HOOD RIVER — “Compete” was the word of the week at the Hood River Valley practice sessions leading up to the Eagles’ Oct. 9 homecoming football game against visiting Gresham. And by all accounts, HRV did just that in its 37-12 win on a cool night at Henderson Stadium.
Hood River (3-3 overall, 1-1 Class 5A Special District 1) set the tone on its opening drive after Gresham (2-4, 1-1) fumbled on its first possession. Senior Davin Snyder, who had an exceptional all-around game, made the initial contact on the play and his teammate Jace Meyers recovered the ball at the HRV 15-yard line.
Ten running plays and one pass later, Hood River took a 7-0 lead on Snyder’s 11-yard scamper and Hugh Huckaby’s point-after kick. The 11-play 85-yard drive included six of HRV’s 21 first downs on the night.
Hood River’s interior line, led by starters Aaron Smith, Reece Reierson, Milo Bielen, Ronan Haglund, and Kashman Morgan, were efficient with their blocking schemes – but essentially by simply staying with their blocks. Coach Caleb Sperry said: “Our kids had a different mentality coming out of the gate. Instead of us absorbing stuff we got after ‘em and it showed. We worked hard this week … we had some fire in our belly. We went out to take control of what we had control over. I thought our kids did a great job of playing downhill, physical and tough.”
HRV finished the game with 358 yards of total offense, including 178 on 20 carries from sophomore running back Kase Sietstra. He scored from one yard out early in the fourth period, giving HRV a 30-6 lead and essentially clinching the win.
Snyder had a big say in matters before and after Sietstra’s TD. Snyder finished with four touchdowns – the same number he had on HRV’s 2025 homecoming night win. Snyder scored on runs of 11 and one yards in the first half and then added a 32-yard reception from quarterback Ian Wells in the third period. Snyder capped his scoring night when Wells hit him in stride in the right corner of the end zone on a 16-yard down-and-out pattern.
Sperry said: “Davin’s playing some high-level football for us. Milo is playing some high level football for us. The kids are getting better and better every week. Our youth, the kids who need to get better, are getting better. “Some of those kids are getting more comfortable with their role, their assignments.”
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