A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016
Herald Sports
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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