Football team looks forward to first season win

October 19, 2009 • Matthew Curran  
Filed under Sports

No one can ever accuse the Storm varsity football team of not trying. The young team, dominated by  large groups of sophomores, has shown nothing but courage and pride in their determination to gain experience with each game.

The team finished the 2008 season with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-3 conference record, tying with Pendleton for fourth place.

Ten senior players return, including starting quarterback Justin Huckins, fullback and linebacker Matt Meagher, running and defensive back Guy Perrin, offense lineman and linebacker Will McLain, wide receiver and punt returner Cody Absalon, defensive back and kick returner Brett Campbell, offense and defensive lineman Delaney Butler, offense and defensive lineman Ethan Hawes, quarterback and linebacker Greg Heise and wide receiver and defensive back Jack Hill.

“We will be a young football team and will play a smaller senior class along side several sophomores and a few juniors. There will be a deficit of varsity experience with many of our starters, but we will continue to work and prepare to the fullest potential and everything else will play out,” said head coach Keith Wilkins.

The Storm fell to Mazama 28-26 in its season opener. Huckins completed eight of 16 passes for 86 yards with one interception. Campbell ran a kickoff back a mighty 80 yards for a touchdown and Meagher made a run up the middle for an impressive 65-yard touchdown.

Huckins connected with Absalon for the only Storm touchdown in the Sept. 11 loss of 28-6 to Churchill.Huckins returned a punt 96 yards for a first-quarter touchdown in the Sept. 18 game against Silverton. Campbell scored the second touchdown for a 17-14 halftime lead, but the visiting Foxes piled up 401 offensive yards to the Storm’s 203 to win 24-17.

The Dalles-Wahtonka shut out the Storm Sept. 25, claiming position as the leader of the IMC. Meagher was the leading Storm rusher with 10 carries for 43 yards. Huckins completed seven of 11 passes for 91 yards and junior Keith Mouser had three carries for 55 yards in the fourth quarter.

The drive to St. Helens Oct. 2 ended in a heartbreaking 21-17 loss, when the Lions scored the game-winning touchdown on a six-yard pass play with nine seconds left in the game. The Storm lead 14-0 after the first quarter, but found themselves limited to a field goal over the final three periods.

Mountain View avenged last year’s 7-0 loss at Summit to overpower the Storm 52-0, Oct.8. Sean Seefeldt totaled 36 rushing yards on 10 carries. Huckins completed two of eight passes for 18 yards and Jack Hill added two catches for 15 yards.