Nyssa tries to gain ground
By Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Friday, October 24, 2008 11:17 AM PDT
Nyssa — The Nyssa Bulldogs are forging ahead in their push for a playoff slot as they hit the road to take on the Burns Hilanders in an Eastern Oregon League clash Friday in Burns.
Both Nyssa and Burns sport 1-2 league records and are in a three-way split with Vale for third place and the final playoff berth. Back-to-back wins put one team into the playoffs.
The chance for a playoff push is not lost on the mind of Nyssa’s first-year head coach Lee Long.
“There has been a different intensity in practice this week. It’s surreal for them to know they have the opportunity to beat Burns at Burns and Vale at Vale,” Long said. “It motivates the players. The practices have been better. The urgency and motivation of the players has been great. I am glad they have this opportunity.”
Long said Burns runs a West Coast-style offense, a 4-4 base defense and saw some significant contributions in last week’s 10-6 loss to Vale from brothers Garrett and Ethan Bentz, who played their first game since Sept. 5. The Bulldog offense will be challenged by their return.
“They like to send some pressure from one spot, so we have to account for that,” Long said. “There are some things we would like to exploit, and there are some gaps in the secondary, so we have to take advantage of that and do our best.”
Long said he feels his team has to overcome the turnover bug and the infamous one-bad quarter syndrome.
“We have to eliminate the mistakes now,” Long said. “We can’t afford to have any that can cost you.”
