>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

MAN DOWN: Andy Godfrey will not be under center for the Tigers Friday. Godfrey dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand. He will still play defense and special teams against Madras. - Observer file photo

The Tigers travel to Madras (0-5) Friday.

“Whoever wants this game more will win,” La Grande head coach Matt Wolcott said. “This is a game for either team to win. It will be a battle between two very even teams.”

MILTON-FREEWATER — The La Grande volleyball team won its 10th straight match Tuesday, defeating McLoughlin, 3-0.

More important for the Tigers than the streak, they are now 2-0 in Greater Oregon League play.

WALL OF PANTHERS: Imbler’s quarterback Bryan Mills has ample running room due to some great blocking. The Panthers host undefeated Joseph in a Class 1A, Special District 4 clash Friday in Imbler. - The Observer/ BARRETT HENDERSON

On Friday Joseph (5-0) travels to Imbler (3-1) to face the defending state runner-ups.

“The boys are in good spirits,” Joseph head coach Rusty Eschler said. “We are all excited for the game. We’re hoping to go there and give them a good game.”

Joseph’s defense has given up 48 points in five games, a league best.

“Joseph is the real deal,” Imbler head coach Lee Lowe said. “They are very similar to the way we were last year.

Quarterback Chris Ware has received a number of weekly honors after his performance against Rocky Mountain College Saturday.

Ware received Frontier Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Victory Sports Network Offensive Player of the Week and NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Ware threw for a school record 443 yards and five touchdowns. The freshman also ran for another 114 yards with three more scores.

LA GRANDE OL’ TIME: The Tigers’ Shelby Hasse sets up this perfect spike during La Grande’s championship game victory at the La Grande Invite volleyball tournament Saturday. The Observer/BARRETT HENDERSON

The Tigers went on to win their next nine matches to win their second straight tournament title.

“I am really excited about our performance today,”

FINDING THE HOLE: Mountaineers tailback Jordyn Jackson escapes from the frontline for a big gain during a 76-55 win against Rocky Mountain College. Jackson finished with 57 yards rushing. The Observer/ PAUL HARDER

Some people probably left. But what they failed to realize is this isn’t the same Mountaineers team of the past. That team gave up and stopped playing when the chips were down.

This team rallied.

RUNNING WILD: La Grande’s Ylva Hatlebrekke strides to a second-place finish. The senior was only nine seconds off her personal record. - The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER

The Tigers’ lone home meet before the postseason was a success. The La Grande boys team won the team title and the girls placed two runners in the top five.

The boys had six runners in the top eight led by Colton Winkler’s second-place finish. The senior finished with a time of 17:54.08. The time was the second best of his La Grande career.

ENTERPRISE — The Union cross country teams swept the boys and girls titles at the Enterprise Invitational Friday.

“We ran very well,” Union head coach Steve Sheehy said. “It was a smaller meet, but it was good competition.”

The field included Weston-McEwen, Cove, Elgin, Pendleton and the host, Enterprise.

WEST IS THE BEST: At least on this catch he was. Imbler’s Nick West leaps and pulls down a catch while being heavily defended by Wallowa’s Andrew Wilson. The Panthers went on to rout the Cougars, 78-36 in the Class 1A, Special District 4 match-up.- The Observer/BARRETT HENDERSON

“We did some pretty good things offensively, but then got a little passive defensively,” Imbler head football coach Lee Lowe said.

“Wallowa is a greatly improved ball club. We had a tough time containing Tyler Harshfield and covering some people. They’re going to give people some problems and put points on the board.”

BUMP AND RUN: Marlee Ausmussen and the Leopards escaped Joseph with a win Friday. - The Observer/PAUL HARDER

It was a little of both for Cove Friday.

The Leopards cruised through Games 1 and 2, but faltered with errors later on.