Wahkiakum senior Tyson Bain on Wednesday signed a letter of intent to play football at Eastern Oregon University.

Bain was a three-time, first-team all-league performer for the Mules, and this fall was named the Defensive MVP of the Central 2B League. He will play defense for Eastern Oregon, which is located in La Grande, Ore., and competes in the NAIA Frontier League.

Bain is the latest in a growing line of Lower Columbia-area football players to pursue his career at Eastern Oregon. The roster currently includes Rainier graduates Chris Ware and Nick Byrd, as well as Wahkiakum grad Nathan Cress.

Ware, a senior quarterback who passed for 3,396 yards and 37 touchdowns with just nine interceptions, was named the Frontier's Co-Offensive Player of the Year this past season.

Former Mules standouts Terrance Pharr and Jeff McNally recently completed their college careers at Eastern Oregon. And Wahkiakum assistant coach Marc Niemeyer, a Toledo High School grad, played his college ball in La Grande as well.

"I felt that it was not too far away and I liked the campus," Bain said. "They also offered me a small scholarship. I like the direction that the program is heading."

Bain was a four-year starter at Wahkiakum. He earned honorable-mention recognition as a lineman following his freshman year and was a two-way first-team pick for the remainder of his career. Bain also earned second-team recognition on The Daily News All-Area team this fall.

"This was my whole goal through high school," he said of playing football in college. "This is a dream come true. I want to thank my coaches for getting me good enough to play at the next level."

The Mountaineers host Montana State Northern on Sept. 18 as part of Frontier Conference play; R.A. Long senior J Nusbaum signed a letter of intent to play for MSN last Wednesday.

Bain, an excellent all-around athlete, is currently a starter for the Wahkiakum basketball team.

"I know Coach (Tim) Camp is interested in bringing in players with good character who are good students, and Ty is strong on both accounts," Wahkiakum head football coach Eric Hansen said.

"In addition to that, Coach Camp is getting a heck of a football player," Hansen said. "I expect they'll redshirt him as a freshman. If his weight goes down, they might use him at linebacker. If he bulks up, he could play nose guard."