The Pioneer football team continues the rebuilding process. Twenty-four new players will be at Fred Wilson Field on Sunday, August 19, when practice for the 2007 season begins.

The new faces will be added to a strong core of key returning players. The Pioneers return their top defensive player, their top-scorer, and their offensive leader from the 2006 campaign.

On defense, Kevin Takeno (junior, Midvale, Utah) had a breakout year in 2006. The linebacker led the Pioneers in tackles, averaging 9.0 per game. Takeno was second in the NWC in tackles last season. The Second Team All-Northwest Conference selection was the only sophomore to earn second team defense honors and one of only two non-juniors or seniors on the entire second team. After being sidelined almost the entire season with an injury, DB Ryan Lockard (senior, Creswell, Ore.) was granted a medical redshirt and will be allowed to play his postponed senior season this year.

On offense, quarterback AJ Brown (junior, Vancouver, Wash.) returns to his spot behind center. Brown amassed 1,536 yards passing last season, averaging over 170 per game. Though his favorite receiving target graduated last season, he will have his favorite target in the end zone back in 2007. Wide receiver Mike Wennerlind (senior, Troutdale, Ore.) led the Pioneers in scoring, putting up 30 points last season. Wennerlind is the top returning receiver, averaging 37.8 yards per game last year. James Connelly (junior, El Cajon, Calif.), showed vast improvements last season and should really flourish in his third season in the orange and black. Incoming freshman who should add to the passing game include Paul Stirneman (freshman, Milwaukie, Ore.), Ryan Kostecka (freshman, Napa, Calif.), Disan Suarez (freshman, Calipatria, Calif.).

Running back Matt Meacham (junior, Roseville, Calif.) will have a corps of incoming freshman to help turn around the Pioneer ground game. Harrison Keller, an all-league and all-county running back as well as an MVP, from San Luis Obispo, Calif., Josh Kohansamad, a tailback from Santa Barbara, Calif, and Rex Putnam High’s Joevonte Mayes was a first-team all-league running back right across the Sellwood Bridge in Milwaukie, Ore.

Casey Wilson (senior, Las Vegas, Nevada), one of the silent weapons for the Pioneers, earned second team honors for his efforts on the offensive line. The Pioneers will look to the veteran leadership of Wilson and fellow senior Nick Wells (senior, Boulder Creek, Calif.) to hold the front lines. The Pioneers add more size on the line, getting some help in that area from a trio of locals. All-PIL lineman Eric Randall comes to the Pioneers from Benson High. Matthew Gartrell was all-conference as a lineman and a fullback at Centennial High in Gresham. NWOC 5A first team all-league down lineman Angus Blair was an honorable mention all-state selection at St. Helens High.

The football team reports to Palatine Hill Saturday, August 17, 2007 with their first practices on Sunday. The season gets underway Saturday, Sept. 8 when they host top-25 opponent Occidental in a 1pm game at Fred Wilson Field at Griswold Stadium.