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Bulldogs set for homecoming
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Thursday, September 18, 2008 | No comments posted.
North Bend football coach Rick Taylor hasn’t been able to find a whole lot to be unhappy about the past two weeks, as the Bulldogs have posted consecutive wins over Newport and North Eugene.
“I thought the kids took a big step forward last week,” Taylor said of the win over the Highlanders. “We want to get better every week. I think they did that.”
North Bend had a dominant performance on defense for the second consecutive game. The one noticeably big fault common in each contest was a kickoff return for a touchdown by the opposition, which has led to a renewed focus on that area in practice.
“The key is special teams,” Taylor said. “We’ve given up two scores on kickoff returns.”
Taylor vowed the team has been working hard to prevent that this week, when the Bulldogs host Phoenix on homecoming night. The game begins at 7 p.m. Friday and follows the school’s annual hall of fame induction ceremonies, which start at 5:30.
Against North Eugene, the Bulldogs opened up the offense a little more, the result being three touchdown passes — an unusually high number for an offense that blends the triple option and wing-T attacks.
“Our running game took a step up, and our passing game,” Taylor said. “We want to develop more balance in our game, which I think is important.
“We have very talented receivers and two good throwers. We have to utilize our strengths. We need to make sure we’re doing all the things we can to win ballgames.”
Tight end Bryce Weidman scored a pair of touchdowns, and Seth Johnson also was on the receiving end of a scoring pass. Quarterback Dalton Iveans had two of the touchdown throws and Tyler Goode the other.
North Bend also was effective running the ball behind its big offensive line.
That might be more challenging this week against Phoenix, a talented squad from the Skyline League that pounded Brookings-Harbor 28-6 last week.
“Phoenix is big,” Taylor said. “They’re a good team. We haven’t seen this kind of size since Week 1 against Marshfield.”
Against Brookings-Harbor, Phoenix quarterback Chris Kammel threw three touchdown passes — all to Skyler Reagan. The longest of those scoring plays covered 55 yards, and Reagan finished with four receptions for 102 total yards. Joe Backen also had three catches.
“It’s going to be a real physical game,” Taylor said. “They have a couple good receivers, and the quarterback throws the ball well.”
Defense has been a strength of the Bulldogs, and that was evident last week.
“North Eugene didn’t really threaten (aside from the kickoff return),” Taylor said. “The kids did a great job of keeping them out of the end zone.”
While Taylor is thrilled the team has responded to its loss against Marshfield with two straight wins, he’s even more pleased with his squad’s work ethic and desire.
“The great thing is, we still have room to improve, and I think the kids believe that, too,” he said.
“They’re a hard-working bunch. They want to get down to business. They want to get things done. It’s been really a joy to coach these guys.”
North Bend did suffer one significant injury in the North Eugene game. Linebacker Craig Banry suffered a dislocated shoulder. But the team got good news this week when it learned Banry might be able to return for the start of Far West League play in two weeks.
Meanwhile, fullback Shane Halford has a slight ankle injury and might not be able to play Friday night.
Notes: The hall of fame celebration is free, including a social time with refreshments that starts at 5 p.m. Three of the new inductees — Glen Gardiner, Brady Scott and Dick Doyle, will take part in a spirit parade before the game and be recognized at halftime. Inductees Kenn Hess and Elizabeth “Bette” Larsen are deceased. Also during halftime, the homecoming king and queen will be crowned. The court includes freshmen Caitlin Snuggerud and Gage Green, sophomores Yuri Hernandez and Ryan Domschot, juniors Rebecca Kaufmann and Dion MacDonald, and seniors Hannah Kintner, Kelly Coolen, Amanda Keith, Karley Swanson, Andy Langenstein, Troy MacVicar, Justin Tobey and Skyler Walton. Admission for the game is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
“I thought the kids took a big step forward last week,” Taylor said of the win over the Highlanders. “We want to get better every week. I think they did that.”
North Bend had a dominant performance on defense for the second consecutive game. The one noticeably big fault common in each contest was a kickoff return for a touchdown by the opposition, which has led to a renewed focus on that area in practice.
“The key is special teams,” Taylor said. “We’ve given up two scores on kickoff returns.”
Taylor vowed the team has been working hard to prevent that this week, when the Bulldogs host Phoenix on homecoming night. The game begins at 7 p.m. Friday and follows the school’s annual hall of fame induction ceremonies, which start at 5:30.
Against North Eugene, the Bulldogs opened up the offense a little more, the result being three touchdown passes — an unusually high number for an offense that blends the triple option and wing-T attacks.
“Our running game took a step up, and our passing game,” Taylor said. “We want to develop more balance in our game, which I think is important.
“We have very talented receivers and two good throwers. We have to utilize our strengths. We need to make sure we’re doing all the things we can to win ballgames.”
Tight end Bryce Weidman scored a pair of touchdowns, and Seth Johnson also was on the receiving end of a scoring pass. Quarterback Dalton Iveans had two of the touchdown throws and Tyler Goode the other.
North Bend also was effective running the ball behind its big offensive line.
That might be more challenging this week against Phoenix, a talented squad from the Skyline League that pounded Brookings-Harbor 28-6 last week.
“Phoenix is big,” Taylor said. “They’re a good team. We haven’t seen this kind of size since Week 1 against Marshfield.”
Against Brookings-Harbor, Phoenix quarterback Chris Kammel threw three touchdown passes — all to Skyler Reagan. The longest of those scoring plays covered 55 yards, and Reagan finished with four receptions for 102 total yards. Joe Backen also had three catches.
“It’s going to be a real physical game,” Taylor said. “They have a couple good receivers, and the quarterback throws the ball well.”
Defense has been a strength of the Bulldogs, and that was evident last week.
“North Eugene didn’t really threaten (aside from the kickoff return),” Taylor said. “The kids did a great job of keeping them out of the end zone.”
While Taylor is thrilled the team has responded to its loss against Marshfield with two straight wins, he’s even more pleased with his squad’s work ethic and desire.
“The great thing is, we still have room to improve, and I think the kids believe that, too,” he said.
“They’re a hard-working bunch. They want to get down to business. They want to get things done. It’s been really a joy to coach these guys.”
North Bend did suffer one significant injury in the North Eugene game. Linebacker Craig Banry suffered a dislocated shoulder. But the team got good news this week when it learned Banry might be able to return for the start of Far West League play in two weeks.
Meanwhile, fullback Shane Halford has a slight ankle injury and might not be able to play Friday night.
Notes: The hall of fame celebration is free, including a social time with refreshments that starts at 5 p.m. Three of the new inductees — Glen Gardiner, Brady Scott and Dick Doyle, will take part in a spirit parade before the game and be recognized at halftime. Inductees Kenn Hess and Elizabeth “Bette” Larsen are deceased. Also during halftime, the homecoming king and queen will be crowned. The court includes freshmen Caitlin Snuggerud and Gage Green, sophomores Yuri Hernandez and Ryan Domschot, juniors Rebecca Kaufmann and Dion MacDonald, and seniors Hannah Kintner, Kelly Coolen, Amanda Keith, Karley Swanson, Andy Langenstein, Troy MacVicar, Justin Tobey and Skyler Walton. Admission for the game is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
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