Kelvin Horton- RB/LB

My name is Kelvin Horton. I play Running back and Linebacker. My parents are Elizabeth and Vail and my siblings are Grace, Logan, and Kate. The reason I love football is because it allows me to be part of a team and challenge myself to improve. I enjoy surfing and snowboarding. After high school I would like to go to college.

Brady Kennedy- WR/DB

I am Brady Kennedy. My family consists of my parents Christina and Joe and my siblings Jordan and Cadence. I love football because I can spend unlimited time around my friends while going out and hitting other people for fun. I enjoy being together as a team and the memories that we make every single day. My hobbies include Baseball, Basketball, Football, Boating, and Fishing. Post High School I would like to play baseball in college.

Langston Belding- TE/DL

My name is Langston Belding. I play defensive end/tight end. My family is my Mom(Keely), Dad(Chad),Sisters(Etta and Idris), and Brother(Wynton). I love being outdoors, love the water, and like working out. As of right now I do not have any plans after high school.

Mason Chambers- QB

My name is Mason Chambers. My family includes Aaron, Stacie, Rylan. I Love Football because I get to compete against others with my best friends while making life long memories. Also, it’s fun. My hobbies are playing Basketball, Football, and hanging out with friends. Post High School, I would like to play Basketball in College.

Dominick Valdez-Center/DL

My name is Dom Valdez. My family consists of Alex (Brother), Savannah (Sister) , Sebastian (Brother), Carron (Grandma), and Ted (Grandpa). I Love Football because it helps give me structure and purpose while also providing me with valuable lessons that help guide me through life and develop lifelong friendships. My hobbies are hanging out with friends and family. After high school, I want to be a Real Estate Broker in Texas.

Gage Miller- WR/DB

I’m Gage Miller, I’m a wide receiver and my family consists of my mom, dad, step mom, 2 brothers and 2 sisters. I’ve loved the game ever since I could remember trying to follow my dad’s steps and the brothers I’ve made along the way. Other than football I love to play video games, go snowboarding, and hanging out with friends. As of right now my post high school plans are to be determined.

Garren White- DL/OL

My name is Garren White and I am a senior who plays as a Defensive Tackle and Offensive Right Tackle. I loves football for its camaraderie and physicality, feeling a strong connection to the sport with both my father, Garth, and grandfather, Gary, having played in college. I enjoy various outdoor activities such as fishing, working out, hiking, backpacking, and walking my dogs. After high school, I plan to join a biker gang, and if that doesn’t work out, I aim to attend college to play football and study business. Ultimately, I aspire to become a firefighter and have a side hustle on my off days. My family includes my dad, Garth, mom, Dannika, and my younger brother, Ryker. I’d like to thank my mom and dad for all the long road trips to camps and support during injuries, my grandparents for always having my back, my coaches and teammates for supporting and teaching me, and above all else, all glory to God!

Jadon Granger- OL/DL

My name is Jadon Granger and I play defensive tackle and offensive guard. I live with my mom and my sister. I love football because of how much of a culture it builds within a school. I also love the competitive aspect to it as well. Outside of school I love to golf, fish, and exploring the outdoors. After high school I plan on attending Oregon State and studying Math/Stats well also being enrolled in the NROTC program.

Jaycub Engstrom- OL/DL

My name is Jaycub Engstrom I play LG/DT. Some of the most important family to me is my parents and grandparents as they mean the world to me. One of the reasons I love football is it allows me to be active and have fun while doing it. Another reason is being able to rely on my teammates on and off the field. Football has also helped me make great friends through the years. Some of my hobbies are, playing golf, playing games, and camping. As of right now I don’t have plans for after high school.

Peyton Merkord- OL/DL

My name is Peyton Merkord and I am a four year MV football player on the line. I enjoy the camaraderie of the Cougar football family. I like working like crazy and making money. After high school I plan to become a diesel mechanic. In my free time I enjoy riding my 4-wheelers and hanging out with my family: my parents, Sean and Andrea, “Mama”, and my brother Thomas (the first “Merk) and his wife Riley. I also like cuddling with my fat cats, Lucy and Nacho.

Sam Paskewich- OL/LB

Sam has played football for 4 years at Mountain View. He plays Linebacker and Offensive Line. He is very grateful for his Mom, Andrea, Dad, TJ, and Girlfriend, Seneca. He loves football because of the bond that the team has and the memories they’ve made together. He enjoys weightlifting, fishing, and golfing. After High School he plans to pursue a masters in nutrition and dietetics.

