By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
PERRYDALE, Ore.– The Perrydale Football team made some noise last year in the 1A, 8-Man level.
Without a single senior, the Pirates marched their way to the 1A State Quarterfinals before falling to Dufur 36-6 in 2025. Now a year older, another year under their belts, the Pirates are hoping to reach the 1A State Playoffs once more this Fall.
“I think we had a really great season last year and we were really impressed with our performance in terms of how far we went and also how we did as a team and we’re hoping to continue that and be better this year,” Broden Ferguson said. “It’s been a long Summer…but it’s been a great Summer.”
It’s been a long Summer that featured workouts, Team Camp, Youth Camp, things to build that bridge from last Fall into this Summer.
Ferguson was a second team All-State selection at Running Back and was a third-team All-State Defensive Lineman as a junior to anchor a Pirates team that garnered eight All-State Selections last Fall.
“That was an amazing season for sure…The energy was high, the energy was there. With not having any seniors last year and everyone coming back, it’s very exciting for this year,” said Landon Eichler, a third-team All-State selection at Linebacker as a sophomore. “(This Summer) It’s been great. We started training at the beginning of the Summer and we haven’t done that the last couple of years, we’re expected to have a good season…It’s all mental from there. A lot of these guys started last year.”
Monday evening started the season ‘officially’ as Perrydale begins their countdown to their Week 0 game at Lyle, Washington to play Lyle/Wishram/Klickitat on August 28. The Pirates first home game of the year will be on September 11 against Chiloquin.
And for seniors like Ferguson entering this season with the Pirates, he credits the seniors before him that shaped him as the leader he is today. The Brandon Lux’s, the Connor Grabers and the Carter Marsters that helped him early on during his time in a Perrydale uniform.
“Those guys I credit so much for how I am now as a player. I always looked up to Lux, Graber and Carter and the other’s, they built me as a player and I can’t be more grateful for what they taught me. I’m hoping to honor their legacy this year and hopefully go further than they could ever make it,” said Ferguson.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
