Oregon high school football playoffs Round 2 recap, scores: Top stars, best games, biggest wins
The 2023 Oregon high school football playoffs continued with quarterfinals action around the state.
Here’s a look at some of the best games, top stars and memorable performances.
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Note: Entries are based on information provided by coaches, statisticians and high school football fans. Don’t see any details for your team’s game? Email some notes and/or stats to rferran.scorebooklive@gmail.com. We will be updating this post throughout the weekend.
Photo by Leon Neuschwander
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Our Round 2 predictions: How did we do?
OSAA football brackets for every classification
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CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIP | Bracket
No. 1 West Linn 59, No. 8 Jesuit 14
Junior Baird Gilroy ran for two touchdowns and tossed two scoring passes to Danny Wideman in the game’s first 20 minutes as the Lions (11-0) built a 38-0 lead en route to ending the Crusaders’ win streak at six games.
It’s the fourth time in the past three years that West Linn has defeated Jesuit (6-5). This was the first playoff meeting of the longtime powers since the Crusaders beat the Lions 21-14 in the 2015 final.
The defeat leaves Jesuit coach Ken Potter one win shy of tying all-time coaching wins leader Dewey Sullivan of Dayton for the state record. Potter finished his 36th season at the Southwest Portland school 351-86-0; Sullivan went 352-84-2 in 42 seasons at Dayton (1965-2006).
Gilroy added a touchdown run in the third quarter and finished 21 of 29 for 345 yards. Wideman caught 10 passes for 169 yards, and Gus Donnerberg had five catches for 72 yards.
Lonnie Burt ran for 165 yards for the Crusaders, including a 79-yarder that set up quarterback Trey Cleeland’s 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Cleeland finished 9 of 21 for 131 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
No. 4 Central Catholic 42, No. 5 Lakeridge 6 | Story
Senior quarterback Cru Newman had a big night for the Rams (11-0) at Hillsboro Stadium, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two as they cruised to a semifinal showdown with West Linn.
Central Catholic, which won back-to-back state titles in 2019 and 2021, has reached the semifinals each of the past four seasons.
Timmy Mitchell had two interceptions to anchor a defensive effort that held the Pacers (8-3) off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter.
Killian Sombe ran for 80 yards for the Rams, and Tyson Davis ran for one score and caught one of Newman’s touchdown passes. Andreas Nicolaidis and Pomer Davison also had touchdown catches.
Jake Molerio had a sack and a fumble recovery in the first quarter for Lakeridge. Tashi Crofut led the Pacers with eight tackles, and Luke Womack added six.
No. 3 Sherwood 43, No. 11 Tigard 0 | Story
Junior fullback Treyson Eddleman ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns, and the Bowmen (11-0) returned two interceptions for scores in blowing open a close game in the third quarter to defeat the Tigers (5-6) and reach the semifinals for the first time since 2015.
The Bowmen held Tigard to 122 yards of total offense in recording their eighth shutout of the season.
Sherwood led just 7-0 late in the second quarter before Eddleman bowled over a defender at the goal line for his second 4-yard scoring run of the first half.
His third touchdown, a 40-yard burst with 8:03 left in the third quarter, pushed the lead to 21-0. On Tigard’s ensuing possession, Keaton Fried intercepted a pass and raced 38 yards untouched for a score.
Two plays later, Evan Morris stepped in front of a pass down the middle and scored from 29 yards to trigger the running clock.
No. 2 Tualatin 47, No. 10 Nelson 14 | Story
Junior quarterback Nolan Keeney continued his successful return from a broken collarbone, throwing for 316 yards and six touchdowns as the Timberwolves (10-1) won at home over the Hawks (8-3) to reach the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
Keeney has thrown for 679 yards and nine touchdowns in two playoff games after missing 5½ games because of injury.
Senior receivers AJ Noland and Jayden Fortier had mirror performances, each catching five passes for 99 yards and two scores. Calvin Evans led the defense with eight tackles, and Trace Bell added seven tackles and a sack. Logan Lynn also had a sack, and Fortier had an interception.
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CLASS 6A COLUMBIA CUP | Bracket
No. 24 Barlow 37, No. 17 Liberty 36
Sentori Martino’s 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with less than a minute left capped the Bruins’ rally from a 28-17 deficit after three quarters to reach the Columbia Cup semifinals.
The Falcons (7-4) had retaken the lead at 36-30 on Tanner Steinbach’s 3-yard run before Barlow (6-5) spoiled the show and kept Bruins coach Tracy Jackson’s career going for at least one more week.
Jackson announced last month that he will retire at the end of the season. He has coached 30 years at six high schools throughout the state.
Jett Fay ran for 106 yards and a touchdown, and his 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter gave Barlow a 30-28 lead.
Martino caught seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, Alex Lopez added a 22-yard interception return for a score, and Koltyn Kenworthy had a game-high 15 tackles (nine solo).