Jack Foley- WR/DB

My name is Jack Foley and I play Wide Receiver and Safety. My family consists of my Dad, Tim, my Mom, Jen, and my brother, Logan. I love football because God gave me a platform to Glorify him while playing this amazing sport. My hobbies include working out and training for Football season. After High School, my goal is to play football in college.

Grayson Moore- RB/DB

I’m Grayson Moore. I play running back and defensive back. My parents are Benjamin and Bethany Moore. Henry and Marshall are my two younger brothers. I love playing football because it’s fun to hit someone hard or tackle violently. Also, the friends I’ve made during football are cool. I play golf in the spring and summer, and I wrestle in the winter. I enjoy other sports with my friends and brothers, including wiffle ball, frisbee golf, pickle ball and spike ball. I plan to play college golf and to go into the engineering field.

Jordan Best -WR/FS/CB

My name is Jordan Best and I play Wide Receiver and Defensive back. My family consists of my Mom, Dad, Brother (Jayden), Sister (Sophie). I Love football because I love the excitement and energy that the game gives me I love the memories I’ve made. I run track, hangout with friends, and am always grinding to get better at football. After high school I want to try and run track or play football at the next level.

Eddie Jackson- WR/DB

My name is Eddie Jackson. I play Wide Receiver and safety. I live with my Mom, Dad, and little sister. I love football because I get to play with my closest friends. I love to play multiple sports and play video games. After high school I plan on attending a 4 year university.

Aydin Baxter- WR/DB

My name is Aydin Baxter and I play Wide receiver/ cornerback. My family is my Mom and Grandma. I love football because it’s one of the best environments sports has to offer and there’s always something you can work on to get better every day. In my free time I like fishing and hanging out with friends. I plan on going to a trade school or going back to the place I’m from to work on a boat when I graduate from High School.

Coach’s Outlook for 2024 Season

Welcome to Mt. View Football- 2024! After an excellent spring and summer it is time to get after it once again and continue the tradition of Mountain View Football success. Mt. View Football has a rich history including numerous IMC Championships, State Playoff appearances, a 2011 State Championship, and a run to last year’s State Championship game. 2023 gave us a special season with a very special team. Our 22 seniors helped us become the HAMMER! Mountain View won the IMC Championship and the Bend City Championship at the Varsity, JV, and Freshman levels, going undefeated in the regular season and 30-1 as a program. We made a deep run into the state playoffs as well, losing in the last minute to Wilsonville in the State Championship game. The bar was set very high last year in terms of success, maturity, and fun. The question now is will the 2024 version of the Cougars be ready to build on this success. The answer is- They are. Practices and camps have been going incredibly well and execution has been at top levels. We are happy to be in 5A and the Central Oregon based Intermountain Conference where we expect to be in the hunt for another 2024 league championship and state playoff success. Our 2024 motto says, “RELOAD not rebuild”. Over 105 players in our program have been working hard to earn that moniker. This attitude will drive us this season as we RELOAD for earned success.

The 2024 season has been off to a great start for several months. Our 20 member “Captain’s Council”, the largest we have ever had, started meeting once a week back in January. Their journey through teaching effective leadership has proven valuable and gives them a strong voice in THEIR team. The offseason included Spring practice and our annual Air Raid Passing Tournament in June with over 9 other teams from around the state. One of the most important early season activities we do is our team camp at Linfield University. We took 96 players to camp and came back a team that was “Family” in many ways. Another team Suttle Lake day, community service with Habitat for Humanity, National Guard teamwork, and our annual Youth football camps have improved team chemistry and bonded us. We have also become one of the strongest and most powerful teams in recent Mt. View history with a continued commitment to the weight room. It is impressive to see our players as strong as they have ever been. They aren’t afraid of the work.

