Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1978)
The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Wednesday November 22, 1978 FIVE Card offense overpowers Powder Va Bleacher lone one game away from state title liey With Robb Rush 56-36 and one to go! The way that the lone Cardinals and the North Powder Badgers went at it Saturday, I am surprised the hospital is not full of fans suffering from whiplash. What an offensive show they put on. Together, both teams accounted for almost 1,000 yards of total offense. Now, that's moving the football. The Cardinals had another in a series of total team efforts with no real individual stars. Every member of the team made significant contributions to the winning effort. The balance of the offensive attack was very apparent again Saturday. Dennis Stefani had his usual run of the mill game 7 for 9 (77.7 per cent completions), no interceptions, and 182 yards passing and running. Kevin McCabe was in the same boat. Kevin ran the football six times for 59 yards. That's not much, you say? 9.8 yards per carry ain't bad. And he only caught three passes for an average of 36.6 yards per catch. Every time Kevin handled the ball he accounted for 19.8 yards. You can see why the opposition keys on him so much during the course of a game. Although I haven't been able to see all the lone football games there is one player I have noticed getting better each time I have seen him play. Gregg Rietmann has come into his own as an outstanding running back. Gregg had a terrific day, gaining 167 yards.'. It is exciting to see him improving and doing so well, because he is only a sophomore and will be around for awhile. And last but not least, all that running with the football is not possible without the offensive line knocking people down and moving them out. The Cardinal linemen do like to hit and they are very good at it. They play the game as it should be played as an aggresive contact sport. (Considering the wind and the temperature Saturday, only the very dedicated could have played the game. And all the Cardinals were there.) Defense? What defense, you say! In a game that had 92 points scored, the defense doesn't stand out like a sore thumb. But it was there. Not in a bushel basket, but it was there. Ask Treve Peterson, whose interception ended in six big ones. And what about fumble recoveries and holding the Badgers on downs. The defense was there. We just lost it occasionally in the midst of the offensive action. The fans were a little quieter Saturday, kind of like they just expected the Cards to do it no matter what. But on the other hand, the Arlington effort was a tough act to follow. A special hand goes to the lone cheerleaders. They are an energetic, enthusiastic and skilled rally squad. And they are non-stop. They make a real contribution to the Cardinal effort. Next week is it. For all the marbles. What started out in September as a dream is now very real and very possible. As in the last two games, if the Cardinals get the kind of team play they are capable of, lone football fans will have the Class B high school football CHAMPIONS on their hands. It was the day of the offense in lone Saturday, as the Cardinals exploded for 56 points to beat Powder Valley and advance to the state championship game in Class B football'. Hometown fans nearly dug a trench along the Cardinal sideline as they repeatedly marched up and down the gridiron to follow the scoring drives. Powder Valley was far from scoreless in the contest, rack ing up 36 points. The Badgers actually tallied more yardage than the Cards, picking up 493 yards in total offense 270 yards via air mail to 442 yards in offense for lone. The North Powder team was first on the scoreboard, when Badger quarterback Terry Boesel connected on a 23 pass play to Coby Moulton for a TD. After the Cardinal defense thwarted a two-point conver sion bid, the Redbirds fired up their offensive machine. lone running back Gregg Rietmann was handed the ball and didn't stop running with it until he sprinted 55 yards for the opening Cardinal score. Be fore the first quarter ended, lone was on the scoreboard again, this time on a 36 yard Dennis Stefani to Robin La Rue pass, made possible by a recovered fumble by Mark Patfon. Moving into the second quarter, Ione's Treve Peter son picked off a Badger pass, running it back 23 yards for another TD. Powder Valley countered with a wild, 59-yard run to paydirt by Ken Harling, but the Cardinal machine was only warming up. lone mount ed a 50-yard scoring drive, capped by a four yard touchdown rush by Kevin McCabe. North Powder man aged to drive 67 yards in 16 plays to score once more before the half ended, with lone ahead 28-22. Returning to the frozen playing field after the half time break, senior end Danny McElligott fielded a sideline pass from Stefani, then later aled the ball to lone rushing standout Kevin McCabe. The razzle-dazzle paid off, with McCabe outrunning Badger defenders 68 yards to the end zone. Powder Valley regained six points when Boesel connected with Gerald Smith. Then lone scored again on a run from two yards out by Gregg Rietmann, followed by a 22-yard goal line sprint by McCabe. A .Coby Moulton reception of a Doug Records pass, ended the Badgers' scoring. Gregg Rietmann iced the Cardinals' victory cake late in the final quarter, running 34 yards for the final lone touchdown. Rietmann was