PASCO — Imbler picked up where it left off last season — winning.

The Panthers defeated Tri-Cities Preps 40-36 Friday in the season opener.

Imbler’s Dalton McDaniel picked off a Will Hoppes to end the game at Chiawana High School.

TO THE HOUSE: EOU’s Rick Copsey is off to the races during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Rocky Mountain College. Copsey returned the kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown during the 58-50 win. The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER

The game played out like a pinball machine battle, with the Mountaineers racking up the most points 58-50.

It didn’t reach last year’s mark of 1,391 total yards between the two teams. Fans at the Community Stadium opener still witnessed the two offenses accumulate 1,229.

Sometimes experience isn’t always measured by actual playing time. Experience can be obtained by familiarity with your teammates and coaches.

That will be the case with this year’s La Grande High School varsity volleyball team.

It may not look like an experienced team on paper. In fact, the Tigers lost eight seniors from last year’s team that made a run to the state tournament. But this year’s group knows how to compete and will look for familiarity with one another to take them back to the state tournament.

The La Grande Tigers open their season Friday night against the Vale Vikings on the road.

Last season when the two teams met, Vale dominated the Tigers en route to a 41-16 victory just two games into the season.

The Vikings racked up 324 yards rushing in that game, including 152 yards from running back Jeff Williams on just 10 carries.

THE HOOKUP: Kirk Miller has become one of Chris Ware’s favorite targets. - Observer file photo

The loss to Southern Oregon University Aug. 29 stung. But there's one thing that could make it worse.

“We can't let them beat us twice,” Camp said. “The only way this is a bad loss is if we don't go and fix the mistakes we made.”

NO ESCAPE: Chris Ware and the Mountaineers football team fell to the Raiders in Ashland 33-28 to open the 2009 season. Observer file photo

Eastern Oregon University traveled to Ashland to face Southern Oregon University, and came back home with a 32-28 loss.

Raiders running back Brandon Baldwin bulldozed the defense for 195 yards on the ground, including two touchdowns.

MISSING MITCHELL: The La Grande girls soccer team lost Kelsey Mitchell (above) to graduation but returns seven seniors for the 2009 season. Observer file photo

Elena Nightingale comes into this season as the head coach of the varsity team after spending the last five years in charge of the junior varsity squad.

“I think that’s going to make this transition easier on both the players and myself,” Nightingale said. 

WHAT NEXT? The La Grande Tigers boys soccer team enters the 2009 season with a new coach, Dan Mielke. Observer file photo

The Tigers enter this season with Dan Mielke as their head coach, taking over for the departed Zachary Lauritzen.

But this year’s team brings back five players who were key to last season’s success.

EXCHANGE PROGRAM: The Mountaineers football team heads to Ashland to open the 2009 season against Southern Oregon University Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Raider Stadium. The Observer/PAUL HARDER

For starters, it’s the shortest bus trip of the season — nearly nine hours.

 “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Camp said. “We’re taking two buses, so the players will have room to be comfortable.

Matt Cook had no idea where his swimming ability would take him. But it’s starting to take him places he’s never been before.

The La Grande High School sophomore recently returned from the Western Zone Championships at Waikiki, Hawaii — not a bad summer vacation.