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A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016 Herald Sports Follow sports on Twitter @HHeraldSports Dawgs seek inishing touch Hermiston looking to leave it all on the field in 2016 By MATT ENTRUP Staff Writer STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS College of Idaho tight end Keegan Crafton runs with the ball during a scrimmage with Linield on Thursday in Hermiston. Hermiston grads return to Kennison Field during scrimmage By WILL DENNER For the Hermiston Herald A sea of purple uniforms invaded Kennison Field Thursday afternoon, but only a select few had ties to Hermiston High. Division III Linield College and NAIA College of Idaho met in Hermiston for a scrimmage between the two squads that have three combined former Bulldogs. Those players are fresh- man center Dylan Cald- well, who plays for Lin- ield, and freshman tight end Keegan Crafton and freshman defensive end Landon Clark-Gammell, both of whom are College of Idaho players. The teams ran drills, including seven-on-sev- ens and trench matchups against each other for the irst hour-and-a-half, be- fore squaring off in an 11- man scrimmage for the last hour. Hitting was permitted for everyone besides quar- terbacks, though the teams abandoned kickoffs and punts, instead starting on their own 35-yard lines. The teams didn’t ofi- cially keep score, but if they were, Linield won 14-10. Linield scored two touchdowns – both on long passes – to College of Ida- ho’s one touchdown and ield goal converted by Kyle Mitchell. College of Idaho head coach Mike Moroski said the experience will help his team get up to game speed. After all, his program is entering only its third year following 37 years dor- mant, while Linield is coming off a semiinals trip to the 2015 Division III playoffs and enters this sea- son ranked No. 2 in most preseason polls. “This was way better than what we can mimic (in practice),” Moroski said. “...This is so important for our young players and ex- perienced players alike to get ready for game one.” Crafton saw little action during the scrimmage, but caught a couple of touch- down passes from J.J. Hyde during seven-on-seven drills in the red zone. Ac- cording to Moroski, Craf- ton is currently slotted as the third-string tight end behind senior Ringo Rob- inson and junior Marcus Lenhardt, who led the team with 573 receiving yards last season. He lacks the experience of Robinson and Lenhardt, having only been on cam- pus for two weeks, and only playing one year of high school football. Craf- ton is still making his way up to the speed of college football, but said his skills are comparable to the up- perclassmen. “I’m just as athletic and talented as they are, but they just have been there longer,” Crafton said. “They know what to do in certain situations – cover 1, cover 2. I don’t know that stuff yet. I’ve played one year of football my whole life.” Crafton and Caldwell met after the scrimmage to congratulate each other and take a picture togeth- er. Linield coach Joseph Smith has Caldwell listed as a center on Linield’s roster, but took most snaps at defensive end during the scrimmage. Clark-Gammell didn’t make the trip to Hermiston in part because of an inju- ry but also a “snafu” over his eligibility, according to Moroski. Spectators included a mix of locals and fans of both teams who traveled in from out of town. College of Idaho fan and Sunriver resident Laurie Henberg met friends Sharron and Dave Hansen in Hermiston for the scrimmage. Dave has called Linield games for over three decades, wit- nessing all four of their na- tional championships. Hen- berg said she wanted to see College of Idaho test itself against a top program such as Linield. “For us to scrimmage a team like Linield is a big deal,” Henberg said. SPORTS CALENDAR PREP FOOTBALL Thursday Waitsburg (WA) at Mac-Hi, 7 p.m. Friday Pilot Rock at Imbler, 2 p.m. Pendleton at La Grande, 7 p.m. Union (WA) at Hermiston, 7 p.m. Amity at Irrigon, 7 p.m. Riverside at Tri-Cities Prep (WA), 7 p.m. Union at Umatilla, 7 p.m. Enterprise at Stanfield, 7 p.m. Heppner at St. Paul, 7 p.m. Saturday Echo vs. Siletz Valley (at Dufur), 10 a.m. Ione vs. Triad (at Dufur), 7:30 p.m. PREP VOLLEYBALL Thursday Echo at Heppner, 4 p.m. Sherman at Heppner, 5 p.m. Nixyaawii at Irrigon, 5 p.m. Union at Umatilla, 5 p.m. Riverside at Helix, 5:30 p.m. Echo vs Sherman (at Heppner), 