the game's leading ground gainer, rack ing up 167 yards in 20 carries. McCabe was the game's leading pass receiver, his efforts good for 119 yards. Although Stefani only at tempted 12 passes during the game, he connected on nine, good for 172 yards. Powder Valley's Boesel threw 26 times and completed on 17, good for 196 yards. Two of his passes, however, were picked off, with Stefani giving up no inter ceptions. The Cardinals recovered two Badger fumbles while giving up none themselves. lone was the only team to beat Powder Valley this season. In the second game of the year, the Cards came from . behind to beat the Badgers 28-22. "If the fan's didn't get their money's worth Saturday, they'll never spend $2.50 again and get more excite ment," commented Ione's head coach Gordon Meyers. Meyers also indicated that the Cards' defense may have to toughen up if lone is to beat MacLaren this coming Satur day in the championship game. "You're never pleased Mature Mustang cage squad plans improvement over lastyear9s record A slightly more mature Heppner High basketball team will appear on the court during the 1978-79 season, with hopes for improving on last year's third-place finish in the Columbia Basin eastern con ference. Although five seniors were lost to graduation,, returning to action on the boards will be such standouts as Howard Huddleston, Bryan Marlin, Dale Holland, Jim Parker, Lionel Wood and Dennis Peck. It will be a change for Head Coach Tom Day, who at the start of last year's season his first at the helm of Heppner's hoop squad was faced with a loss of seven seniors. Day and his 1977-78 Mustangs turned their backs on the previous year's dismal 2-16 showing to capture a respectable 13-7 season record. "With the maturity of the guys we have this year, we should do even better," he said. A total of 26 players turned out at the opening of drills last week to jockey for positions on the Mustang varsity. Cuts were expected to be made this week. The season opener is slated for Dec. 1 against lone. Speed has not been and is not expected to be a problem for the Mustang hoopsters. Inside strength should also be maintained by 6'4" senior Huddleston, and 6'3" junior Dale Holland. The Mustangs' rebounding power should be boosted by the addition of transfer student Curtis Day, who led his league in the backboard scramble while playing for Wheeler County. Dennis Peck, who received a shoulder injury during the Elgin-Heppner semifinal foot ball game, had not been able to work out with the team by the end of last week. Pilot Rock, a perennial powerhouse in the CBC, is expected to be the team to contend with again this year, Day predicted. In fact, he said, last year's district champions may be even tougher this year, since few of their starters went out for football, giving them most of the fall, to hone their basket ball skills. Fillies see Pilot Rock as team to beat in 1978-79 basketball season Heppner hoop schedule complete for 1978-79 Here is the Mustang hoop schedule for the 1978-79 sea son: Dec. 1 lone at Heppner 6 p.m. Dec. 2 Helix at Helix 6 p.m. Dec. 8 Condon tournament (Condon, Cove, Umatilla) at Condon. Dec. 9 Condon Tourna ment. Dec. 15 lone at lone 6 p.m. Dec. 16 Helix at Hep pner 6 p.m. Jan. 5 Stanfield at Stan field 6 p.m. Jan., 6 Riverside at Hep pner 6 p.m. Jan. 12Pilot Rock at Pilot Rock 6 p.m. Jan. 13 Weston-McEwen at Heppner 6 p.m. Jan. 19 Umatilla at Uma tilla 6 p.m. , Jan. 20 Wahtonka at Hep pner 6 p.m. Jan. 26 Condon at Con don 6 p.m. Jan. 27 Sherman at Moro p.m. Feb. 2 Stanfield at Hep pner 6 p.m. Feb. 9 Pilot Rock at Hep pner 6 p.m. Feb. 10 Weston-McEwen at Athena 6 p.m. Feb. 16 Umatilla at Hep pner 6 p.m. Feb. 17 Wasco at Hep pner 6 p.m. Pilot Rock will also be the team to beat in order to win the CBC girls' division, ac cording to Fillies coach Sherri Brock. The lady Rockets, state champions last season, i "should be tough again this year," said the Heppner coach. The Filliesrwho ended up in second place to the Rockets last year, will have four seniors and two juniors re turning to their ranks this season. Like the boys' team, a total of 26 hopefuls turned out for the opening week of practice. Missing from the Fillies' ranks this year are graduated seniors Diane Holland, Janice Healy and Lori Rhea. The teams' height, speed and performance at this early stage looks about the same as it did at this time last year, the Fillies coach said. Spots on the starting team appeared to be fairly wide open. "We won't pick the starters until the opening game," Ms. Brock comment ed. The Fillies schedule will be the same as the varsity boys, with twoexeptions. During the Dec. 8-9 Condon tournament, the girls will face Condon, Gaston and Umatilla, and on Dec. 21, there will be a girls-only game against Hermiston. The return of Wahtonka to the Columbia Basin Confer ence increases the official league schedule from 12 to 13 games this year. Tuesday set for IHS Fall Sports Dessert The lone High School Fall sports dessert will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Volleyball and football awards will bo presented. Each family is to bring a dessert. ? ' ' . x . : : ' , . ' ' , , I . - ' . "' f 4 I I ' - ff - . , -s , ' ! ' ' . f ' ' f i " j mm f 3 - a h v- .Vy - " II it .'Jj. t s K & . ( V' Bustin' loose about giving up 36 points," he said, "but as long as I have more, I really don't care... when you have 92 points