HRV football seeks fourth straight playoff appearance

“We made the playoffs last year with a really inexperienced team … and now all those kids are back as juniors and seniors with tons of starting experience and playoff experience,” said Coach Caleb Sperry. “Our offensive line, we’ve got four of five starters back. It all starts with those guys up front. We’ve got a great line.”

One lineman who didn’t play last season because of an injury is Logan Lavoie, who returns for his senior season after starting for HRV as a sophomore and playing as a freshman on HRV’s 2021 9-2 team. Also back are Jack Miller, a two-way all-district second-team lineman as a sophomore, senior Omar Sedano, and junior Miguel Arriola. The latter two players were second-team all-district defensive linemen in 2023.

Lavoie and his line mates will be protecting Davis Parr, who worked his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore at quarterback two years ago and is back to call signals for the third successive season.

“Our running backs are back; our receivers are back. We’ve just got a lot of depth,” Sperry said. “The kids are competing hard. We’re just excited to put it all together.

“The [offensive] base is always the same, but you change it up to your personnel. We’ve got tons of speed.”

That includes senior Toby Stintzi, who returns after an injury prevented him from playing his junior year. “Getting him back after missing his entire junior year ... he looks great,” Sperry said.

Stintzi will play free safety on defense and in the slot on offense. Also among the experienced receiving group are juniors Cooper Wells and Bodie Stuben. “We’ll just try to stretch the field more, get the ball to more people and create a little more movement,” Sperry said. “Defensively, maybe some more pressure, some man coverage because we’re more capable, more athletic.”

“Bodie Stuben, Cooper Wells, another year at receiver, they just look stronger, more experienced,” Sperry added. “I’m excited about those guys. And Isa Luna, at linebacker and running back.”

The Eagles will compete in a revamped league, Special District 1. Gone are recent 6A transplant Canby (to 5A Special District 2) and Wilsonville (also SD2). New to HRV’s league schedule are 6A Aloha and Glencoe, joining Putnam, La Salle Prep, Hillsboro, Forest Grove and Centennial.

“I think it’s a really great league; there’s a lot of opportunity there for us,” Sperry said. “There’s no reason why we can be at the top of the league and that will be the goal.”