1A playoffs on the horizon

Imbler finished 8-0 and will take on Echo in the first round of the Class 1A Playoffs Friday night. Observer file photo

Three local teams begin the trek this weekend through the field.

After beating up on each other, Wallowa, Cove and Imbler will once again turn the focus back to the rest of the state.

Imbler finished the season 8-0, while outscoring opponents 444-148.

Senior Will Burgess leads the ground game with 167 yards per game. The transfer ended the season with 20 rushing touchdowns.

But the Panthers’ game isn’t limited to the ground.

Bryan Mills completed 44 of his 77 pass attempts on the season with 12 touchdowns.

Zach Phillips and Dalton McDaniel led the team with 18 and 13 receptions, respectively.

The key for Imbler's success lays in the experienced frontline.

Seniors Henry Kanoho and Brent Teeter give the Panthers a size advantage upfront, tipping the scales at 302 and 296 pounds, respectively.

Echo ended the season 4-5, winning three of its last four games.

This season the Special District 4 has two chances at an all-district final.

Cove and Wallowa sit on the other side of the bracket, arguably the toughest.

Mohawk, Crane and St. Paul also fill out the eight teams on the lower side of the bracket.

Cove steps into new territory against Ione Friday.

It’s the first taste of playoff football for the senior class.

Quarterback Jered Witty helped the Leopards compile a 6-3 season. The three losses came against Mohawk, St. Paul and Imbler.

Scott DelCurto helps form the 1-2 punch out of the backfield.

Witty led the team with 12 touchdowns, picking up 811 yards on 36 attempts.

DelCurto finished the season with 1,089 yards on 52 attempts with 11 touchdowns.

While Witty only completed 47 percent on his pass attempts, he threw 16 touchdowns versus one interception.

DelCurto led the team with 17 receptions for 576 yards — a 33 yards per reception average.

Junior Jordan Brown is a speed threat on the line. He reeled in 15 passes for 346 yards with seven touchdowns.

Ione finished the season 8-1. The Cardinals fell in the last game of the season to Sherman 22-20.

Wallowa kicks off against Crane Friday.

The Cougars went 6-3 on the season.

Tyler Harshfield benefitted from the wide-open offense, and from having a pair of 6-foot-5 receivers.

The senior quarterback completed 65 percent of his passes for 313 yards per game, Harshfield ended the season with 41 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Ronald Gladden served as the primary target, catching 44 passes for 1,006 yards with 14 touchdowns.

Fellow 6-5 receiver, Mark Jamerson, hauled in 22 passes for 359 yards.

Jake Johnson worked the middle of the field. He finished with 38 receptions for 626 with 11 touchdowns.

But Harshfield didn’t limit himself to the pocket.

He ran for 1,330 yards on 139 carries with 20 touchdowns.

The Mustangs took the No. 1 seed from Special District 6 with an 8-1 record. Crane fell to St. Paul 48-16 to open the  season before reeling off eight straight wins.