Page I
herniaii coacli eyes battle
"I rate our defenses about
equal and, I think, our offense
is a, little more explosive and
more versatile. ..but then, I
didn't see Christman or Skow
last week. I may be in for a big
surprise," Lance Ballew,
Sherman County Husky head
mentor said Monday evening
in a G-T interview.
Ballew was cramming for
Heppner Monday, trying to
figure out how the Mustangs,
termed the Columbia Basin
Conference's Cardiac Kids by
one newspaper, could have
turned in such an impressive,
5-0 mark.
"It's gonna be a real
battle," Ballew said with a
southern drawl. "Heppner's
gonna be up. ..it's their home
1
( i 1 Mike
i
Murray's
coming; they're 5-0 and ready
for a showdown with Umatilla
next week. They'll be sky high
and so will we. It's our last
chance.. .our only chance, to
beat Heppner and then you'll
beat Umatilla, force a three
way tie and go by Ausi
points."
You can bet John Sporseen
and his Mustang gridders
would like to spoil that little
fantasy for Ballew. As far as
Heppner is concerned, it's
Sherman County Friday and
Umatilla next week and Was
co County the week after. One
at a time.
Sherman's record of 4-1 is
an impressive one, despite the
loss. The Husky league mark
is 3-1, with their only defeat at
No. 76
Dave
Jones
Jr.
Heppner .
F 676-9426
No. 77
Smith
Sr.
248 lbs.
Drugs
the hands of that stubborn,
lossless Viking squad from
Umatilla.
Sherman wins have been
over Oregon Trail, 39-18; Pilot
Rock, 57-0; and Riverside,
43-0. Their lone loss was to
Umatilla at Moro, 18-0. Com
bined scores show Sherman in
front, 139-18.
Ballew claims "overall bal
ance" as the key to the
Sherman success. With a
chuckle, he acknowledges that
the Huskies have more than
one strong point.
Ballew said the Huskies like
to pass as well as run.
Sherman usually runs a little
more than they put the ball in
the air, but with senior signal
caller Paul Fritts completing
ft'
s S
rPPMPI 159 lbs.
Heppner Nor-Gas
Serving Morrow, Gilliam, and
Wheeler Counties
Heppner 676-9450
Gardner's
Mens Wear
68 per cent of his aerials, they
like to go to the bombs. Fritts
is 44 for 68 for 448 yards.
That passing game is a
definite asset, but Ballew
looks with assuring eyes at a
pair of sophomore backs, too.
Kevin Caseberg has churned
up 465 yards for a 6.1 average.
Eric Calista has piled up 243
yards and a 5.1 average.
Two of the reasons for the
offense's success has been in
the frames of Craig Colquitt
and Bart Baunach, a pair of
defenders that have haunted
QBs all season.
Baunach is a burly 200
pounder that likes his tackle
spot. Colquitt, a little quicker
with the same aggressiveness,
weighs In at 185 pounds.
No. 85
Jeff
Cutsforth
Sr.
No. 80
Kindall
Thomas
Sr.
150 lbs.
"They aren't as big as your
guys," Ballew said. When told
they were brothers, Bullew
knew which ones. "One is 6-5
and weighs 250 and the other is
6-3 and weighs 225?" he asked.
Yep, that's the Smith broth
ers. Ballew, who scouted, at
Weston-McEwen last week,
said he was Impressed with
number 20, Steve McLaughlin.
Ballew called him a quick,
good runner and also asked
about Christman.
Christman twisted both
ankles In the last two games,
but hopefully will be in full
stride Friday. "You have to
respect that average," Ballew
said, noting Christman's near
30 yard per reception tally.
Ballew was unaware that
Skow was out with illness last
week.
With apprehension, he
asked, "He'll unfortunately be
back this week?"
Sherman's head coach is
optimistic to a degree this
week. He knows it is a do or
die situation for the Huskies
and that Heppner would just
love to skip into Umatilla with
an unmarred season.
"With a game like this, you
can bet both teams will be
putting out real hard." Ballew
said.
Week
busy
Homecoming week has been
a busy and hectic one for
Heppner High School students
this week. Along with three
days of organization and
decorations, Thursday and
Friday will be even heavier
with activity.
Thursday slated a boys pep
assembly and powder puff
football game between 1-1:30
p.m. today. A tug of war
follows with a faculty pep
assembly right after that.
A pizza party and dance
decorations will fallow at 6
p m. with cluss and organiza
tion float decorations soon
after.
Friday, the day of the game,
lists ample activities.
It's blue and gold dresa up
day, and students will be
treated to a continental break
fast and national school as
sembly. Al 12:30 pm., a
downtown pep assembly will
get everyone Involved and the
students' pep assembly will
tart at 3 p.m.
A parade at 4 p m., fea
turing the band, cheerleaders
and other active groups, will
leave from the courthouse.
The game ia set for I p m. at
the Mustang grounds and the
dance to follow will run from
10-1 am.
Saturday will be a day of
rest for all.
Heppner
676-9210
Heppner
676-9150