Powder Valley's Tucker Martin heads for the end zone against Dufur on Sept. 29, 2022, at North Powder. 

Powder Valley football coach Josh Cobb isn’t happy about the Badgers’ season-opening loss to Camas Valley.

But he had plenty of positive things to say about his young team after the 54-46 thriller in the Dufur Classic at Dufur High School on Friday, Sept. 1.

“We’re feeling really optimistic for this season,” Cobb said after the Badgers, who have only one returning starter on defense and two on offense, had a chance to tie the game late. “I felt like we executed like it was week six instead of week one.”

The Badgers expected a battle against Camas Valley.

The two teams also met in the 2022 season opener, with Powder holding on for a 40-36 win. The Badgers then won 10 straight, mostly in dominating fashion, before losing 40-14 to Lost River in a Class 1A semifinal game.

Camas Valley has a more experienced squad, with six seniors.

“Camas Valley was good,” Cobb said. “It was a shootout the second half. We had our shot at the end but didn’t get the pass completed.”

Powder Valley scored first in a wild first quarter that ended in a 20-20 tie. After the Badgers’ first touchdown, Camas Valley ran the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Breyton Golar, making his first varsity start, was 5 for 7 for 104 yards in the first quarter with two touchdowns, both to Brycen Martin, a senior playing high school football for the first time. Tucker Martin had five carries for 66 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run, in the first quarter.

“I was very happy with our sophomore quarterback in his first varsity start,” Cobb said of Golar. “He’s probably one of the most natural throwers I’ve coached. He was cool, calm and collected. He sat in the pocket and delivered a strike and then took the hit, again and again.”

Brycen Martin, who had three receiving touchdowns, “was huge for us,” Cobb said.

The score was tied at 26 at halftime. Golar threw his third touchdown pass of the half, to Tucker Martin.

The Badgers started fast in the third quarter as Tucker Martin ran 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play. He later went 58 yards up the middle for another score, amassing 136 rushing yards in the third quarter alone. Golar added 31 yards on the ground, including a 6-yard touchdown.

But Cobb said Camas Valley controlled the fourth quarter, holding the ball most of the period and keeping the Badgers scoreless while taking a 54-46 lead.

Powder Valley fumbled once in the fourth quarter and turned the ball over on downs to end another drive.

Cobb pointed out that the nonleague loss to Camas Valley doesn’t affect the Badgers’ goals of winning the Old Oregon League and returning to the playoffs.

He said he wasn’t surprised that the Badgers played at a high level despite it being the first game.

“We’ve seen it in practice, and as coaches we were not surprised at all,” Cobb said. “We played just like we’ve been practicing. They are hardworking young men here in Powder.”

He noted that many Badgers work full-time on their family ranches even before coming to football practice.

Powder Valley’s difficult early schedule continues as the Badgers seek to avenge the season-ending playoff loss to Lost River. Powder will travel to Burns on Saturday, Sept. 9 for the neutral site game at 11 a.m. The Badgers open league play with their first home game, Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. against Elgin.

“We’re feeling really optimistic for this season. I felt like we executed like it was week six instead of week one.”

— Powder Valley football coach Josh Cobb