Sweet Home just another game for Tigers

The last memory the La Grande football team has of the state playoffs is a 35-33 loss to Estacada in 2007, when the Tigers entered the playoffs with a doleful 1-8 record.

La Grande enters the 2009 playoffs with new hope, winning two of its final four games entering its first round playoff game with Sweet Home Friday night.

“It’s like another season for us,” La Grande head coach Matt Wolcott said. “First it was preseason, then league play, and now the playoffs. We feel good about ourselves.”

“It’s nice to be here. We won the games we had to and now we put ourselves in a good position,” Wolcott said.

Sweet Home, representing the Val-Co League, is 7-3 on the season, but dropped their final two games of the year.

The Huskies are averaging 33.4 points per game behind a balanced offense. Running back Brock Cota has racked up 640 yards rushing this season and has scored 14 touchdowns.

 Quarterback Tyler Holly is averaging 121 yards passing per game, and has thrown 11 touchdowns to just five interceptions.

“They throw the ball quite a bit. We just want to make them earn everything they get and take away the big play,” Wolcott said.

La Grande is led by dual-threat quarterback Carson Miller, who is averaging 104.3 yards passing per game, and has thrown five touchdowns and six interceptions.

Miller is also the Tigers’ leading rusher, averaging 5.6 yards per carry for 478 yards with eight touchdowns.

Miller’s favorite target through the air is receiver Brandon Powell. Powell enters the postseason with 14 catches for 279 yards and two scores.

“We need guys to step up this weekend,” Wolcott said. “We have to minimize mistakes and make plays to give ourselves a chance to win this game.”

Also a viable option for the Tigers’ offense is running back Matt Nicholson, who has compiled 317 rushing yards, and Andrew Humphreys, who has 374 all-purpose yards this year.

The Huskies started the season 7-1, but fiddled down the stretch, losing to Central High School and Junction City during the final two weeks of the regular season.

The Tigers finished the year 1-2 in the Greater Oregon League, but Wolcott feels the strength of the conference will help his team.

“I think that how well our conference was this year is going to really benefit us. Baker and Ontario only have one loss apiece, so we have faced tough competition already,” he said.

Both La Grande and Sweet Home enter the game relatively healthy and eager to get on the field to battle and represent their respective towns, Wolcott Said.

“It’s cool to be here. The kids are excited for this game. We just want to play well for our school and for the city of La Grande,” Wolcott said.

Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Sweet home. Home, Ore.