The Nestucca High Bobcats will begin the OSAA Class 2A 2024 football season with hopes of returning to the state playoffs after falling short of their goal last season.
The Bobcats, guided by Coach Jeff Schiewe and assistant Coach Tevin Gianella, kicked off the season with the first day of practice on Monday. Nestucca had a mediocre season last year, finishing 4-5 overall and 4-3 in the Special District 1 and taking fourth place in the eight-team league. However, with just four seniors graduated, the Bobcats have an experienced squad returning, including ten seniors.
“Hopefully, we can get back to the state playoffs this year,” said Schiewe, who guided the Bobcats there in 2022. “We had lots of injuries last year, particularly with our offensive line. We have a lot of potential and if we can avoid the injury bug, then good things should happen for us. We’ve coached the seniors on the team for five years now and we’re looking for some positive things from those guys because we’ve had a good history with them.”
The Bobcats had some momentum at the conclusion of the 2023 season as they won their last two SD1 contest’s over the Sheridan High Spartans and the Neah-Kah-Nie High Pirates to finish with a winning league record, but it just wasn’t enough to get them back into the postseason.
Nestucca will rely on the senior trio of quarterback Nolen Hurliman, running backs Zak Chatelain and Draven Marsh and junior receiver Eli Love to lead the Bobcats offense.
“We have a more experienced team this year and so we’re going to be a little older than other teams on the field in most of our games,” said Schiewe. “This is a great time of the year and we’re really looking forward to the season. Hopefully, we’ll achieve our team goal of having more success than we had last year. I think we’ll be one of the top contenders for the league title.”
The Gaston High Greyhounds (7-0 SD1, 7-3 overall in 2023) won the league title a year ago and are projected as one of the top teams again this year. The Clatskanie High Tigers (6-1 SD1, 6-4 overall in 2023) and the Knappa High Loggers (5-2 SD1, 5-4 overall in 2023) are also expected to be top league contenders this year.
Players who will anchor the offensive and defensive line for the Bobcats include seniors Gus Venti, Zach Porter, Jack Manning and Emmett Clark. Juniors Nick Samek, Sarge Samek, Tyler Ricks and Zeth Chapin will also be counted on to make key contributions for Nestucca as well on offense and defense.
The Bobcats will open their season in a jamboree Aug. 30 at Nestucca High School. They’ll play the opening contest of their eight-game schedule Sept. 5 on the road against the Gervais High Cougars (9-2 in 2023), a state quarterfinal squad last year. The Bobcats lost 42-0 to the Cougars in their season opener last year at home. Nestucca begins its six-game SD1 schedule Sept. 20 versus the Neah-Kah-Nie High Pirates in Rockaway.
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