TD making it a two-game season

Head coach Steve Sugg is still a believer in his group of 20 athletes, as they head to Pendleton at 7 p.m. tonight for a Columbia River Conference contest.

“We had to cancel a game, we’ve had so many injuries and now we have to win our last two games to make the playoffs,” Sugg said. “Once we get to the playoffs, you never know. What a great story that would be. We would be the talk of the town. I tried to paint a picture for them on what a story that would be and what kind of scenario they had to fight for. We will see. Hopefully, we can come out and play well for four quarters. “

The Riverhawks (1-5 overall, 0-1 league) face a Pendleton team led by dual threat quarterback Kai Quinn and plenty of weapons at running back and wide receiver.

On the year, the Buckaroos have scored 155 points, but they have not scored more than 27 points in a game.

Last week, Pendleton lost in a lopsided affair with Hood River Valley, 42-21.

“Pendleton will try to spread us out and get the ball to their playmakers,” Sugg said. “Kai Quinn is their best athlete. He’s a lot like Peasley (La Grande quarterback Andrew Peasley), but not quite as good. Real athletic kid. He rolls around and makes plays. He pretty much runs their whole offense.”

Pendleton has the sixth-worst scoring defense in the 5A class, allowing 33.4 points game, having given up 62 against Summit, 41 against Ridgeview and 42 last week.

The Dalles offense will look to duplicate its offensive output last week, where they had 305 yards, 222 through the air last week in a loss to Hermiston.

This will be the second straight week that Sugg will have his offensive line of Jacob Wetmore, Matt Strizich, Blake Davis, Joaquin Medina and Julian Hernandez healthy and intact.

They will face a Pendleton defense that plays in a 3-4 defensive formation with an aggressive, blitzing style up front and man coverage in the secondary.

“Last week, I thought our offensive line played really well,” Sugg said. “They’re still not where we want them to be yet, but we made a vast improvement from the La Grande game. They are starting to get some continuity and they are starting to figure things out.”

In the Hermiston game, TD’s all-league running back Devin Wilson amassed 73 yards rushing and had 10 catches for 154 yards.

On the year, the senior has gained 751 yards, 429 on the ground with four touchdowns.

Dominique Seufalemua has completed 73 of 145 passes with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions, but with injuries to the wide receivers, he will rely on Wilson, Damion Morris, Denzel Arellano and tight end Colton Walker to move the ball up the field.

“We need to get a few more guys going,” Sugg said. “I think Damion Morris is going to help us run a little bit more between the tackles. Denzel Arellano, Colton Walker and others need to step up and have big games. I need to call their number a little bit more and I need to throw the ball their way and let them show us what they can do.”

There are athletes in place to make plays and score points, but Sugg’s emphasis is on the little things that hurt the Riverhawks.

On the year, TD has committed 61 penalties for 503 yards, 18 turnovers, eight of those are fumbles, gone 24 of 76 on third downs and punted 22 times in six games.

“All of those things we need to eliminate,” Sugg said. “We are close. I really feel like it. When we watch film, it is the little tiny things. Somebody forgets to do this, somebody forgets that assignment. Easy, correctable things. The kids even saw it and know what they missed by watching film. It is just a matter of the kids stepping up, being committed and staying disciplined and focused for a full four quarters. If we can do that, I think the outcome will be in our favor.”

Stats courtesy of www.sportsstatservice.com.

Radio station KODL 1440 AM broadcasts the game live at 7 p.m. tonight.