Big weekend for many local teams

Enterprise (4-1, 2-1) at Elgin

(2-1), 7 p.m.

Friday night is a big game for Enterprise and Elgin with playoff implications.

The Blue Mountain Conference has three playoff spots this season, and both teams are tied for the final spot along with Stanfield.

Enterprise enters the game coming off a tough loss to the perennial No. 2 seed, Pilot Rock.

Head coach Chuck Corak brought hard-nose football back to the Outlaws’ program.

   The Enterprise defense is allowing 10.6 points per game. The Outlaws rushing attack is the key to the offense behind running back Marcus Lynn.

Lynn finished last Friday’s game with 70 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns.

Elgin, under head coach Lance Lovitt, is also vying for the final playoff spot.

The Huskies are lead by quarterback Dalton Moore, and running back Tanner Hallgarth.

Moore presents a double edged attack. He threw for 137 yards and ran for 120 in last Friday’s win against Irrigon.

   He ran for three touchdowns. Hallgarth picked up 101 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown.

Union at Stanfield, 7 p.m.

The Bobcats head to Stanfield trying to find their footing in the conference.

Union has been outscored 132-6 by BMC opponents this season.

Quarterback Austin Woodward is finding the going tough behind a rebuilt offensive line. He has completed 28 percent of his passes, and has 12 interceptions on the season.

First-year player Ritter Warren has been a nice surprise. He has both touchdown receptions on the season, and leads the team in tackles with 41.

Vincent Stuckey leads the ground game with 29 yards per game, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

Stanfield needs to win to keep pace in the playoff race with the winner of the Enterprise-Elgin game.

Class 1A

Game of the Week

Cove (4-2, 2-0) at Imbler

(5-0, 2-0), 2 p.m.

Imbler enters the game looking to make some space for its second straight Special District 4 title. Cove, the only other unbeaten league team, travels to Imbler. Both teams are led by special skills players.

Wesley Burgess leads the Panthers attack. He averages 164 yards per game, averaging 10.8 yards per carry. The senior has 14 rushing touchdowns on the season.

Burgess has helped take the load off of Brian Mills’ shoulders this season. Mills coming back from a leg injury is still a dangerous threat. The senior quarterback has completed 25 of his 45 passes for 516 yards and eight touchdowns. Mills is also a threat on the ground where he has picked up 189 yards on 29 attempts with four touchdowns.

Quarterback Jered Witty enters the game averaging 223 yards of total offense per game. The senior has 13 touchdown passes on the season without an interception. Jordan Brown is the main target for Witty. Brown has 13 receptions andseven touchdowns on the season. He has 337 receiving yards, for a 26 yards per reception average. The key to the game is for the Leopards to survive the initial surge.

Imbler has outscored opponents 174-28 in the opening quarter this season. Tri-Cites Prep held a 20-14 advantage in the opening week of the season.

Powder Valley (0-5, 0-2) at Wallowa (4-2, 1-1), 2 p.m.

This game is a must win for Powder Valley and Wallowa. The Special District 4 has three playoff spots, and with two teams still undefeated in district play the room for error is small.

The game features two of the best play-makers in Oregon 8-man football —- Trenton Dixon and Tyler Harshfield.

Dixon leads the Badgers ground game with the size and speed to break a big play at anytime. He has 22 carries for 110 yards and one touchdown. Dixon is also a threat in the passing game with 10 receptions for 133 yards and two scores.

Harshfield enters the game averaging 440 yards of offense per game, and has accounted for 40 touchdowns this season.        The senior quarterback has multiple weapons to throw to. Ronald Gladden and Mark Jamerson provide their signal caller with a pair of 6-foot-3 targets.

Gladden leads the receivers with 33 receptions and 627 yards with nine touchdowns. Jamerson, after missing two weeks, has 19 receptions for 276 yards and six touchdowns.

Pine Eagle (4-2, 1-1) at Joseph (1-5, 0-2), 7 p.m.

Joseph enters the game needing a win to have any shot at the playoffs.

The Eagles are a year removed from the state title game, but losing a host of seniors left head coach Rusty Eschler’s team in rebuilding mode.

The good thing is, there’s talent in Joseph. With more experience, there are 10 underclassmen on the roster, the Eagles will be a force in the next year or two.

Junior Zach Staidle leads the passing attack for Joseph. Trevor Lewis and Will Garrett head the rushing attack.

Pine Eagle comes into the game trying to keep pace with Wallowa for the final playoff spot.

Quarterback Jake Traw and running back Kyle Dennis lead the Spartan attack.

Traw has completed 29 of his 64 attempts for 748 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Dennis is over the 1,000-yard mark with 1,141 yards on 50 carries. He has nine touchdowns on the season.

The big difference for Pine Eagle this season is in the turnover margin. The Spartans are plus 12 on the season, forcing 20 turnovers, while committing eight.