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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2018)
A10 Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 5, 2018 WEDNESDAY September 5, 2018 Prairie City’s six-man team gearing up for intense season Panthers will host Harper at 7 p.m. Friday 2018 Prairie City football schedule Sept. 7: vs. Harper at 7 p.m. Sept. 14: @ South Wasco County in Maupin at 5 p.m. Sept. 21: vs. Joseph at 6 p.m. Sept. 28: vs. Echo at 7 p.m. Oct. 5: @ Huntington at 1 p.m. Oct. 12: vs. McKenzie at 7 p.m. Oct. 19: vs. Burnt River at 7 p.m. Oct. 26: @ Mitchell/Spray/Wheeler in Mitchell at 2 p.m. By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Prairie City Panther grid- ders are ready for those Fri- day night lights, and they’ll be playing a new style of game — six-man football. The Panthers’ home open- er is at 7 p.m. Friday, when they host the Harper Hornets. Prairie City head coach Nate Barber said fans should find the game riveting. “Six-man football will be pretty exciting,” he said. “It’s pretty fast paced. It makes the kids have to be more disci- plined — stay in their zones.” Fans can expect to see a lot more passing, and Barber said that’s where returning quar- terback sophomore Jayden Winegar will help the team. “His accuracy has im- proved with a stronger arm,” Barber said. “Quarterbacks do a bit of scrambling,” he added. “You have to be disciplined and stick to your receiver. Broken plays can burn you.” The six-man game has some different rules. Three players must start on the line of scrimmage, but any player, except the passer, is eligible to Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Prairie City Panther Jake McHatton, left, moves in on ball carrier Wyatt Armstrong in practice Aug. 28. Lane Williams Jake McHatton catch a forward pass. The quarterback can’t progress the ball past the line of scrimmage unless the ball is handed off or passed — al- though once a pass or handoff is made, he can get it back. “You have to be creative with your play calling, but it’s still fundamental ball playing,” Wyatt Barber said. Armstrong “There are opportunities to come back even if you’re down.” A first down is made in 15 yards instead of 10, and the length of periods is 10 min- utes. A field goal is 4 points. An extra point or points can be earned after a touchdown with 1 point for a successful pass or scrimmage or 2 points for a successful place or drop kick. This is Barber’s second year as head coach, and the year before that he was assis- tant coach. His assistants this year are Crockett Packard and Zach DeRosier. He said a good attitude from the team is creating a positive atmosphere, and he’s seeing strength in his team. The coach said sopho- more Declan Zweygardt is returning with “size, hustle and strength.” As a running back and receiver, the coach said he’s an “intelligent foot- ball player — disciplined and strong.” Senior Wyatt Armstrong, who transferred from Burnt River School in Unity, is a running back, receiver and backup quarterback. “He’s stepping into a lead- ership role as a senior,” Bar- ber said. “Jake McHatton anchors the line offensively and de- fensively,” he added. “Bladen Burril is another part of the line that is strong — an excel- lent blocker.” He said McHatton, a se- nior, is center, and Burril, a sophomore, will also play that position. Freshman Marcus Judd is also stepping up and filling in spots, the coach said. Barber said he’s happy to see the numbers on the roster spread out among the grades with three seniors, three ju- niors, four sophomores and four freshmen. Senior Lane Williams said he’s looking forward to the season. “This is my last year, and I’ve never seen a team with as much intensity as these guys,” he said. Armstrong said, with the team getting into shape, he’s expecting a good season. Senior Jonathan Law- rence said the six-man game is faster than they originally thought. “We just need to prepare for it to get faster and faster,” he said. “We’ve got size and speed — a little bit of every- thing. I’m glad to have these guys as my teammates.” Prairie City will face eight opponents in the 1A Special District 5: Burnt River, Day- ville/Monument, Echo, Harp- See PANTHERS, Page A13 Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter The Grant Union Prospector volleyball team celebrates a good rally in their win over Burns Aug. 28 in John Day. From left: Yui Asami, Hailie Wright (10), Aidan Broemeling, Kori Jo Girvin (8), Sydney Brockway (11) and McKeely Miller (4). Grant Union takes exhilarating 3-1 win over Burns Prospector team work ethic gets the job done Dayville/Monument Tiger Sam Adams gets in on the action