The 2008 football season began with heralded newcomer Joevonte Mayes (freshman, Milwaukie, Ore.) putting up 179 all-purpose yards, including 84 rushing yards, in the opening game against Occidental. Mayes began his Pioneer career topping the 100+ all-purpose yard mark in his first seven games, including accounting for 309 yards in the game against the University of Chicago. He also had a 256 yard game against Conference opponent Puget Sound at the Huston Sports Complex. Mayes led the team with 578 runshing yards for the season. He also had 24 catches for 275 yards. Adding inhis 439 yards of kickoff returns. he ended his rookie season with 1,292 yards. He was among the nation's elite in all-purpose yards per game, ranking as high as high as sixth among all NCAA III players when he was averaging 211.7 yards per game. He ended his season by being named to the All-Northwest Conference Second Team.

The Pioneers had several other players earn post-season honors. Offesnive lineman Casey Wilson (senior, Las Vegas, Nevada) was named to the first team. He had previously earned Second Team honors in 2006 for anchoring the Pioneer offensive line.

Also receiving honorable mentions on the offensive side, quarterback AJ Brown (junior, Vancouver, Wash.), wide receiver Mike Wennerlind (senior, Troutdale, Ore.), and kicker Andrew Foote (sophomore, Denver, Colo.). Brown finished the season with 1,278 passing yards. He had the second-most prolific offesnive single game in the Conference, accounting for 363 yards in the Chicago game, including 361 yards passing. The 361-yard single-game output is 19th on the all-time list for Pioneer QB's. Brown passed the 3,000 yards passing career mark this season with 3,183, 12th on the Pioneer all-time passing list.

Mike Wennerlind led the team in receptions this season with 25. He ends his career ranked 16th on the career reception list with 94. He also passed the 1,000 receiving yard mark with 1,039 in his Pioneer career.

Andrew Foote was the team's second-leading scorer, accounting for 24 points this season. Serving as punter and place kicker, Foote also had the second-longest punt in the Conference last season, a 64-yard boot against Menlo.

Offensive lineman Curtis Smith (sophomore, Santa Margarita, Calif.) also received an honorable mention.

On the defensive side, a pair of senior linebackers earned honorable mentions. Ryan Lockard (senior, Creswell, Ore.) and Ryan Chapman (senior, Fairbanks, Alaska) each posted career-highs in tackles this season, with Chapman logging a team-high 60 tackles and Lockard posting 55.

Pioneer recevier James Connelly (junior, El Cajon, Calif.) had a breakout season, with 319 receiving yards, averaging 16.8 yards per catch. Connelly had the longest play of the season for the Pioneers, a 79-yard reception from AJ Brown against Willamette. Newcomer Ryan Kostecka (freshman, Napa, Calif.) had 250 receiving yards, averaging 14.7 per catch.

On the defensive side, Joe Morris (freshman, Mission Viejo, Calif.) led the newcomers with 58 tackles. He also led the team in interceptions. Defensive back Shawn Kelly (freshman, Clackamas, Ore.) was also among the team leaders in tackles with 54. TJ Knutson (sophomore, Bountiful, Utah) had 50 tackles and a pair of blocked kicks.

The 2008 Pioneer football season gets underway September 6 in Illinois when they take on Principia College.

Click here to find the complete game-by-game recaps for the 2007 season.