The Hermiston High School football program took home some of the top Columbia River Conference awards as senior defensive back Ramon Contreras earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and head coach Mark Hodges won Coach of the Year.

In fact, the CRC all-conference team is littered with Bulldogs as 26 of the 79 awards were given to Hermiston players.

The Bulldogs were one of the top offenses in the state of Oregon and were led through the air by junior quarterback Chase Knutz. Knutz, a second-team Columbia River Conference selection, finished the year going 187 for 331 for 2,810 yards. He threw 27 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He started all 10 games under center for the Bulldogs.

Balance was the key for Hermiston at the skill positions as the team had three different running backs amass more than 450 yards on the ground and had three different pass catchers total more than 450 yards receiving on the season.

Senior Costa Rodriguez led the team with 108 carries and 736 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Fellow senior Trenton Anteau had 80 carries for 533 yards and six touchdowns. Both Anteau and Rodriguez played in only eight games this season because of injury, but they both played well enough to earn first-team running back honors.

Junior running back Cory Adams had 92 carries for 463 yards and five touchdowns. He received an honorable mention for his efforts. Sophomore Sam Shields-Colbray was primarily used as a goal line back as he scored three touchdowns on limited touches.

The senior Contreras led the team in receiving, collecting 63 catches for 1,113 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. He was a first-team wide receiver selection. Junior Cole Smith, a second-team tight end, had 37 catches for 599 yards and five touchdowns, while sophomore Ethan Snow had 29 catches for 476 yards and five touchdowns of his own. He took home an honorable mention.

Contreras led the team in all-purpose yards, amassing 1,659 of them on the year. Rodriguez also finished with 1,108 all-purpose yards on the season.

The Bulldogs were just as balanced defensively as they were offensively. Junior Jesee Rodelo led the team with 44 total tackles. Shields-Colbray led the team with three and a half sacks on the season. Junior Landon Gammell and senior Damian Martinez each had three sacks on the year to tie for second on the team.

Contreras led the team with five interceptions while Rodriguez had three of his own. The Bulldogs picked off 11 passes on the season.

Columbia River Conference All-Conference Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Chad McCoy, QB, Pendleton

Defensive Player of the Year: Ramon Contreras, DB, Hermiston

Coach of the Year: Mark Hodges, Hermiston

Quarterback

First Team

Chad McCoy, Pendleton, Sr.

Second Team

Chas Knutz, Hermiston, Jr.

Honorable Mention

Chaise Shroll, The Dalles, Sr.

Running Back

First Team

Trenton Anteau, Hermiston, Sr.

Costa Rodriguez, Hermiston, Sr.

Second Team

Blake Diede, The Dalles, Sr.

Jeremy Fischer, Hood River, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Cory Adams, Hermiston, Jr.

Billy Brace, The Dalles, Sr.

Keyano Walker, Pendleton, Jr.

Wide Receiver

First Team

Ramon Contreras, Hermiston, Sr.

Isaiah Polhamus, Pendleton, Sr.

Second Team

Austin Dehart, The Dalles, Sr.

Wyatt Weber, Hood River, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Zach Cantrell, The Dalles, Sr.

Quentin Quempts, Pendleton, Sr.

Ethan Snow, Hermiston, So.

Austin Wilson, The Dalles, Sr.

Tight End

First Team

Zach Nerdin, The Dalles, Sr.

Second Team

Cole Smith, Hermiston, Jr.

Offensive Line

Dylan Caldwell, Hermiston, Jr.

Luis Santoyo, Hermiston, Jr.

PJ Schubert, Pendleton, Sr.

Connor Shortt, The Dalles, Sr.

Second Team

Cole Carey, Pendleton, Sr.

Mike Finn, Hermiston, Sr.

Trevin Franks, Hood River, Sr.

Lio Tunai, The Dalles, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Riley Bardes, The Dalles, Jr.

Garrett Kelly, Hood River, Jr.

Jonnie Knickerbocker, Hood River, Jr.

Center

First Team

Damien Martinez, Hermiston, Sr.

Second Team

Brian Branstetter, Pendleton, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Mike Pifer, The Dalles, Sr.

All Purpose

First Team

TJ Hancock, Pendleton, Jr.

Second Team

Tony Greene, Hermiston, Jr.

Honorable Mention

Devin Wilson, The Dalles, So.

Defensive Line

First Team

Damien Martinez, Hermiston, Sr.

PJ Schubert, Pendlton, Sr.

Connor Shortt, The Dalles, Sr.

Lio Tunai, The Dalles, Sr.

Second Team

Trenton Anteau, Hermiston, Sr.

Laramie Boston, Pendleton, Sr.

Bryan Branstetter, Pendleton, Sr.

Trey Wilson, Hermiston, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Cole Carey, Pendleton, Sr.

Jackson Hukari, Hood River, Sr.

Mike Pifer, The Dalles, Sr.

Linebacker

First Team

Patrick Crompton, Hood River, Jr.

Kauone Sefo, The Dalles, Sr.

Hayden Simon, Hermiston, So.

Steven Swafford, Hood River, Jr.

Second Team

Jacob Harmon, Hermiston, Sr.

Terrel Platt, Pendleton, Jr.

Michael Potts, Hermiston, Jr.

Chaise Shroll, The Dalles, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Riley Bardes, The Dalles, Jr.

Adam McCaw, Hood River, Sr.

Jesse Rodelo, Hermiston, Jr.

Levi Winterton, Pendleton, Jr.

Defensive Back

First Team

Ramon Contreras, Hermiston, Sr.

John Gray, Hood River, Jr.

TJ Hancock, Pendleton, Jr.

Costa Rodriguez, Hermiston, Sr.

Second Team

Austin Dehart, The Dalles, Sr.

Jimmy Hollingshead, Pendleton, Jr.

Wyatt Webber, Hood River, Sr.

Austin Wilson, The Dalles, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Zach Cantrell, The Dalles, Sr.

Tyler McCabe, Hermiston, Jr.

Austin Monahan, Hermiston, Sr.

Zach Nerdin, The Dalles, Sr.

Punter

First Team

Nolan McCall, The Dalles, Sr.

Second Team

Ramon Contreras, Hermiston, Sr.

Kicker

First Team

Luis Medina, Hermiston, Jr.

Second Team

Martin Lanthaler, Hood River, Sr.

Returner

First Team

Ramon Contreras, Hermiston, Sr.

Second Team

Alix Jimenez, Hood River, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Austin Wilson, The Dalles, Sr.