A10
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
WEDNESDAY
September 27, 2017
THINK PINK
Grant Union’s fi rst league matches
support breast cancer causes
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
From left, Prairie City cheerleaders Megan Camarena,
Shaelynn Bice, Caitlin Willet and Aries Bice perform.
Not pictured is Paige Moore.
Panther cheerleaders
raise school spirit
Grant Union
hosts Union
Friday at 4 p.m.
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
“D
ig Pink was
a successful,
emotional
day,”
said
Grant Union Prospector head
coach Shae Speth.
The Prospectors hosted
the Enterprise Outlaws and
Elgin Huskies for their fi rst
league matches, which had
more meaning than the aver-
age volleyball competition.
Grant Union’s gym was
fl ooded with pink for the
ninth annual event, from the
balloon displays and specta-
tor T-shirts to the team uni-
forms, in honor of breast can-
cer awareness.
“We chose to make this
year’s event much more per-
sonal by honoring and recog-
nizing those who are fi ghting
breast cancer, and those who
have battled and won, and
battled and lost, along with
their families,” Speth said.
“It was a very touching ded-
ication.”
Several women who’ve
been personally touched by
breast cancer received fl owers.
“I think this is a great
fundraiser that we’ve done
over the years,” said Prospec-
tor Reagan Shelley. “It’s fun
to see everyone come togeth-
er and play for a great cause.”
Prospector Mariah Moul-
ton agreed the event is fun.
See PINK, Page A18
Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union Prospector Trinity Hutchison (5) protects at the net, facing Enterprise
Outlaw Gracie Niezen (13) at Saturday’s Dig Pink Rally at Grant Union in John
Day.
The Prairie City Pan-
ther cheerleaders kept busy
during last week’s home-
coming festivities.
This year’s group of fi ve
girls and head coach Jill
Wright planned their school
pep assembly down to the
fi nest details.
Wright said this year’s
team does more than cheer
from the sidelines at the
football games.
“We have a group of
girls that are able to stunt,”
she said. “They’re dedicat-
ed, and we have goals set.”
Another part of the
cheering section is Penelo-
pe Panther, the school mas-
cot, who helps ignite the
crowd.
Last week, all fi ve girls
and the mascot cheered on
younger students who par-
ticipated in the school’s
jog-a-thon fundraiser.
During the week, the
team works at learning
their cheers and stunts, and
all, including Penelope, are
also members of the Prairie
City volleyball team.
They practice cheer
before school, then have
volleyball practice after
school.
“It’s
overwhelming
sometimes, but it’s defi -
nitely worth it,” said senior
Megan Camarena.
She said she’s happy the
team has more girls this
year.
“It’s also the fi rst all-girl
squad that does stunts,” she
added.
“I think it’s fun seeing
people’s reactions, seeing
how many cheerleaders we
have bringing spirit to the
school,” said sophomore
Shaelynn Bice.
“We work together like
a family,” said freshman
Aries Bice. “It’s just really
fun to support the team.”
Junior Paige Moore and
freshman Caitlin Willet
agreed that cheerleading is
fun.
“We’re really close, and
it’s a blast,” Moore said.
Cheering on the Grant Union Prospector
volleyball team at the Dig Pink rally are eighth-
graders Casey Vaughan and Parker Neault.
Grant Union Prospector Hailie
Wright sets the ball, her
teammates Trinity Hutchison,
center, and Reagan Shelley at
the ready.
The Grant Union Prospectors huddle during
the Dig Pink games.
Hornets swarm at Panthers’ homecoming
Prairie City
builds for future
seasons
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union Prospectors Mason Gerry (15) and
Cameron Hallgarth (28) zero in on a Burns ball carrier
in Friday night’s game.
Hilanders topple
Prospectors for 32-28 win
By Angel Carpenter
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Blue Mountain Eagle
Friday was homecoming
for the Prairie City Panthers,
but the Harper Hornets stole
the show with a 60-6 win.
Senior Danner Davis
scored Prairie City’s sole
touchdown in the fourth quar-
ter.
