Pendleton football players run onto the field to cheers before playing Redmond Sept. 13 at Pendleton High School. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ FILE PHOTO

McQuinn powers Bucks past Redmond

By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ PENDLETON — Tugg McQuinn ran for 211 yards and four touchdowns to help Pendleton to a 35-34 nonleague victory Friday, Sept. 13, over 5A Redmond. “He’s a pretty special kid,” Pendleton coach Erik Davis said of McQuinn. “A tired kid now.” McQuinn also had three catches for six yards and a touchdown, and returned a…

Pilot Rock get the W, Nixyáawii falls to Echo in Oct. 8 play.

Heppner rallies to beat Weston-McEwen in BMC opener

By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ ATHENA — Weston-McEwen let a 2-1 lead slip away in their Blue Mountain Conference opener Thursday, Sept. 12, as Heppner escaped with a 25-19, 18-25, 18-25, 15-15, 15-5 victory. “Not how we wanted to open up league, but sometimes it doesn’t go how you wanted,” W-M coach Marie Cain said. “The girls fought hard, but…

Pilot Rock get the W, Nixyáawii falls to Echo in Oct. 8 play.

ICYMI SEPT. 10: VOLLEYBALL

Pendleton takes down Burns in 5 sets By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ PENDLETON — Pendleton knocked off 3A powerhouse Burns on Tuesday, Sept. 10, handing the Hilanders a 25-22, 2-15, 15-25, 25-22, 16-14 loss at Warberg Court. “The girls showed so much resilience and heart tonight,” Pendleton coach Jodi Primus said. “To win a big first set, and then struggle…

This week in area sports –

Saturday area sport summaries

TigerScots go 2-1 at Heppner Tournament By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ HEPPNER — Weston-McEwen went 2-1 on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Heppner Tournament, dropping its only match to Powder Valley. “We had a good day today,” W-M coach Marie Cain said. “We served well. Mya (Bryan) had 10 aces on the day, and Charlotte (Hansell) had 13.” The TigerScots…

Nixyaawii’s Lenae Sampson bumps the ball while playing Bickleton on Sept. 5, 2024, in Mission. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ

Golden Eagles come up short against Bickleton

By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ MISSION — Annalise Watchman had 10 digs, three kills and three aces for Nixyaawii, but the Golden Eagles fell short 25-23, 25-23, 25-15 in a nonleague match Thursday, Sept. 5, against Bickleton. “We’re a scrappy team that will fight until the end, and that really showed in the first two sets,” Nixyaawii coach Rayne Spencer…

This week in area sports –

ICYMI: Tuesday Sports

By ANNIE FOWLER, CUJ Special Contributor Pilot Rock falls to Ione/Arlington in straight sets PILOT ROCK — Pilot Rock got off to a slow start and couldn’t recover in dropping a 25-13, 25-13, 25-12 nonleague match Tuesday, Sept. 3, to Ione/Arlington (2-1). “We just had a hard time getting into a groove tonight,” Pilot Rock coach Jen Porter said. “We…

Pendleton’s Jack DeGrofft prepares to kick the ball to a teammate while playing Junction City on Aug. 31, 2024, at Pendleton High School. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ

Boys soccer highlight

By ANNIE FOWLER, CUJ Special Contributor JUNCTION CITY 1, PENDLETON — The Tigers scored the only goal they needed in the first half as they beat the Bucks on the road Saturday. “We had probably 75% possession in their half, but didn’t manage to score,” Pendleton coach Evan Brandhagen said. Freshman keeper Jared Pace finished with one save for the…

Pendleton’s Halle Pederson (2) and Chais Surber (10) go after the ball while playing Junction City on Aug. 31, 2024, at Pendleton High School. KATHY ANEY | THE CUJ

Graham has 4 goals as Bucks shut out Junction City

By ANNIE FOWLER, CUJ Special Contributor PENDLETON — What a difference a couple of days make. After dropping its season opener to The Dalles on Thursday, the Pendleton girls soccer team roared back with a 4-0 victory over Junction City on Saturday, Aug. 31. “Overall, the team played much more composed this game than our first,” Bucks coach Kiana Rickman…