Returning Pioneers Bolster ‘Athletic and Explosive’ Team

Last year’s Sandy High football team had a strong season that ended with them riding high off of a playoff win. Thankfully for Coach Josh Dill and Pio fans alike, many of the players who cut their teeth as sophomores on the varsity team are returning. 

“I’m really excited about this year’s squad,” Dill said. “We graduated some good seniors but we have a lot of good football players coming back. They have more speed than I’ve ever had. We’ll be building off of that playoff win from last year – the first in 26 years. It’s exciting to have a lot of those players back. Now it’s like we’re a veteran team.” 

With other local high schools like Gresham and David Douglas playing down against 5A teams, Sandy has a tough season ahead. Sandy is a 6A school — one of the smallest in the division for the Mt. Hood Conference — and will be playing against the biggest and best teams in the state. 

“It’s going to be a tough schedule this year,” Dill said on Aug. 19. “There are no off weeks for us. But we’re prepared for it.” 

Sandy’s first game pitted them against Sunset High, who Dill described as “a thorn in our side for years,” but went on to speak optimistically about his team’s odds. “We’ve had close games with Sunset,” he explained. 

Sandy Athletic Director Garet Luebbert was similarly hopeful about the Pios’ chances for success, despite being matched against strong, larger schools this season.

He noted that Sandy has beaten McMinnville in the past, who they will play in a non-league game at home on Sept. 12. This will be their first home game of the season. 

“I think we’re better on paper than McMinnville and Sunset,” Luebbert said. “This should be a fun football season.” 

The schedule for Sandy’s season can be found online at osaa.org/teams/63146#tabs-V