6 p.m. Mac-Hi vs. Riverside (at Helix), 7 p.m. Friday Stanfield at Echo, 2:30 p.m. Saturday Weston-McEwen at Heppner Tourna- ment, 9 a.m. Mac-Hi, Umatilla, Ione, Echo at River- side Tournament, 10 a.m. PREP BOYS SOCCER Saturday Riverside at Umatilla, 1 p.m. Hermiston at La Grande, 2 p.m. PREP CROSS COUNTRY Saturday Umatilla at Tillamook, Noon Pendleton, Mac-Hi, Helix, Heppner, Weston-McEwen, Stanield at Hermiston, 12:55 p.m. Prep scores VOLLEYBALL Saturday, Aug. 27 Stanield Tournament: ARLINGTON def. Echo (2-0) IRRIGON def. Stanield 25-18, 25-22 (2-0) Arlington def. IRRIGON 25-16, 25-17 (2-0) STANFIELD def. Riverside 28-26, 23-25, 15-9 (2-1) IRRIGON def. Umatilla 25-15, 25-21 (2-0) When the Hermiston Bulldogs examined their 2015 football season they knew there was only one thing that could alleviate the regret that stemmed from a 4-6 campaign. “Last year when we Fall sports preview inside looked back on our sea- Look for our annual fall sport preview son we realized in a lot of special section inside today’s paper for games we didn’t inish,” said senior offensive line- previews of local schools fall sports teams man Kaden Caldwell. “We and schedules. had a lot of games where STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS when it got to the fourth quarter or after halftime Hermiston’s Dayshawn Neal (2) goes against Andrew James during a drill in football we kind of slacked off, we practice on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Kennison Field in Hermiston. didn’t inish games. We’re going to push that this “Everyone here on this 2016 Schedule our RPI and it goes down 2 vs Union (WA) 7 p.m. year because I feel like we ield knows that we didn’t Sept. because we’re not play- Sept. 9 at Lewiston (ID) 7 p.m. 16 vs Mountain View* 7 p.m. could have had more wins show up like we wanted Sept. ing 5A teams. The irst Sept. 23 vs Summit* 7 p.m. 7 p.m. under our belt if we would to (last season), we never Sept. 30 at Hood River* 5A team we play might Oct. 7 vs Ridgeview* 7 p.m. have inished.” inished the games like we Oct. 14 at Bend* having a losing record and 7 p.m. 21 at Redmond* 7 p.m. The games Caldwell wanted to. We would start Oct. then we’re at the bottom Oct. 28 vs Pendleton* 7 p.m. is referencing came in early and hang with teams *-League game of the RPI list. It’s dei- Weeks 1, 3 and 5 against and then pitter-patter at nitely going to help us in Hanford (WA), Spring- the end either because compete and show every- the rankings system.” ield and Coeur d’Alene we’d run out of gas or body we’re a good team.” Hermiston hasn’t (ID). guys not being into it. But The Bulldogs will cer- played a central Oregon The Bulldogs were this year’s a little differ- tainly get that chance team since the 2012 sea- tied 13-13 after one quar- ent. There’s a lot of guys this season as they move son, but transfer senior ter against Hanford, but that want so bad to prove into the eight-team Spe- linebacker Damien Mc- didn’t score again un- that they belong.” cial District 1 along with Leod comes to the Bull- til the fourth quarter on Senior wide receiv- Pendleton, Hood River dogs from new SD1 foe their way to a 41-20 sea- er Tucker Salinas, one of and the ive teams from Ridgeview and said he son-opening loss. team’s top returning offen- the Intermountain Con- knows exactly what they Then Hermiston was sive threats who averaged ference. The Dalles has should expect. in position to get its irst 11.3 yards a catch and had not joined the league and “Deinitely ground and win trailing Springield, three touchdowns as a ju- will play an independent pound. The IMC teams 24-20, at halftime on the nior, said he’s deinitely schedule. (line up) double tight road, but was outscored noticed the difference. It means more trav- (end), they run the ball 28-0 in the second half. “This year’s com- el for the Bulldogs, who down the gut,” he said. Against Coeur d’Alene pletely different from last will thankfully only take “They’re tough teams, the Bulldogs trailed 8-3 year,” he said during an the bus to central Oregon but I’ve played them my after one, but starting early practice. “Every- twice, although it’s in whole life and I have no quarterback Dayshawn body’s showing up, we’re back-to-back weeks Oct. doubt we can hang.” Neal broke his ankle and holding each other ac- 14 and 21. The Bulldogs open the the team again didn’t add countable. We’re wanting “I don’t know if I’m season