HOOD RIVER – Hood River Valley took advantage of four Pendleton turnovers and won its first football game of 2026, 26-13, over the host Buckaroos Sept. 18 in Eastern Oregon.
Defensively, the Eagles flew around, with linebackers Jose Benancourt and Jace Myers manning the second layer, Milo Bielen using his speed on the edge up front, and talented defensive back Davin Snyder providing run support when he wasn’t hawking Pendleton receivers. Offensively, Hood River (1-2) took advantage of most of its scoring opportunities – something that couldn’t be said in the Eagles’ first two games (both loses).
Coach Caleb Sperry said: “The other two (games) we were super close. We had so many opportunities - that were right there - that we didn’t capitalize on. And this one we were able to capitalize on more opportunities. We still got more that we can capitalize on, but we just did a better job of finishing some drives, doing a better job on defense of making sure our eyes are in the right place … it’s just part of that growth that you go through in a season where you get better and better.”
HRV expanded a 14-7 halftime lead by scoring twice in the third period – both TDs were set up by Pendleton miscues. A bad snap on a punt attempt rolled to the back of the end zone where Hood River’s Myers recovered the ball for an HRV touchdown. Pendleton fumbled on its next play from scrimmage and Hood River drove 53 yards in seven plays to take a 26-7 lead on an Ian Wells to Snyder nine-yard TD pass play.
Class 4A Pendleton (0-3) scored on the game’s final play to make the score final.
Hood River held a 14-0 lead in the first half on a Wells to Snyder 20-yard pass and an 11-yard run by Wells. Hugh Huckaby added point-after kicks after each score. Wells finished as HRV’s leading rusher, with 112 yards on 12 carries. Snyder caught 10 passes for 112 yards.
“We had a really hard time running between the tackles,” Sperry said of Wells’ increased carries from his quarterback spot. “So, we had to kind of abort the plan and start doing more of our read game which gives Ian the option to keep the ball or hand it off.”
Pendleton answered HRV’s two scores with a touchdown of its own late in the second period - on an eight-play, 60-yard drive capped by Tanner Morgan’s five-yard run.
Other than that drive, Hood River controlled the Buckaroos most of the opening half. Senior lineman Bielen had back-to-back pressure plays forcing incompletions from Pendleton quarterback Cole Sazue. Sophomore Grady Sperry also made a “defensive” play on offense, when he stripped a potential interception of an underthrown pass from a Buckaroo defensive back. Bielen was a beast all evening from his defensive end spot, adding three quarterback sacks in the second half which resulted in negative 30 yards.
Hillsboro, coming off its first win of 2026, 41-6 over Parkrose, visits Henderson Stadium for a 7 p.m. nonleague contest Sept. 25. The two teams were in the same special football district two seasons ago when the Spartans beat HRV in the regular season, 28-14. Hillsboro has advanced to the 5A state playoffs the past four seasons and has a two-game win streak over the Eagles.
“They spread you out and attack you on defense,” Sperry said of Hillsboro. “(They have) some funky schematic things to be aware of; to be prepared for.”
Commented