FALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Pendleton/Nixyáawii has talent, but lacks varsity experience
By ANNIE FOWLER, CUJ Special Contributor
PENDLETON — Pendleton/ Nixyáawii football coach Erik Davis loses players to graduation each year, but when you have 17 players pick up their diplomas and march on to college, it leaves a pretty big hole in your game plan.
“We have a lot of talent, but not a lot of experience on the varsity football field,” Davis said. “We are asking some young kids to step up. We have confidence in them.”
The Bucks will have experience in the backfield with quarterback Colson Primus and running back Tugg McQuinn.
Primus, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior, saw a fair amount of playing time last season and was named to the Special District 5 (SD5) second team. He will be pushed by sophomore Cole Sazue (6-2, 170).
“Colson is a really good manager of the game” Davis said. “He’s calm in the game and the way he plays — not too high and not too low. Cole is a special talent back there as well. He spent the summer traveling with the 7-on-7 team. He has great hands and is coachable. We are in good hands for the next couple of years.”
McQuinn, a 5-10, 165-pound junior, made a splash as a sophomore. He earned first-team honors as a running back last year while running for 496 yards on 76 carries and 10 touchdowns. He also earned honorable mention defensive back honors.
“Tugg is a special talent,” Davis said. “If he is on the field, we have a chance. With a year of experience, I expect great things out of Tugg.”
McQuinn was supposed to have help in the ball carrying department with Kael Kennedy, but a shoulder injury has sidelined the speedy senior.
“It stings a bit,” Davis said.
Senior Keegan Kline is back in the receiving corps, as well as in the secondary, with senior Mason Strong adding depth at both positions.
“Mason is one of the faster kids we have coached,” Davis said. “He came in this summer and was one of the top receivers at the Western Oregon camp and stood out on 7-on-7 in La Grande. He is a tremendous receiver. He will fill in where Thaiden Cannin was. He is one to watch.”
Senior MJ Scott is another one to watch at free safety.
“He’s still learning the game, but he’s strong, fast and has talent,” Davis said. “We are going to put our coaching hats on and get him running in the right direction.”
Davis has had a few freshmen over the years make him take notice, and this year that player is receiver/defensive back Aaden Hernandez (5-5, 125).
“He is small but fearless,” Davis said. “Nothing gets to him mentally. He has done nothing but compete and flourish.”
The running backs and quarterbacks have the comfort of having center Deacon Pace back on the line. The 6-3, 290-pound senior was a first-team all-league center and defensive lineman last season.
“He is our rock up front,” Davis said of Pace. “He’s our center and down tackle. He went to a couple of football camps this summer. He’s a stud. He’s our best lineman on both sides of the ball. We have asked him to be a leader. He’s working with young kids and I’m excited for him.”
Also adding depth on the line are seniors Landon VanPelt and Miles Kennedy.
VanPelt is penciled on both sides of the ball, while Kennedy is getting reps on the defensive line and at inside linebacker, and as a tight end.
“Right now, he is playing some inside linebacker and will probably start at tight end too,” Davis said. “Somewhat like we had with Karsten (Bracher) last year.”
VanPelt could be a difference maker up front. The 6-5, 380-pounder moves well for his size, according to Davis.
“He’s one of our better lineman up front,” Davis said. “He’s hard for a high school kid to handle. He’s a monster. He’s really strong and has great feet for a kid his size. He’s starting to understand the game better. If we can keep him healthy, he will have a big year.”
The Bucks are coming off a season that saw them go 4-1 in SD5 play, and 7-3 overall. They lost to Mazama in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.
The competition in SD5 will be tough again, with Baker returning junior Rasean Jones, who is a receiver and linebacker.
“You are going to have to know where he is all the time,” Davis said. He is pretty special. A once in a generational talent. They did graduate a ton of talent, but Rasean is one of the top football players in the state no matter the level.”
Crook County moves from the Tri-Valley Conference to SD5 this season and returns quarterback and two-time state wrestling champion Gavin Sandoval, who missed last season with a knee injury.
“The quarterback situation around the league is good, it will just depend on the supporting cast,” Davis said.
The Bucks will play just one game at the Round-Up Grounds on Nov. 1, against La Grande. All other home games will be at the high school.
To prepare for the SD5 season, Davis packed the preseason with tough teams, starting with Scappoose, which reached the 4A state semifinals last year. The game is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 30.
“Scappoose is probably one of the top 4A teams in the state,” Davis said. “It will be a good barometer to see where we stand.”
The Bucks will follow with a road game at 5A Caldera, home games with 5A Redmond and Idaho powerhouse Weiser, and will finish the preseason at Estacada.
“Weiser is tough,” Davis said. “They are a dang good football team. They are a smash mouth, 3 yards and a cloud of dust kind of team. Caldera just keeps getting better and better, Redmond has a new head coach in Kyle Lavender and they have some talent, and Estacada was the state champion in 2022.” Starting with the Estacada game, the Bucks will play four consecutive games on the road, which is a first in the 13 years Davis has been at the helm.
Pendleton/Nixyaawii football
- Aug. 30 Scappoose at Pendleton 7 p.m.
- Sept. 6 Pendleton at Caldera 7 p.m.
- Sept. 13 Redmond at Pendleton 7 p.m.
- Sept. 20 Weiser (Idaho) at Pendleton 7 p.m.
- Sept. 26 Pendleton at Estacada 7 p.m.
- Oct. 4 Pendleton at Baker 7 p.m.
- Oct. 18 Pendleton at Crook County 7 p.m.
- Oct. 25 Pendleton at Ontario 7 p.m. (MT)
- Nov. 1 La Grande at Pendleton 7 p.m.