on Friday, Sept. any points until the game to be better this year.” happy with the schedule, 2, when they host Union was decided in the fourth “I think we think we but it’s a good schedule,” (WA) at 7 p.m. quarter, losing 42-10 and can do something good Faaeteete said. “(Travel- A few more things to falling to 0-5. this year, like make a deep ing is) part of what we’ve consider this season: “It’s totally a men- playoff run,” Line said. “I got to do in our league, but OFFENSIVE VARI- tal thing,” Caldwell, an think it makes us want to the league is great. Great ETY: Sophomore quar- all-conference lineman as work harder and show that teams, great coaches. terback Andrew James a junior, said. “We were we’re not just some Herm- “We’ve always wanted has earned the trust of in shape, we were ready, it iston team from a weak more league games than was just all mental.” conference. We want to not because we look at See FOOTBALL, A16 The Bulldogs inished their next game, though, and picked up their irst win in double overtime beating Sandy, 13-7, after safety Vaemu Ena ended both the Pioneers’ over- time possessions with we’ve got some momen- interceptions and senior tum but we’ve got to start fullback Omar Garcia getting game-ready.” plowed in from two yards Listed at 5-foot-10 and out to begin what would 165 pounds, James brings be a four-game winning plenty of athleticism to streak. the position, which should Despite all of their work perfectly in an of- early-season struggles, fense that saw its quarter- Hermiston held on to its backs carry the ball 172 By MATT ENTRUP Staff Writer crown in the Columbia times last season. He’s not River Conference with a Hermiston quarterback a “running quarterback” third-straight league title Andrew James has left the though, and has been get- and qualiied for its 12th- kiddie pool, bypassed the ting high marks from his straight postseason. lap lanes and stands with receivers when it comes to But once there the his toes hanging over the delivering a catchable ball. STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Bulldogs couldn’t put a edge of the high dive. “He gots everything, satisfying inish on the The Bulldogs are con- Hermiston sophomore he gots the arm, he gots season and lost 49-14 to ident what comes next Andrew James looks to the strength,” said senior Wilsonville in a game that won’t be a belly lop. pass the ball during an receiver Jerry Ramirez. was never close. Coming off an encour- offensive drill recently at “He’s mature as a soph- Head coach David aging season on the fresh- Kennison Field omore. We’ve just got to Faaeteete, who enters his man squad and a strong get in there and feed off second season after sev- summer, James made sure attention to detail.” him, every ball he throws en on former coach Mark Hermiston coach David “It was a big deal, us we’ve got to catch. He Hodges’ staff, said the Faaeteete didn’t have to knowing that I’m going throws really good balls. team has been emphasiz- waver when naming him to be the quarterback this We’ve just got to pick ing the “F” word since the the varsity starter. He year,” said James, whose him up and he’ll feed off start of offseason activi- quickly seized the job after varsity experience is lim- us, once we start making ties. entering fall practices in a ited to a few games on the grabs.” “It was actually four-way competition. sideline. “I come in with James said the chem- brought up at our team “He’s focused when he high expectations. Last istry in the passing game camp when (senior line- comes to practice and he year we fell below our ex- seems to be improving backer) John Henry (Line) wants to do well,” Faae- pectations, but we have the with each practice. said, ‘Hey, guys we didn’t teete said, adding two of guys this year, we’ve just “I’ve got some good do a great job of inishing his biggest strengths are got to get it going. We’re games last year. We’ve got his “competitive spirit and starting off pretty good and See JAMES, A16 to inish,’” Faaeteete said. JAMES MAKES THE JUMP Hermiston sophomore wins quarterback competition Flowers • Candles Jewelry • Plants Balloons & More! Put a smile on the heart with the power of flowers. BOYS SOCCER Saturday, Aug. 27 HERMISTON 4, Umatilla 0 HWY 395, HERMISTON GIRLS SOCCER Saturday, Aug. 27 HERMISTON 4, Umatilla 0 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 12pm-5am 541-567-4305 www.cottagefl owersonline.com