Prairie City freshman
quarterback Jayden Winegar
connected with him for 10
yards, and Davis ran another
25 to the end zone.
“That was Danner’s last
home game, so that was pretty
cool to have him score,” said
Prairie City head coach Nate
Barber. “Jayden’s got a good
head and has good football
IQ.”
Davis also recovered a
Harper fumble in the fi nal two
minutes of the game.
Harper quarterback Mor-
gan Butler and running back
Dalton Bixby seemed to fi nd
the Panthers’ weak spots for
many of the Hornets’ success-
ful plays.
In the second half, the
score 54-0, Prairie City played
with greater intensity.
Prairie City freshman De-
clan Zweygardt recovered a
Harper fumble in the third.
On the Panthers’ next
drive, Zweygardt caught Win-
egar’s pass for a fi rst down,
but the Hornets made the
stops and took over on downs
The 2A Grant Union
Prospectors and 3A Burns
Hilanders each had their ups
and downs Friday night at
Three Flags Field in John
Day, but the Hilanders won
the night 32-28.
Fans of both schools
packed the stands, cheering
loudly for their teams.
After a scoreless fi rst
quarter, Burns was fi rst to
add points to the board.
Grant Union’s Wade Re-
imers scored with a quarter-
back keeper, and Burns led
8-6 at halftime.
Things started looking
good for the Prospectors
when they recovered a Hi-
lander fumble in the third.
Reimers kept the ball for
two runs in the red zone,
scoring a touchdown and
the conversion points to up
Grant Union’s score to 14-8.
Burns running back Cade
Maupin answered back to tie
it, and the Hilanders scored
the two-point conversion.
With another keeper
from Reimers, Grant Union
led 20-16.
After Prospector line-
backer Cauy Weaver re-
covered a Burns fumble,
Reimers connected with
receiver Duane Stokes for a
big gain, but a penalty later
pulled Grant Union back,
Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Prairie City Panther Connor Jones (20), far right, makes the carry in Friday’s game
against Harper.
Prairie City Panther Jake McHatton tackles a Harper ball
carrier in Friday’s game.
at their 35-yard line.
Early in the fourth, Pan-
ther sophomore Connor Jones
combined with Davis to sack
Butler.
Panther Jojari Field, a
freshman, followed up with
a tackle in the backfi eld and
another tackle at the line of
scrimmage. Jones made a
fourth-down tackle, causing a
turnover.
From there, Prairie City
made offensive gains, which
led to Davis’ touchdown.
“We have moments of
greatness, but they just have
to be consistent on every
play,” Barber said of his team.
“Every play has to be that in-
tense.”
He added, “We caught the
ball for the most part.”
Commenting on defense in
the second half, he said, “We
changed some stuff up on the
end and got more attitude.”
Barber said he’s pleased
with the freshmen team mem-
bers.
“I want to give the young
guys more experience, so
we’re going to be building
for every game for seasons
down the road,” he said.
“These freshmen are step-
ping up.”
The Panthers now prepare
to face Huntington on the
road at 1 p.m. Friday.
“Getting ready, we’re
going to be working on our
blocking,” Barber said.
and Burns took possession
going into the fourth.
Burns again tied the
score, this time with a
touchdown from receiver
Zane Taylor.
The Hilanders also made
the two-point conversion for
the lead.
Stokes caught a touch-
down pass, and Weaver
made the grab in the end
zone for the two-point con-
version to take the lead right
back.
Grant Union was 28-24
with 9:03 left in the game.
The tables turned once
again as Burns managed
another touchdown, also
scoring the two-point con-
version.
Grant Union head coach
Jason Miller said team will
be looking at the missed
opportunities in the night’s
game, and will work to im-
prove blocking and tackling.
“The guys fought hard.
We just didn’t take advan-
tage of chances we had,”
Miller said. “Burns is the
better team today.”
The Prospectors have
this week off and return to
action at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct.
6, with a road game against
the nonleague Culver Bull-
dogs.
Grant Union’s fi rst
league game will be 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13, against the
Imbler Panthers.