scored and 1,000 yards totaled for both ball clubs, then you know it's an offensive show." "I knew we could move the Kevin McCabe bulls his way past three Badger defenders to pick up big yardage in state semifinal playoff action. The lone running back is one of eight Cardinals named to the Big Sky Conference's All-Star squad. ball," Meyers continued, "but it started to look like a track meet and score like basket ball." But the game was not without its defensive moments for lone. Mark Patton and Treve Peterson were each credited with interceptions. Kevin McCabe was in on 25 tackles, and Danny McElligott made seven unassisted tack les. All in all, Meyers had nothing but praise for his team right down to the managers, Rick Doherty and Larry Snider. "Rick and Larry did a super job," he said. "They are a part of the ball club as much as anyone else.. .It was a great win." MacLaren game will be toughest yet for the red-hot Cards The state championship is just one game away for the lone Cardinals, following a 56-36 win on Saturday over Powder Valley in State Class B football semifinal action. But that one game will likely be the roughest obstacle to face the Cards during the 1978 grid season. On Saturday at 1 p.m., the 10-0 Cardinals will line up against 9-0 Maclaren School for Boys to decide which team is the best in Oregon 8-man football. The Cardinals will have a home-field advantage, but indications are that that will be the only clear edge they will have over the Woodburn-based team. MacLaren shut out pre viously undefeated Elkton 48-0 Saturday to earn the right to face lone in the state cham pionship. During the course of the season, MacLaren's op ponents have averaged only one touchdown per game, with the Woodburn team averaging 400 yards per contest in rushing alone. Elkton was held to only six yards in rushing during Saturday's semifinal. "MacLaren's going to be a formidable foe by far the toughest we've played," said lone Head Coach Gordon Meyers. They're also big, with four team members tipping the scales above the 200 pound mark. "We've played a couple of teams with 200 pounders," said Meyers. "We'll just have to hit 'em low to knock 'em down." Preliminary scouting reports indicate that MaLaren "runs the kind of offense that Arlington does," the Cardinal coach noted. "They try to run right down your throat. ..Act ually, we do better against a team that tries to out-physical us." Their spirits bouyed by their decisive victory over Powder Valley, the Cardinals are "psyched up for this game," commented the coach. "They've gotta be ready at this stage." How to go about beating MacLaren was not the only strategy the lone coach was working on this week. On Monday night, Meyers was trying to work out the logistics for removing up to one foot of snow from the Cards' football field in order to hold practice sessions. Boosters to host post-game chili feed The lone Booster Club will sponsor a "chili feed" after the State Class B Champion ship game this Saturday in lone. The meal which includes chili, french bread and bever agewill be held in the High School cafeteria immediately following the game. Prices are $1.25 for adults and 75-cents for children 12 and under. Ticket prices set for state title game lone Principal Chuck Starr informs those planning to attend the State Class B Championship game Saturday that ticket prices set by the Oregon Schools Activities Assn. will be $3 for adults and $2 for students. The game starts at 1 p.m. Saturday with Ione's Card inals going against Mac-Larden. Haiti keeps world ping-pong crown Blazing paddles took center stage in Heppner Saturday, as world-class ping pong pros from Thailand and Haiti met for a showdown to determine, the world's champion team on the table tennis for money circuit. The event drew television crews, magazine and news paper reporters and photo graphers to the Heppner High School gym to record Haiti's five-games-to-three win over the challenging Thailand team. But attendance was somewhat less than promoters of the match had hoped. About 500 persons turned out for the event. Those who did attend were treated to an often dazzling display of skill, as players managed to return 100 mile-per-hour smashes and English-spinning lobs volley after volley. Players often required up to 30 feet of running room to return shots by opponents. During breaks in the action, tlio ping-pong ambassadors from Thailand and Haiti signed autographs for youth ful fans, and v.-ere willing to talk their sport to anyone un-selfconscious enough to initiate a conversation. The players were also on hand in Heppner Friday night, to attend a luau at the Elks Club. In the first game of the match, Haiti's Zoltan Pataky, a Hungarian refugee, beat game, Pradit went on to win over Salem area native Judy Bochenski of the Haitian team 31-28. Tareepranichpan beat Table Tennis Pictures On Page 6 Thailand's Kumuth Lienghi rasit 31-19. Apachart Sears of Haiti took the second game 31-17 over Jogkhaw Tare epranichpan of Thailand. The third game, a doubles contest, saw Thailand's Kumuth Lien ghirasit and Peter Pradit defeat Pataky and Sears of Haiti 31-28. In the fourth Bochenski 31-23 in the next game, but Haiti came back to win the next three. In the sixth game, Pataky defeated Padit 31-27. Sears beat Lienghirasit 31-24 in the seventh game, and Pataky came back to overpower Tareepranichpan 31-27 in the final stanza. . .
