New coaches lead way in BMC

TAKING THE FIELD AGAIN: The 2009 season looks to be another exciting year in the Blue Mountain Conference. - Observer file photo

The Mustangs went 9-3 last year, including a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play. Pilot Rock has been Heppner’s closest competitor in recent years, going 6-1 in conference last season.

Elgin, Enterprise and Union all enter this season with one common theme — they all have new head coaches.

Lance Lovitt takes over an Elgin team that finished third in conference and was two games above .500 at 6-4 overall last year.

Lovitt comes to Elgin after spending time as an assistant at Eastern Oregon University two years ago, and before that as head coach of La Grande High School where he had a mark of 15-5 in two seasons.

The Huskies lost seven players to graduation, but around 18 kids that saw playing time last year will return.

Seniors Kyle Miller, Kyle Dechenne, Efrain Nieves and Aleck Weaver all saw quality time a season ago. Delton Moore, a transfer from John Day, is going to play quarterback this season for Lovitt’s offense.

“I think the sky is the limit for these kids,” Lovitt said. “If we can bond together as a team I feel we can have a really good year.”

Chad Huddleston makes the switch from defensive coordinator to head coach this season after spending a number of years in a variety of roles in Union.

The Bobcats started out last year with a win over Riverside but dropped the next six games on their way to a 2-7 season.

Four seniors return this year for the Bobcats. Austin Woodward will make the transition from wide receiver to quarterback, while a group of four kids will patrol the backfield.

Justin Hammer, Vince Stuckey, Kaleb Cole and Jesse Gregory look to all get carries early on in the year for Union.

The Bobcats will be running a new offense this season under Huddleston. Instead of the run-and-shoot that they’ve played in years past, Union will be more of a zone blocking team this year.

As any new head coach wants to do, Huddleston just wants to take things one game at a time in his first season and try to improve on last season’s results.

“As long as we show progress each week I’ll be happy,” he said.

In Enterprise, Chuck Corak returns to coaching after retiring 10 years ago. The Outlaws finished last year 3-6 overall, and 2-5 in league play.

Corak led Enterprise during the glory years when the Outlaws were the cream of the  Blue Mountain Conference.

The Outlaws will depend on an experienced offensive line to lead Corak’s offense this season.

Guard Jake Nicholls, tackle Skyler Wills and center Alex Courtney will be the hog mollies up front this year.

Kyle Stangel has seemed to have taken the advantage in a tight three-man quarterback competition, and Jake Girtz will play fullback this season after spending time on the offensive line a year ago.

“We have a lot of potential on this team,” Corak said. “If the players can pick up the fundamentals and do the little things then I think a winning season is possible.”

If there is another common theme that the teams of the Blue Mountain Conference have this season besides new head coaches, it’s the drive to try and dethrone Heppner.

Pilot Rock came the closest last year, but lost 14-12. Every other team in conference lost to the Mustangs by double digits.

“Everybody in this conference has been wanting to be the team that finally knocks off Heppner,” Huddleston said.

Well, there are three new guys in charge who will have their chance this season.