C.O. pro indoor football debut pushed back amid pandemic

(Update: adding video, comments from head coach and player)

12-game season starts May 8; home opener set for May 22

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Professional indoor football is still coming to the Central Oregon, just a bit later than expected. The pandemic has pushed the start date of the Oregon High Desert Storm's season into early May.

NewsChannel 21's Max Goldwasser spoke with Storm General Manager and Head Coach Keith Evans on Tuesday, asking him how tough it's been to start a new professional indoor football team amid a pandemic.

"Oh my, that one," Evans replied. "I’m kind of at a loss for words for that one, to be honest with you."

With all the uncertainty surrounding sports in the state, the American West Football Conference had to revise its schedule. To no surprise, the start of the Oregon High Desert Storm's inaugural season has been pushed back.

They have 12 matchups lined up, half of which are home games to be played at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond.

The Storm begin their season on the road on Saturday, May 8 against the Idaho Horsemen at Nampa, followed a week later at Pasco against the Tri-City Rush. The Storm host Pasco in their home opener Saturday, May 22 at 6 p.m. at the First Interstate Bank Center.

"It looks like there's a light to the end of the tunnel, the way that things are,” Evans said. “Things are going very positive for us right now."

The team took another step in the right direction earlier this month by signing two more wide receivers to the 21-man active roster: Kris Lewis, out of Kentucky Christian University, and Bob Pugh, from Indiana State University.

They join LJ Castile, another wide receiver who had stints in the NFL, AFL and CFL. Castile was the team's first signee, back in October.

Pugh told NewsChannel 21 he has never stepped foot in the Oregon, but is excited for this new chapter in his career.

"I actually wanted to go to Oregon,” Pugh said. “Just in general, just to go to Oregon. Just to see how it is. Now I get to go play in Oregon, so that's even better."

Pugh and his teammates won't be playing for much, financially speaking. They will earn $175 per win, and $150 per loss.

However, as Evans made clear, money is not the motivator at this level.

"These leagues are to get the guy to the next level, to see some real money,” Evans said. “If he comes here and excels, he will definitely get a look in the NFL and CFL."

Still, Evans said he expects that higher paycheck every week. As for the goal this season?

"To bring a championship to the fairgrounds,” Evans said.