HERMISTON, Ore.-“New year, new us” is a mantra the Hermiston Bulldogs varsity football team is embracing heading into the 2025 Mid-Columbia Conference (MCC) season.
Coming off a tough 0-10 campaign, the Bulldogs are excited to get back on the field and prove that last season was a fluke.
“We lost some close games and had a lot of injuries last year,” said Head Coach David Faaeteete. “We didn’t have a lot of continuity on the offensive line either, and ended up starting a couple of freshmen quarterbacks.”
Those freshmen are now sophomores with a year of experience under their belts and a summer in the weight room, and while Faaeteete, entering his 11th season as head coach, is not ready to name his starting quarterback, he’s excited about the way his team has shown up and competed all summer.
“This is a really positive group and they’re hungry to be better than last year,” said Coach Faaeteete. “The kids have been competing all summer, we had 85-90 percent attendance for our summer workouts.”
Senior linebacker and running back Hayden Larson, could be a factor for the Bulldogs this season, after getting healthy and having a full summer in the weight room, and sophomore Brayden Medelez, who also wrestles for the Bulldogs, has done a good job of training and competing for the starting quarterback job.
“This group of kids wants to play hard for the team, and we’re excited to get back to football and to winning,” said Coach Faaeteete.
Hermiston’s schedule includes games against perennial powers Richland, Chiawana and Kamiakin, as well as matchups against Sageview, the new high school in Pasco, and the battle of the bulldogs against Pasco High, which has developed into a sort of natural rivalry since Hermiston joined the MCC, according to Coach Faaeteete.
Hermiston opens the 2025 season on September 5 at Kennison Field against Richland.
“New year, new us,” said Coach Faaeteete. “We’ve got a lot to prove.”
