The BHS football team played their first home game of the season, trouncing the Madras Buffaloes 48-7 and unveiled their new state championship board at Corbett Memorial Field on Friday, Sept. 12.

Before the game, the football state championship board was redone to make way for the Hilanders’ 2024 state championship run. The board features the 2024 run where they defeated the Vale Vikings and the 2014 state championship.

Burns is still the team to beat as the 3A Football Coaches Poll has the Hilanders in the No. 1 spot, and they showed why they belong there last Friday night against Madras.

The Hilanders dominated on both sides of the ball, only allowing 128 yards of total offense while producing 411 yards.

Quarterback Jack Wright connected four times through the air for a touchdown in the first half; twice to Coltin Miller for 49 and 42 yards, and twice to Preston Hill for 42 and 20 yards.

Joe Weil blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown by Ben Chamberlain in the second quarter. Wright ran in a touchdown from two-yards out to put the game out of reach 40-0, enacting a running clock after the 35-point rule, heading into halftime.

Burns received two more points to start off the scoring in the second half, when Madras’ deep snapper, overshot the punter and snapped the ball out of the endzone. 

The White Buffaloes finally got on the score board in the fourth quarter for a Hilander 42-7 lead. A Dallen Johnson to Kaleb DeCroo 30-yard touchdown pass put the final score at 48-7. Head coach Matt Bruck said of the team, “We played well for the third week in a row. We cleaned up a lot of miscues on penalties from last week to this week.” Last week against Sisters the Hilanders had a total of six penalties, while against Madras they committed only one penalty. 

Bruck went on to say, “Our offense was electric, scoring twice in the first four offensive snaps and continued to roll from that point on. Our receivers played well and our run game put together its best outing in three games. Our offensive line has been doing great and has given zero sacks in the last three games.” 

Wright finished the game going 8 of 11 for 194 yards passing and four touchdowns. He also rushed the ball three times for 29 yards and a score. Sophomore Dallen Johnson went 3 for 4 for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Miller led the receiving corps with four receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Hill caught three passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, while DeCroo caught three balls for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Ryik Simpson led all rushers with 52 yards on four carries, while Amir Kness gained 19 yards on five carries.

The Hilanders look to avenge last year’s loss to La Grande next week. “We go and play La Grande this coming Friday and we are excited for the opportunity to go up against one of the two teams that we lost to last year”, said Bruck. 

Burns (3-0) travels to La Grande (1-2) this Friday, Sept. 19, with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.