in practice. SMALL BUT MIGHTY Tigers look to bounce back Dayville/ Monument hosts Locos at 5 p.m. Sept. 11 in Dayville By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The Grant Union volley- ball team came together for a win over the Burns Hilanders Aug. 28 at the Prospectors’ home court. Although Burns pushed the match to four sets, Pros- pector head coach Ali Abrego said she was proud of her team. “I know they have a lot of history with Burns, so it was really important to win on our home court tonight, and I think they worked really hard for it,” she said. Grant Union won with scores of 25-17, 22-25, 25-19 and 25-14. In the second set, scoring went back and forth through- out, and after Grant Union tied it 22-22, Burns pulled ahead for the win. Grant Union stayed ahead in the third until Burns tied it 13-13. Then scores were close. Senior Hailie Wright closed it on a positive note with consistent serving. The Prospectors took an early lead in the fourth set and kept that cushion to win the match. Abrego said the setters, Wright and senior Alcie Moore, worked hard, and outside hitter Sydney Brock- way, also a senior, constantly pursued the balls no one else would. “I think that’s really spe- cial to have that work ethic amongst the team,” the coach Dayville/Monument’s Katelyn Barker is in action during the Tigers’ Wednesday afternoon practice. By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Grant Union Prospector senior Trinity Hutchison steps in for a save during the match with Burns. said, adding senior libero Yui Asami, a Japanese student at- tending Grant Union this year, also gave a great effort and performed well. “I thought we did good all together,” Wright said. “We had some peaks and val- leys, but for the most part we stayed up from start to finish.” “I think we played re- ally well with great setting, passing, hitting, serving and blocking — all around,” said Prospector senior Kori Jo Gir- vin. “I’m proud of our win.” Abrego said last week- end’s tournament in Heppner gave them an opportunity to face league opponents before competing with them in Sep- tember. “I think we have a really gifted team,” Abrego said. “I think that once everybody is back into full swing and everybody is back in the ro- tations, it will just be smooth sailing.” The Dayville/Monument Tiger volleyball team is poised for a big comeback this season. Seven of the nine girls on the team are returning varsity players, and the two freshmen have volleyball experience. Dayville/Monument is led by Kristi Emerson, who is in her second year as head coach with seven years over- all with the team. Cheyenne Perkins is in her second year as assistant coach. The Tigers’ goal this year is to let hard work pay the dividends of a district cham- pionship. Emerson said staying positive to win their way out of any slumps will be key. It’s a system that worked for them at the Aug. 25 Echo Jamboree JV Tourna- ment where the Tigers won all four of their games 2-0, competing with one varsity team, Nixyaawii, and three junior varsity teams. “If they got down by three or four points, they got back into the game,” Emer- son said. “They’re working on staying positive and not getting down.” Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter The Dayville/Monument Tiger volleyball team closes their practice on Wednesday, gathering around head coach Kristi Emerson, back center/left, and assistant coach Cheyenne Perkins, with baby. 2018 Dayville/ Monument Tiger volleyball schedule Faythe Schafer Kyla Emerson She said the goal is to keep trying. The two seniors, Faythe Schafer and Kyla Emer- son, are returning starters and have played the game together since fifth grade. Each have reasons behind their good outlook on the season. “I’m excited because we’re trying a new defense and offense, and I’m excited to see how it works against other teams,” said Schafer, who is a setter and team captain. “We have a lot of skilled players Dayville/Monument Tiger Aubrey Bowlus returns the ball in practice. who know the game, so that will be a plus this year.” “I think the serving is our strongest point, and with the new rotation, we’re able to cover a lot more ground with less confusion,” Kyla said. See TIGERS, Page A13 Sept. 11: vs. Huntington in Dayville at 5 p.m. Sept. 21: @ Harper at 3 p.m. (MT) Sept 22: @ Adrian at 11 a.m. (MT) Sept 29: @ Condon/ Wheeler in Fossil at 11 a.m. Sept. 29: vs. Trinity Lutheran in Fossil at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 2: @ Burnt River at 5 p.m. Oct. 6: vs. Jordan Valley in Dayville at 1 p.m. Oct. 13: vs. Crane in Monument at 1 p.m. Oct. 20: High Desert District Tournament in John Day at 8 a.m.
