State Champion Bulldogs to play without a stadium

For the second straight season, Montesano's High School Football team will be a team with out a home field.

The planned reconstruction of the Rottle Field grandstands, destroyed by fire last September, will not be completed for the 2013 football season.

The project, targeted for completion by mid-October, was due to difficulties with the concrete risers that would support the wooden benches in the grandstand.

Stadium constructor Rognlin's Inc. of Aberdeen, refused the precast risers provided by the supplier.

"There was some bowing to the concrete risers and areas that were not square, so they were having trouble fitting into the brackets," said Monte superintendent Dan Winter. "That caused them to realize they had a bow in them."

The defending 1A football champs had already rescheduled three of their five home games - Sept. 13 against Cascade Christian, Sept. 26 against Woodland and their homecoming contest Oct. 18 against Tenino - for Aberdeen's Stewart Field.

Fire destroyed the stadium's grandstands last Sept. 16, forcing the varsity football squad to play all but one of its remaining games away from home. The Bulldogs overcame the handicap to capture the 1A State Football Championship.