MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week presented by the Oregon National Guard

Perhaps it was too much, too fast.

The Cougars of Mountain View (Bend) opened the season with a 64-0 win over Lebanon and a trip back to the promised land seemed, if nothing else, promising. Especially after following that up with a tough 24-21 win over Century (Hillsboro).

The 2011 Oregon 5A state champions, coached by Brian Crum, hit a big speed bump, however, with a 36-14 loss at Sprague (Salem). Then another with a bitter 26-25 home loss against McNary.

The season could have been flattened.  

But the Cougars regrouped, refocused and closed the regular season with five straight wins before capturing a 17-6 play-in home win over Liberty on Friday.

For their resilience and comeback spirit, the Cougars (8-2) have been selected the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"Our kids never quit at anything," said Crum. "We challenged ourselves early with a tough schedule versus three 6A programs in a row. Sprague and McNary are both very good football teams still playing in the 6A playoffs. We felt it was important to find our weaknesses early against difficult teams and then be able to make the adjustments necessary to become successful.

"Our coaching staff, our players, and our football community have always been dedicated to doing what is needed to get better every day. Our attitude has been excellent the entire time as has the work ethic. When you think in terms of smalls steps, soon you are a better football program."

Cody Anthony, a junior tailback, did most of the damage in Mountain View’s ball-control offense with 28 carries for 185 yards and both touchdowns in the win over Liberty.

Senior quarterbacks Conor Nehl and Blake Knirk, like they’ve been all year, were efficient and a combined 10 of 16 for 124 yards. Seven different Cougars caught the ball.

The defense, which has spearheaded the late-season flurry, was led by junior Zach Ferguson with 11 tackles and freshman Spencer Klein, playing in his first varsity game, came up and contributed 10 tackles. Senior Austin Phillips contributed nine tackles and junior Joe Hagenbach eight.

Senior Keenan Springer has been the workhorse most of the season with 881 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, but Anthony has come up big of late and has 482 yards rushing and seven scores.

Nehl has been superb and consistent throughout the year with 104 completions for 161 yards and 1,487 yards with 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He threw for more than 200 yards five times and for at least three touchdowns on four occasions.

The team’s leading receiver Nick Hjelm is one of the state’s best with 48 catches for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns.  

Junior Ben Klein leads the team in tackles with 80 and Ferguson is second with 78.

"We are lucky to have a community program where many of these players have played together since they were in elementary school," said Crum. "There has been an increase in the competition level as well this year with players wanting to get playing time and this shows in practice and then on Friday night.

"We have the depth to have multiple players be major contributors and try and set up our defensive and offensive systems around that depth. When a team can't simply focus on one or two players, it makes it more dangerous."

Mountain View won six straight league titles from 2006-2011, went 60-11 in that span and won the school’s only state championship in 2011.

If they want to get back to the state finals, the Cougars must first deal with sixth-ranked Silverton (8-1) on the road Friday night.

"Silverton will be our most difficult test this year," said Crum. "They are very well-coached and are an extremely physical team. They don't make mistakes, they just force other teams into them. We have been focused on creating a simple game plan that takes advantage of our strengths. We have had two high-energy and focused practices so far as we work on the execution of that game plan."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Oregon Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at ORteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.