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Eight months after epic showdown for Pacific crown, Liberty’s Hiro Diamond joins forces with Sherwood’s Cody Hall and Nolen Scott at Les Schwab Bowl

“It’s always fun playing against your opponent, but once you get to practice with them and get to know a bit more about them, it’s just a great bonding experience.”
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By Dan Brood 

Last game of the regular season. 

Sherwood at Liberty.

At stake: the Pacific Conference championship.

And, wow, what a wild contest it turned out to be, with Sherwood emerging with a crazy 49-39 victory and the conference crown.

For the Bowmen, senior receiver Cody Hall and sophomore running back Nolen Scott had big games. For the Falcons, senior quarterback Hiro Diamond turned in an absolutely monster performance.

That night, they were fierce competitors, battling for conference supremacy.

Eight months later, they’re still fierce competitors, but now they’re battling for the same team — Team Willamette, which will face Team Columbia in the Les Schwab Bowl, a high school football all-star game that will be held Saturday at Linfield University in McMinnville. 

“Being on the same team now is crazy, because this guy was killing us all game, running on us,” Hall said of Diamond following the Team Willamette practice Tuesday. “But now, being on his team, and seeing what he can do, it’s cool.”

“Obviously, it’s always fun playing against your opponent, but once you get to practice with them and get to know a bit more about them, it’s just a great bonding experience,” Diamond said of playing on the same team with the Bowmen duo.

Left to right: Cody Hall, Hiro Diamond and Nolen Scott

Left to right: Cody Hall, Hiro Diamond and Nolen Scott

Diamond, the Pacific Conference offensive player of the year, completed 18 of 30 pass attempts for 225 yards and a touchdown in the Oct. 29 showdown with Sherwood. He ran for 172 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries.

“That was a fun game,” Scott said. “I respect Hiro a lot, but let’s jump back on that kickoff return I had, first play of the game.”

That’s right, Scott got the crazy game off to a flying start, returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. He also finished with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Hall had five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, along with an interception on defense.

And, maybe most important, the Bowmen players have a bit of bragging rights during Les Schwab Bowl week.

“He knows what it is,” Hall said as he laughed toward Diamond. “We took it. We took the championship from them. It was fun.”

“We’ve shared our thoughts about it, but it’s definitely in the past now,” said Diamond, who will share Team Willamette quarterback duties with Canby’s Mikey Gibson. “It’s still fun to reflect on it.”

Hiro Diamond Liberty Les Schwab Bowl 2022 Dan Brood 1

Now, they’re looking to have more fun — only this time, while playing on the same team. 

“I’ll get to catch a touchdown from him now,” said Hall, who will play college football at Western Oregon University.

“It’s fun. That’s why I love these games,” said Scott, who is listed as a running back/defensive back for Team Willamette. “Playing together, bonding. It’s weird, because you see these guys, you played them, but you don’t really know them. Then you see them, and it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s that guy.’ That’s a cool experience.”

This year’s Les Schwab Bowl, presented by Express Employment Professionals, and serving as a fundraiser for various youth charities, includes many of the top players from around the state, including underclassmen, as well as a player from southwest Washington. This is the 74th game in the series, but the first that won’t be North vs. South. Instead, players were drafted by Team Columbia head coach Steve Pyne, who led Central Catholic to the 2021 Class 6A state championship, and Team Willamette head coach Dan Lever, who guided Tualatin to the Class 6A title tilt.

Saturday’s event begins with tailgating at 2 p.m., featuring Golden Valley Brewing, Stoller Family Wine and more. Gates open at 4 p.m., with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.

Tickets for the game can be purchased online, at lesschwabbowl.com/tickets. The game also can be streamed online, at a cost of $10, at lesschwabbowl.com.

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