURSDAY, OCT. 13 Football: Central at Lebanon, 7 p.m. Corvallis at Dallas, 7 p.m. Volleyball: Central at Philomath, 5 p.m. Crosshill Christian at Falls City, 5:30 p.m. Women’s Soccer: West- ern Washington at Western Oregon, 3 p.m. FRIDAY, OCT. 14 Football: Triangle Lake at Falls City, 7 p.m. Perry- dale at Sherman, 7 p.m. Boys Soccer: McNary at Central, 7 p.m. SATURDAY, OCT. 15 Cross-country: Central, Dallas at George Fox XC Classic, 10 a.m. Western Oregon at Mike Hodges In- vitational, 10:30 a.m. Football: Western Ore- gon at Central Washington, 1 p.m. Volleyball: Western Oregon at Montana State Billings, 6 p.m. TUESDAY, OCT. 18 Boys Soccer: Dallas at Central, 6 p.m. Girls Soccer: Central at Dallas, 4 p.m. Volleyball: Corvallis at Central, 6 p.m. Dallas at Woodburn, 6 p.m. Falls City at Jewell, 5:30 p.m. Perrydale at C.S. Lewis, 6 p.m. Women’s Soccer: West- ern Oregon at Concordia, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19 Cross-country: Central at Woodburn (at Willamette Mission State Park), TBA. South Albany, Corvallis, Crescent V alley at Dallas, TBA. — Highburger, Wolves show some attitude By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Some- thing was missing from Western Oregon’s football team. Coming off a 31-2 loss to Azusa Pacific on Oct. 1, WOU’s defense needed its swagger back. “I think we needed a week to galvanize,” redshirt sophomore Bo Highburger said. “… It takes an attitude that nobody’s going to score on us on defense. You take it as a personal insult if they do.” Western got its groove back on Saturday. The Wolves held Simon Fraser without an offensive touchdown and minus 8 rushing yards during a 33-7 victory. Highburger, like he has for much of the 2016 season, played a key role, recording three tackles, including 1.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble. See WOLVES, Page 13A LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Western Oregon’s Bo Highburger (44) closes in on Simon Fraser’s quarterback. PREP FOOTBALL A whole new world LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Falls City junior Jacob Oberg decided to play organized football for the first time this fall. Oberg adjusts to life on the gridiron and in America Schedules Subject to Change By Lukas Eggen QUICK HITS Cross Creek men’s club results DALLAS — Cross Creek’s men’s club results for Oct. 4: Low gross/low net Gross: 1, Ben Talon- Kayne, 39; 2, Bob Mc- Cleery, 40. Net: 1 (tie), Ken Dankenbring, Lynn Hurt, Derrill Weaver and Ed Johnson, 35. Revis, Johnson earn weekly honor MONMOUTH — West- ern Oregon’s football play- ers saw receiver Paul Revis and linebacker Tyler John- son earn offensive and de- fensive Player of the Week honors from the Great Northwest Athletic Confer- ence. Revis set two school records against Simon Fraser on Saturday. Revis hauled in 17 catches for 250 receiving yards — both single game records for WOU. Johnson recorded six tackles, including three tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. Both players helped the Wolves defeat the Clan 33- 7. The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — Falls City junior Jacob Oberg always enjoyed watching others play football. This fall, he decided to join the Moun- taineers on the gridiron. “The first time you get hit, it’s kind of a wake-up call,” he said. “You’re like, whoa.” Oberg isn’t just adjusting to life on the gridiron. This school year is his one chance to expe- rience high school in America, and he plans to take full advantage before his time runs out. Since the year 2000, the Oberg family has lived primarily in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso in Africa, where they per- form missionary work, including building churches, digging wells and helping with medical issues. The family returns to the states once every three to four years while his dad speaks to churches about his experiences. “We’re usually in West Africa for three or four years at a time, then we come to the states for a year,” Oberg said. That means this school year is his one chance to live it up the best he can — though he’s had to adjust to getting comfortable with a different culture. “It’s a pretty big culture shock,” Oberg said. “The U.S. is a lot wealthier than Africa. It’s pretty poor over there. The culture is just dif- ferent. It’s hard to explain.” Among the biggest dif- ferences are weather — it Oberg remains hot year-round where Oberg lives in Africa — and language. French is the primary language spoken in the town Oberg lives in Africa. But he’s also learned that certain precon- ceived notions about Americans aren’t true. “Let’s face it, over