HEPPNER – The defending state Class 2A champion Culver Bulldogs continue to roll, and quarterback Nevin Lewis showed why he is one of the state’s premier athletes in a 21-0 win over the Mustangs in nonleague action Friday.

The Bulldogs (2-0) beat the Mustangs (1-1) in the 2007 2A championship game by a 10-6 margin with Lewis leading the way.

“Culver ran the ball better than we did tonight,” Heppner coach Greg Grant said. “We didn’t throw or catch the ball well and didn’t execute our plays.”

Grant credited the play of Lewis as being the difference in the game. Lewis was 11 of 15 for 140 yards through the air and rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown. He also kicked a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Culver running back Anthony Alley rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns while the Mustangs were led by Brent Eckman with 34 yards.

The Mustangs did not complete a pass in 12 attempts.

“We stepped up our level of play but we’re not there yet,” Grant said.

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Culver 6 6 0 9 – 21

Heppner 0 0 0 0 – 0

Scoring summary

First quarter

Culver – Nevin Lewis 1 run (kick failed)

Second quarter

Culver – Anthony Alley 5 run (pass failed)

Fourth quarter

Culver – Alley 2 run (kick failed)

Culver – Lewis 30 field goal

Team statistics

Heppner Culver

First downs 8 13

Rushes-yards 27-105 45-201

Passing yards 0 140

C-A-I 0-12-0 11-15-0

Individual statistics

Rushing: Heppner – Brian Holland 5-30, Brent Eckman 12-34, Spencer Falmer 6-28, Jordan Hatfield 1-7; Culver – Nevin Lewis 12-51, Anthony Alley 24-111, James Smith 1-2, Roberto Hernandez 5-20.

Passing: Heppner – Willy Gentry 0-8, Eckman 0-4; Culver – Lewis 11-15, 140.

IONE 32, McKENZIE 16 – Cory Peterson rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns, and was on the receiving end of a 27-yard touchdown pass in the Cardinals’ nonleague win Friday.

Ione (1-1) fell behind early in the contest, as McKenzie (0-2) rolled off 16 unanswered points in the first quarter. Tanner Reitmann’s 1-yard run late in the first cut the McKenzie lead to 16-6. McKenzie would not see the endzone again.

“Our defense stepped up and played outstanding,” Cardinals coach Dennis Stefani said. “Our nose guard Micah Stillman had a great game, shooting the gap and plugging holes. His dominance made McKenzie try to go outside and we had guys there to stop them.”

The Cardinals finally awoke from their six-hour bus ride to the Eugene-area school by reeling off 32 unanswered points to seal the win.

McKenzie was held to a total of 114 yards passing and 112 yards rushing.

Cardinals quarterback R.J. Ramos was 8 of 16 for 102 yards and a touchdown.

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Ione 6 14 6 6 32

McKenzie 16 0 0 0 – 16

Scoring summary

First quarter

McKenzie – Rux 36 run (Price run)

McKenzie – Rux 83 pass from Johnson (Price run)

Ione – Tanner Reitmann 1 run

Second quarter

Ione – Cory Peterson 11 run (Reitmann run)

Ione – Peterson 27 pass from R.J. Ramos (pass failed)

Third quarter

Ione – Peterson 35 run (run failed)

Fourth quarter

Ione – Peterson 16 run (run failed)

CENTRAL LINN 34, IRRIGON 0 – In Halsey, the Irrigon Knights opened the Able Burnett era in football Friday with a loss at Central Linn that Burnett attributed a learning curve the Knights (0-1) have yet to hit.

He said a few more games in his system should aleviate many of their problems.

The Knights’ biggest issues Friday were finishing off drives once they reached the endzone and holding on to the ball,according to Burnett.

Burnett had no score keeper at the game so stats were not available.

Volleyball

GRANT UNION 3, PILOT ROCK 0 – In Pilot Rock, a night after beating the Heppner Mustangs in five games, the Grant Union (3-0) volleyball team swept the Rockets (1-1) in three very close contests, 26-24, 25-23, 25-18.

“We knew it would be a tough game coming in,” Pilot Rock coach Robyn Deter said, adding the team is still searching for the perfect lineup.

Liz Willingham was 14 for 15 serving and 8 for 9 at the net while Brittney Doherty was 12-12 serving with four kills and eight blocks for the Rockets in their home opener.

They play today in the Weston-McEwen Tournament.