Senior-dominated Bulldogs look for big season

Culver football enters a new special district this season, and it includes the defending 2A state champion Lowell and 1A state champion Lost River.

But the most talented team in the 2A Special District 5 may be the Culver Bulldogs.

Culver comes into the season with a group of players who have been lighting it up offensively since their sophomore seasons, while playing in the deep Tri-River Conference. Quarterback Houston Wittenberg, who Bulldog coach Brian Silbernagel contends is the best quarterback at the 2A level, leads the pass-happy offense with excellent accuracy (67% last season) and mobility.

Wittenberg will hit the field with an arsenal of weapons, led by unanimous first team all-league tight end Jace Silbernagel. Wittenberg's favorite target, Silbernagel routinely made big third-down catches and several huge catch-and-run plays last year. He made third team all-state at tight end on a team that didn't make the playoffs.

Cole Rahi and Roger Sotelo are both potential touchdown makers as outside receivers. Rahi was a second team all-league receiver last season even with missing a few games late with an injury. Sotelo was honorable mention as a wide out and second team as a defensive back.

At running back, Carlos Fernandez holds down the fort. Usually at fullback, Fernandez will also line up at various positions in the backfield. Rahi and Ryan Sotelo will also line up in the backfield and see the ball on running plays.

No doubt the Bulldogs can line up their skill position players with any 2A program in the state. Coach Silbernagel said his team met up with Crook County, a state playoff 4A program, for some 7-on-7 drills in the summer and more than held their own. Wittenberg, according to the coach, "has the arm talent to play at the college level."

The 6-2 senior was a first team all-league quarterback as a sophomore and second team last year after the squad came up short of making the playoffs.

The Bulldogs will score points this fall — especially if their line develops. That's where Culver is young and thin. Sophomore Koby Holmes returns as a leader on the line, and junior Dalton Taylor is also expected to be a mainstay up front. One player Silbernagel noted who put in a lot of time in the weight room and has been a fantastic surprise this August is junior Tyler Rahi. His coach said Rahi is very strong and will be counted on as a lineman.

But outside of those three athletes, the rest of the line spots are up for competition.

Defense has also been an issue for Dawgs, especially in the second halves of games last year. Fernandez was a first team all-league linebacker last year, and Wittenberg a first-team defensive back. But consistently stopping the run was difficult for the Dawgs, and with a thin line crew heading into this season, it's a concern for the coach.

"We need to get better defensively," said Silbernagel.

One plan to do so is to keep key players, like Fernandez, as fresh as possible into the late stages.

"We've got to find a way to give him some breaks during the game," said the coach.

Heading into the unknown as far as league play goes, Silbernagel thinks his squad should make the playoffs, and that's the goal heading in. Teams taking first and second in their leagues, and four third-place teams, make the 16-team playoff field.

Defending state champion Lowell, which beat the Dawgs in Culver last fall 64-30, returns the 2A player of the year in running back Jamar Thurman, plus two first team all-state offensive linemen. They would challenge the notion of the Bulldogs being the most talented team in the league.

The Bulldogs head to Irrigon for a jamboree Friday, Aug. 30. They open their season against Country Christian Sept. 5 on the road, then have their home opener Thursday, Sept. 12 against Colton. League play starts at home against Rogue River Sept. 20. Key back-to-back road games hit Sept. 27 at Lowell and Oct. 4 at Lost River.