Lebanon (1-0) at Pendleton (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday

Football returns to the Round-Up Arena as the Buckaroos open their home schedule against Lebanon.

Pendleton is coming off a 15-7 overtime win over Ontario that gave head coach Mitch?Sanders a win in his Bucks debut. Lebanon downed Parkrose 40-13 in an OSAA endowment game last Friday.

The Warriors run a dangerous veer offense that can spring the fullback or quarterback for big gains and will give the Bucks something different to think about.

“You have to be very disciplined in what you do,” Sanders said. “We’re making sure we’re doing our assignments on defense.”

On offense, Sanders said the key will be the play of his offensive line, which got pushed around last week by a physical, relentless Ontario defense that blitzed all game long.

“Offensively, we’ve been working on being more consistent up front,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time trying to focus on that – being able to run the football and take control up front. I want to be able to run the football.”

The offensive line will set the tempo for the rest of the team. Sanders said he predicts a good night for the Bucks if the O-line does its job.

“If they have a good night, it allows everyone else to have a good night,” he said. “We’re going to be watching (them) real carefully. That, to me, is the key.”

Sanders said he hopes his team will be able to run for at least a couple hundred yards. Last week, they had to rely more heavily on the arm of quarterback Jake Talbot than Sanders prefers.

Another point of concern for the Bucks is the overall health of the team. Sanders gave the team a light practice week, at least physically, to allow several banged-up players time to heal. Among the injured is receiver Josh?Ernst, who absorbed a massive hit as he reeled in the game-winning touchdown last week. He is also nursing a sore shoulder.

“It’s been a good mental week (in practice),” Sanders said. “The kids are jacked. It looks like they’re having fun.”

Lewiston (1-0) at Hermiston (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday

Hermiston will play the rest of the season without its star wide receiver, Anthony Montez, who broke his arm in the Bulldogs’ 27-23 season-opening win against Walla Walla last week.

The Bulldogs are adjusting to life after Montez.

“He was Mr. Clutch,” said head coach Mark Hodges. “The first couple of days were kind of rough, but today we looked good.”

Taking Montez’s place are senior Ben Wood and junior Mark Hodges, the coach’s son. The Dawgs will have to play well to compete against Lewiston, which features a talented 6-6 quarterback in Justin Podrabsky. “He can run. He’s strong. He can throw the ball on the run,” Hodges said. “And he has an assortment of weapons. We just have to make sure we contain him.”

Hodges said his team must move the ball well and avoid the pressure of the Lewiston blitz.

“We have to play with our eyes up,” he said.

The other problem for the Bulldogs is the flu bug, which kept six kids out of practice on Wednesday. Even so, Hodges said his team is building off of last week’s success.

“We managed to have an excellent practice today,” Hodges said. “The big thing is learning how to deal with their (defensive) pressure.”

Liberty Christian (0-1) at Weston-McEwen (0-0), 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: Weston-McEwen will see if Kyle Watts can make the adjustment from tailback to signal caller in the TigerScots’ first game of the year.

Key player: Look to see if Watts can manage the offense and continue to produce once the ball is snapped.

Quotable: “We’ve got to show up and play, and it all starts with the offensive line.” – head coach Kenzie Hansell

Arlington (0-0) at Jewell (0-0), 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: Arlington has a strong junior/senior class and the team should show strides from last year. They play an independent schedule with lots of road games, so a good start could be critical.

Key player: Fullback J.J.?Gabbey runs hard and hits hard, and will be the way Arlington establishes the run.

Quotable: “We’re quite a bit further along from last year.” – head coach Ted Proctor

Riverside (1-0) at Stanfield (0-0), 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: Riverside is much improved from last year and should provide a good test for a tough Stanfield team.

Key players: For Stanfield, it will be the play of running back Quin Grogan and quarterback Derek Monkus that will determine the outcome. For Riverside, look for tailback Chuy Alba to impact the game.

Quotable: “We can go through all the practice we like, but until you get out there on Friday night you don’t really know what you have.” – assistant head coach Steve Sheller

Umatilla (1-0) at La Grande (0-1), 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: This game is important for the Vikings as they work to reduce some of the mental errors and penalties that plagued their win last week.

Key player: Quarterback Taylor Pankey will be called upon to provide leadership and a calming presence on offense.

Quotable: “La Grande is a good football team.?They’re an up-and-coming program.” – head coach Kelly Allen

Echo (0-1) at Cove (0-1), 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: Echo must use this game to sort out some of its problems before league play begins in two more weeks.?They also need to get healthy, as several players are ill this week.

Key player: Jacob Ededy, mostly known as a linebacker, has made the successful conversion to quarterback and team leader.

Quotable: “We need some real work before we get into league play” -head coach Norm Stewart

DeSales (0-1) at Mac-Hi (0-1) 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: Mac-Hi looks to rebound from a loss at Tillamook last Friday against a tough DeSales team.

Key players: The defensive backs, which will need to contain the explosive DeSales shotgun spread offense.

Quotable: “(The matchup) is a really good thing for the two communities. It ends up being a very positive thing.” – head coach Chuck Pease

Waitsburg (0-0) at Pilot Rock (0-0), 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: Waitsburg will test Pilot Rock in the opening game for both teams.

Key players: The senior class will need to provide leadership for the young Pilot Rock team.

Quotable: “We have to keep first-game mistakes under control. I want to win the time of possession game.” – head coach Troy Jerome

Heppner (1-0) at Culver (0-1), 7 p.m. Friday

What’s at stake: Heppner looks to build off a 30-23 win over Kennedy.

Key players: Head coach?Greg Grant declined to name any particular players, saying he expects every kid who steps on the field to step up.

Quotable: “Culver is a physical football team.?We need to step up to that level of physical play.” – head coach Greg Grant