The IMC and 5A will include a challenging and difficult schedule. Non-league games vs Springfield, Lebanon, Mazama, and Canby loom with weeks 1 and 3 being at home. This should help prepare us for the toughest league in 5A. The Central Oregon IMC will be a battle amongst all 6 teams trying to make the top 2 and an automatic bid to the 5A state playoffs. League games vs Caldera, Redmond, and Summit will be at home where we expect to “Pack the Jack” over and over! We hope you can make it out to a home game and enjoy our game night atmosphere. Road games will be at Ridgeview and Bend. Our players and coaches are excited about rising to the bar of 5A and the IMC. We are not about mediocrity at Mountain View and 2024 will be no different. Last year set the top incredibly high and we are dedicated in reaching similar heights.

Football is a sport that teaches so much, asks for so much, and has a dramatic impact on the lives of our players, school, and community. We know that everyone has something that they are dealing with that is tough. It takes the ability to “Dig the Ditch” to make it through. It also takes the power of our Cougar Family to hang in there and accomplish things you never thought possible. I am consistently impressed with the accountability, cohesiveness, and work ethic of the players and coaches in our program. Rather than fall into divisiveness, they are dedicated to each other and to the good of the team. Throughout it all they have trusted one another, myself, and the process, and this season will truly be no different. It is through this adversity that amazing things can happen and chemistry is developed. Our Mission Statement of playing and living daily the attributes of “Brotherhood, Humility, Integrity, and Purpose” guide our daily lives. I like who we are as a team and I can’t wait to see who we become. Please join us this fall on our journey and become a part of the “COUGAR FOOTBALL FAMILY”. Go Cougars!

BRIAN CRUM-HEAD COACH; OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR - Brian begins his 13th year as the Head Coach (72--45) of the Cougars after serving the previous four as the Quarterback coach and Passing Game Coordinator at MVHS and 28 years of coaching overall. He is a graduate of Modoc High School in Alturas, CA where he was a three- sport athlete participating in Football, Basketball, and Track. While at Modoc HS, Crum was a two-time All-League Defensive Back and three-time All-League performer in track. He then graduated from Pepperdine University with both his Bachelor and Masters degrees. Crum was both an assistant coach, and then Co-Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Oak Park High School in Southern California for 12 years where he helped lead the Eagles to three Sectional Championship game appearances and a 56-20 record during his last six years at the school. In addition to his coaching duties, Crum is also a social studies teacher at Mountain View High School where he teaches AP and standard United States History as well as Strength and Conditioning classes.. He just finished his 28th year in the classroom. He also is a Varsity baseball coach in the spring. He has three children, Emma age 23- a teacher in Crook County, Connor age 18 and a freshman at Montana State, and Hailey age 17, a junior at Mountain View and a member of the Dance Team. .

Tanner Cook- DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR – LINEBACKERS Tanner is a graduate of Redmond High School, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Eastern Oregon University. After graduating in 2010 he immediately began his coaching career at La Pine High School where he coached offensive line, defensive line, and outside linebackers for 3 seasons. In 2013 Tanner became the Head football coach at Pilot Butte Middle School where he spent 2 seasons coaching the class of 2019 through their 7th and 8th grade years. Tanner moved into the Defensive Coordinator position in the fall of 2020 after coaching Linebackers and being the JV Defensive Coordinator and Head Coach. When not in school, coaching football, watching football, reading about football, or talking about football, Tanner enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife Ashley, son Drake, and daughter Raeyven

MIKE HUFF –DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH - Coach Huff returns for his 20th season at Mountain View, after coaching five years at Crook County High School. A 2000 graduate of Crook County, Huff received his Bachelor’s degree from Oregon State in 2005 and Masters degree from Eastern Oregon University in 2006. After two years teaching at St. Francis, Huff joined the Mountain View staff in 2008 where he teaches Social Studies. After coaching the Varsity Defensive Backs and acting as the Head JV Coach, Huff took over the Varsity Linebacker duties in 2009. He then spent 3 years as the Varsity Defensive Coordinator before returning to the Linebackers. He will now be with the Defensive backs for the 5th year.. He married his wife Katie in 2007, and together they have two daughters, Kennedy 13, and 11 year old Kassidy.

