DREAM WAEVER: Alec Weaver fires a pass while rolling out of the pocket against Union Friday. The Observer/PAUL HARDER

UNION – Now starting in centerfield for the Elgin Huskies, Efrain Nieves.

While that wouldn’t have made sense for the public address announcer

to say, it did make sense within Elgin’s gridiron gameplan.

The Huskies helped continue Union’s slide with a 44-22 win Friday.

While a part of the story was Elgin, 4-1, moving into second place in the Blue Mountain Conference, a big part of that win centers around Nieves who didn’t even play last season.

The 5-foot-10 junior last stepped on to the field during his freshman year. But he didn’t walk off.

Nieves had major reconstruction surgery on his knee to repair his ACL and meniscus.

“It’s been really hard to not be able to play,” Nieves said. “Just sitting on the sideline gets old. At first it was pretty scary to step back on to the field.”

He convinced his mom and coach to let him play.

It worked. Now Nieves is showing why he wanted to get back – he can make plays.

In his first game back against Enterprise Sept. 12 he picked off two passes.

Against Union, Neives reeled in three interceptions.

“It feels really good to come back and be able to help my team,” Nieves said.

“I owe my corners (Wil) and Austin (Burgess) a lot. Without them helping out, I can’t make these plays.”

Wil Burgess played the role of helping hand all night long.

Not only did he help Neives on defense, he allowed Clint Predmore to find running room on offense.

Union keyed on Predmore to start the game. But it was Burgess who came out running. The first play went for 35 yards. He followed with a 12-yard run the next play.

“It helped to take the focus off of Clint,” Huskies head coach Chad Peck said. “(Wil) was a large part of that.

“The offensive line did a great job too.”

Predmore continued his assault on the opposition’s defense.

He opened the scoring on a three-yard run.

Thirty seconds later he took in a 35-yard run following an interception.

Predmore finished with 313 yards in 39 carries and five touchdowns. It was the third consecutive week he tallied 39 carries.

The Bobcats’ first score came as the clock expired in the first half. Kyle Langford returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown.

Union’s other bright spot came when freshman Drake Davidson returned a punt 70 yards with 52 seconds left in the game.

Elgin faces Pilot Rock Friday in a battle for second place in the BMC.

Union travels to Irrigon Friday.

Both games kickoff at 7 p.m.

Elgin 44, Union 22

Elgin 23 7 7 7 andndash; 44

Union 0 6 0 16 andndash; 22

First Quarter

E andndash; Predmore 3 run (Miller kick)

E andndash; Predmore 35 run (Miller kick)

E andndash; Saftey (pass failed)

E andndash; Ludwig 3 run (Miller kick)

E andndash; Predmore 13 run (Miller kick)

U andndash; Langford 26 interception return (kick failed)

Third Quarter

E andndash; Predmore 3 run (Miller kick)

Fourth Quarter

E andndash; Predmore 6 run (Miller kick)

U andndash; Woodward 40 pass from Langford (Woodward from Langford)

U andndash; Davidson 70 punt return (Woodward from Langford)

Individual statistics

RUSHING andndash; Elgin, Predmore 39-313, Ludwig 7-26, Burgess 9-81. Union, Sutckey 6-21, Black-Reagan 4-8, Langford 6-(minus 2), Stout 2-(minus 7).

PASSING andndash; Elgin, Harris 0-4-1-0, Weaver 1-2-0-11. Union, Langford 12-26-4-166.

RECEIVING andndash; Elgin, Miller 1-11. Union, Stout 7-79, Woodward 4-79, Tibbs 1-8.

Weston-McEwen 22, Enterprise 12

ATHENA – Weston-McEwen made its claim on the final playoff spot from the Blue Mountain Conference Friday.

The Tiger-Scots held visiting Enterprise scoreless for the first 45 minutes during a 22-12 win.

The Outlaws scored twice in the final four minutes.

Weston-McEwen improved to 3-2 in conference, while Enterprise fell to 2-3.

The Outlaws will host No. 4 Heppner Friday at 7:30 p.m.