Semi-pro football program kicks off on Sisters field

Brian Green, No. 30, and his brother, Mike, No. 10, of Sisters, played in a semi-pro league football game at Sisters Middle School football field. photo by Tom Chace

Football was in action in Sisters last Saturday night, April 3, even though it is spring, not fall.

The Central Oregon Stampede, a semi-pro team with a roster of 44 area residents, took on the Rogue Warriors from Medford at the Sisters varsity football field adjacent to the middle school, where Sisters High School plays home games.

Played under the lights, the game was won by Medford 28-16, although it was closer than the score sounds. The Stampede was driving for the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter when an errant pass got away, causing a turnover. The Warriors scored the decisive touchdown as time ran out.

This was the season opener for both teams of a nine-game regular season schedule, plus two playoff games programmed for early June.

While the score and game highlights are important to players and their families, among the more than 200 fans in attendance, it was simply great entertainment, good football and a night out in the spring air under a nearing-full moon.

Semi-pro ball here is also strictly for fun for the players. Neither they nor the coaches get paid.

Many team members are college graduates who want to continue in their chosen sport, or high school players not yet ready to "hang 'em up." Receiving no compensation means that the players retain their NCAA college eligibility.

All of the players arrange their own transportation and pay for incidental expenses such as meals and overnights if necessary. They even contribute out of their own pockets to the maintenance of the overall team and to pay for officials (there were six last Saturday) as well as the upkeep of the field and facilities.

Sisters players on the roster include brothers Mike and Brian Green and Shawn Grisham, playing a defensive back and wide receiver on offense. The youngest member of the team is Cameron Montgomery, age 18, and the oldest is Bill Hoffman, 45.

The owners of the local team are Justin Kuebler and his wife, Kebbra, from Powell Butte.

"The players do everything," said Kuebler, "from striping the field to fixing equipment and setting up the concession stands. As owners, we help with scheduling and management but we make no money."

Any funds left over from the modest $3 gate charge is donated to the Kids Center in Bend.

"Last year we were able to give them $1,500," Kuebler said.

Phil Colton, in addition to playing tight end on defense and wide receiver on offense, coordinates the marketing program. His wife, Sherri, sang the National Anthem a cappella from the announcer's booth atop the southern stands prior to kickoff. Her two sons carried the American flag onto the field.

The head coach of the local team is Bob Macauley, coach of the Sisters High School team and local high school principal.

"It was a great game," he said, "and we almost pulled it out except for that late turnover. I thought all along we were going to win it."

"We do this because we love the game," said Tom Carey, line coach. "It is not easy when we travel and we have five- to six-hour auto rides going as far as Brookings or Roseburg and Medford."

A sad note during the game was the dislocated shoulder injury to Murphy Cannon (No. 99), who had been waiting four years to get into the starting lineup. He made it this game but within minutes of the opening kickoff he got hurt.

The game was delayed about 20 minutes while paramedics were called and Cannon was taken from the field. As he left he gave teammates the thumbs up sign and a shout of encouragement.

There are nine teams in the league: the Klamath Crusaders; Columbia Coyotes from the Dalles; Oakridge Timberwolves; Rogue Valley Warriors; the Siskiyou Savages; Umpqua Valley (Oakland/Roseburg) Knights; the South Western Oregon (Brookings) Raiders; the Eugene Dragons and the Stampede.

The Warriors also beat the Stampede in the championship game last year which was shortened by a power failure caused by a blown transformer. The championship game will be played June 26 at the home field of the team with the best record.

The next game to be played here will be on Saturday, April 24.