there, they think of Americans as people who eat a lot and have plenty,” Oberg said. “I see that’s not always the case. I can see that it’s very different here, but it’s also kind of the same.” On the football field, Oberg has been learning on the fly, but he is excelling, earn- ing a starting spot on the offensive and de- fensive line. “I always hear the coaches’ voices in the back of my head telling me, don’t get too far deep or close in the pocket,” Oberg said. He still needs a reminder from time to time about where he should be, but his en- thusiasm is infectious. See OBERG, Page 13A The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — Falls City’s football team has been here before. Each of the last two seasons, the Mountaineers have had a chance to make the state playoffs — some- thing they haven’t done since 1982. Each of those times, Falls City fell short. The Mountaineers hope the third time’s the charm. Falls City hosts Triangle Lake Friday at 7 p.m. A win, and the Mountaineers clinch the Special District 3 north title — and an auto- matic berth to the state playoffs. “I don’t hide it; I put pressure on them,” coach Laric Cook said. “I tell them, it’s time (we make the state playoffs). It’s been too long. Each of the last two years we should have won a league title, but we didn’t because our kids did- n’t stay true to what needed to be done. This group is a little bit different. They’re a little more driven.” Showing the desire is part of the equation. Trust- ing the game plan will be key against Triangle Lake. Having the discipline to trust their preparation has been a struggle in previous years, See STATE, Page 13A Playoff potential • Falls City hosts Triangle Lake Friday at 7 p.m. • A win and the Mountaineers clinch the Special District 3 north title and earn an automatic berth to the state playoffs. • Falls City has not been to the state playoffs since the 1982 season. • Triangle Lake is on a three-game win streak. Dragons hope third set sparks playoff run By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer 117 www.polkio.com By Lukas Eggen PREP VOLLEYBALL STAT SHEET The num- ber of re- ceiving yards for- mer Western Oregon foot- ball player Tyrell Williams had on Sunday for the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. Williams recorded five catches for 117 yards and a touchdown during the Chargers’ 34-31 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sun- day. For the season, Williams has 21 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns. San Diego is 1-4 this season. Falls City on the brink of a state playoff berth LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Dallas sophomore setter Emma Classen returns a hit against Corvallis on Thursday night. DALLAS — In a span of less than 10 minutes against Corvallis on Thursday, start- ing outside hitter Maggie Blair and middle blocker Tristin Savage went down with injuries. It would have been easy for the Dragons to lay down in the third set. Instead, Dallas gave the Spartans a challenge, lead- ing for much of the set, be- fore falling 25-23, 25-13, 26- 24. “It’s crazy, that’s the only way I can explain it,” coach Shana Lavier said. “Two starters go down with in- juries, and my girls played with more heart and hustle (in the third set) than I’ve seen all season. It was cool to watch.” Dallas showed in that third set it could keep up with the MWC’s top team. The Dragons Savage kept pos- sessions alive with digs, ex- tending and winning long points, and minimizing er- rors. For at least one set, Dallas went blow for blow with the league’s top team. “We knew we had nothing to lose and played with all our heart,” sophomore Emma Classen said. The question becomes can the Dragons channel that energy for an entire match. The answer may de- cide whether Dallas qualifies for the state play-in round. www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 That third set is what Lavier hopes inspires the Dragons for a late season push — one that Dallas badly needs if it wants to extend its season. Dallas entered its match at Silverton on Mon- day losers of four in a row in league play. The Dragons entered the week in seventh place in the Mid-Willamette Conference — one game be- hind South Albany after a three-set loss to Silverton on Monday. The top six teams ad- vance to the postseason. Blair will return Wednes- day (today) but Lavier said there is no timetable for Sav- age’s return. On paper, losing two starters so late in the season could be a nail in the coffin for the team’s postseason hopes. See DRAGONS, Page 13A www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports
