The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Head football coach Bob Macauley has hopes his team will compete for the conference title at the end of the season.

The Sisters High School football team returns only six starters to the squad this year and three will play both offense and defense.

Senior Jeff Fitter, second team all-conference running back in 2004, will start as the Outlaws wide receiver. Fitter will also start as free safety on defense.

“I think Jeff will be explosive and score a lot of points for us at this position,” said Macauley. “He’s a great open field runner.”

Jeff Sampson, junior, returns as fullback and will also start at middle linebacker on defense. Sampson was selected second team all-conference fullback last season as a sophomore.

“Jeff is a big, strong fullback and an outstanding football player,” said Macauley. “He’s 6-feet-1-inch and 218 pounds and is a force by himself.”

Sam Pyke, senior, will be playing both offensive guard and outside linebacker.

Macauley said, “Sam’s one of our team captains and one of the hardest working football players I’ve had at Sisters.”

Andy Burke will continue as quarterback for his final season as an Outlaw. Burke earned second team all-conference last season as QB. Macauley said that Burke is a very smart football player, a great leader and an outstanding young man and he is counting on him to pick up where he left off last year.

Senior Blake Poynor will play center on offense and is also a team captain. Poynor was selected second team all-conference in 2004.

“Blake is an outstanding leader and the mastermind of the offensive line,” said Macauley. “He knows every position on the team and makes all the adjustments at the line of scrimmage.”

Nick Purvis, senior, is the only player to return on defense. Purvis will start at corner and will also rotate in as a receiver.

New starters on offense will be: Nate Jackson (sophomore), wide receiver; Cory McCaffrey (sophomore), tailback; Trevor Summers (junior), offensive tackle; Nick Pepperling (junior), guard; Spenser Freeland (junior), offensive tackle; Jakob Klient (junior), tight end.

On defense: Harry Womack (senior) corner; Dominic Nieri (sophomore), linebacker; Taylor Davenport (sophomore), linebacker; Todd Bell (junior) defensive tackle.

Macauley told The Nugget that Kris Rogers, Mike Hernandez and Blake Poynor are all battling for the last linebacker position.

“As the season goes on,” said Macauley, “Evan Eady, Ryan Schneringer, Grant Dahl, Doug Emberton and Tyson Edmundson will contribute a lot at the varsity level.”

Regarding season goals Macauley said, “We want to be the best that we can be and compete for the conference championship.”