TAYLOR VALLERGA - RUNNING BACKS COACH; - Taylor is a graduate of Mountain View High School (class of 1987), and is now a teacher and coach himself at MVHS. Vallerga received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Oregon State University in 1992. After spending four years in Portland, he moved back to Bend and in 1996 and joined the football coaching staff at MVHS. That same year, Vallerga went back to school to obtain his teaching degree, finishing his credential in 1998. The next year, he began teaching at Mountain View and is currently teaching psychology, A.P psychology and US history. Vallerga’s high school playing career at MVHS featured two years as a varsity letterman, while being selected as an All-IMC punter, defensive back and third team All-State punter, as a junior. His senior year, he was chosen as an All-IMC punter, receiver and defensive back, and was also selected to play in the 1987 Shrine All-Star game. During Vallerga’s coaching career at MVHS, he has had the honor of working with many of the men who were there to coach for him in high school (his mentors), including his father Paul Vallerga, Paul Smith and former MVHS head coach John Nehl. He has coached defensive backs, receivers and punters, and is currently coaching running backs.

NATE CHAMBERLAIN- HEAD JV COACH/VARSITY DEFENSIVE LINE COACH/JV OC- Nate is entering his 6th year of coaching and is excited to start his third year of being a part of the varsity program while continuing the role of JV Head Coach. Nate is a graduate of Mountain View (class of 2019) and played four years of football in the Mountain View program. He started coaching the fall following his graduation. Nate was born in Burns OR (2000), and moved to Bend in 2013. He coaches the defensive line, and is the defensive coordinator for the JV team. When not coaching football Nate enjoys playing golf, and hanging out with friends and family. He is recently married this last summer to wife Mahryahna.

BRAD SOTO- ASSISTANT OL Brad continues his 2nd run through the Mountain View program as the offensive line coach for the Varsity and JV teams. He is starting his 32nd year as a math teacher with Bend-Lapine Online Schools. A Willamette Bearcat Alum (BS 91 & MAT 93), Soto spent the first 10 years of his career at Sprague HS teaching math and enjoying various coaching positions. As the softball coach, Sprague won the 2003 4A State Championship. Brad joined the Cougar football staff in 2004 and coached until 2018. He is very excited to be back working with the offensive & defensive lines.

SHAWN MORRIS- FROSH HEAD COACH/DB/QB

Shawn grew up in Folsom California and played football from 4th grade through his Senior Year of High School. After spending many years working with High School students and other youth as a counselor he decided to follow his passion of football and coach at the high school level, Shawn is entering his third year as a Freshman position coach and brings his experience and love of the game as well as his experience working with and developing teenagers into successful and driven young adults. In his free time Shawn attends OSU Cascades and enjoys working on cars and motorcycles. He will now begin his first year as the freshman Head Coach.

Alex Hall- JV ASSISTANT COACH/OL/LB

Alex has grown up in Bend since moving here at age 7. After graduating High School in Bend in ‘09, he moved to Eugene and began coaching and running youth sports programs in the valley. In 2017 he began coaching tackle football back home. Alex is a Pilot Butte Middle School staff member and coach. Most recently, he coached football at Pilot Butte Middle School where he has spent the last 2 seasons coaching the class of 2024 through their 7th and 8th grade years. He will begin coaching at the High School level this year, following that class as they go into their freshman year. Alex is excited to continue to work with, and now be a part of the Cougar Football Family & Staff.

RICK MOTTERN - FROSH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR / LB / WR - Rick is a graduate of John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California where he was a multisport athlete. He has been a business owner for the past 25 years with companies in the RV, building, and fabrication industries. He has been with Mountain View Football for three seasons, coaching freshmen wide receivers and linebackers. This will be his 1st season as freshman defensive coordinator. Rick has been coaching youth sports since moving to Bend 8 years ago and serves as a coach for the Bend Caldera Lacrosse program as well as Mountain View feeder basketball teams. His coaching philosophy centers on creating a positive environment where athletes learn and grow on and off the field. He emphasizes grit, tenacity, team unity, fundamentals, and accountability. When not coaching, Rick enjoys camping, snowboarding, playing basketball, and mountain biking. His wife, Jody, is a teacher at Mountain View and they have two children, Ruby, a freshman at MV, and Brewer, a 7th grader at Sky View Middle.

Bill Ellington- V/JV/Frosh Offensive Line. Bill graduated from Gilchrist High-school in 2010 and attended Western Oregon University where he played offensive line for the Wolves for 5 years. After graduation he was recruited by the Portland Thunder and the San Jose Sabercats arena football teams. After college he enlisted in the Oregon Army National Guard where he served for 6 years and went on 1 deployment. He is currently living in Bend and is finishing up flight school where he is working on getting his commercial pilot certification.