Steinbach ran 11 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and Houstyn Lee-Perry had a game-high 152 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries as the Falcons amassed 473 rushing yards. Lee-Perry also had a team-high eight tackles.
No. 21 Sunset 7, No. 20 Mountainside 0
The Apollos (7-4) held their Metro League rival to 156 total yards and just 69 on the ground in posting their first playoff shutout since 1988.
Sunset had interceptions by Matt Lohman, Griffin Jevning and Calvin Emms, and quarterback Drew Nees ran for 118 yards on 24 carries and scored the game’s only touchdown on the opening possession.
“We rode the backs of our defense tonight,” Apollos coach Damien Merrick said.
Owen Scholes added 57 yards rushing on 13 carries for Sunset, which will play Barlow in next week’s Columbia Cup semifinals. The Mavericks finished the season 7-4.
No. 22 Clackamas 35, No. 19 Newberg 16
Jaxon Decker went over 200 yards rushing for the second consecutive week and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown as the Cavaliers (7-4) defeated the Tigers (7-4).
“We played awesome team defense and did a great job limiting their run-heavy offense,” Clackamas coach James Holan said.
The Tigers led 16-14 at halftime on Danny Valdez’s 42-yard field goal on the final play of the half. Dylan Brower put Clackamas ahead to stay by hitting Luke Baker for a 20-yard touchdown.
Baker also ran for two short first-half touchdowns for the Cavaliers.
No. 18 South Medford 35, No. 26 North Salem 0
Bridger Foss capped an 18-play, 10-minute drive just before halftime with a touchdown to give the Panthers (8-3) a 14-0 lead, and they held the Vikings (6-5) to 136 yards of total offense at Spiegelberg Stadium.
“Our defense played really well tonight and kept Jamahl Wilson in check,” said South Medford coach Bill Singler. “All in all, a very efficient game for us on both sides of the ball.”
The Panthers were missing 16 players, including three starters, who were suspended for leaving the bench area during last week’s fight that ended their first-round game against Jefferson.
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CLASS 5A | Bracket
No. 1 Wilsonville 49, No. 8 Thurston 21
Senior quarterback Kallen Gutridge had another big night for the Wildcats (10-1), going 23 of 27 for 458 yards and seven touchdowns, and they sacked Colts quarterback Noah Blair seven times in advancing to the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
Thurston (8-3) reached the semifinals in each of the previous four postseasons but couldn’t stop the Wildcats after forcing a fumble on their first drive. Blair threw touchdown passes to Luke Newell and Matt Newell, and Ethan Burkhead ran for a third-quarter touchdown.
Mark Wiepert caught nine passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 54 yards and a score, and Nick Crowley had five catches for 106 yards and a score as Wilsonville amassed 681 total yards.
Roman Kealoha rushed for 136 yards and caught a touchdown pass, and Nick Colyer caught four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Eli Nelson had two sacks and Wiepert made five tackles to lead the Wildcats defense.
No. 5 Summit 49, No. 13 Lebanon 14
Jimmy Hughes threw four touchdown passes, including two to Mack Bledsoe, and the defending champion Storm (7-4) earned a rematch with Wilsonville by overwhelming the Warriors (6-5) in Bend.
Deacon Williams returned an interception for a touchdown for Summit, which lost 35-20 at Wilsonville in Week 4 of the regular season.
Hughes also tossed touchdowns to Paxon Kettering and Charley Crowell, and Sam Stephens and Preston Schock ran for scores.
No. 3 Mountain View 41, No. 6 Hillsboro 20
Angel Valenzuela ran for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and the Intermountain Conference champion Cougars (11-0) scored in all three phases in advancing to their first semifinal since 2017.
Senior safety Jack Foley returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown, and Brady Kennedy returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score. Eli Clason had a game-high 12 tackles (two for loss) and a sack, and Kennedy had 10 tackles.
The Spartans (7-3) trailed 27-0 at halftime but got back in the game in the third quarter, drawing within 34-20 by cashing in interceptions by Braiden McCann and Nolan Godsey for touchdowns.
Cougars quarterback Connor Crum’s second touchdown run, this one from 4 yards with 8:50 to play, sealed the victory.
Preston Echeverria ran for two scores for Hillsboro.
No. 2 Silverton 41, No. 7 West Albany 14
Sawyer Teeney was 16 of 20 for 166 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown as the Mid-Willamette champion Foxes (11-0) advanced to the semifinals by defeating conference rival West Albany (8-3).
Brody Sullivan also had a big night for Silverton, rushing for 107 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.
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CLASS 4A | Bracket
No. 1 Henley 35, No. 9 Junction City 14
Logan Whitlock ran for three touchdowns, and Joe Janney threw a touchdown pass to Mark Carpenter to help the Hornets (11-0) win and reach the semifinals for the first time since 1990.
“Lots of joy, but hungry for more,” Henley coach Alex Stork said. “Thankful we get to have another week together and see each other on Monday at practice.”
The Tigers, who knocked off Greater Oregon League champion Baker last week, finished the season 8-3.
No. 4 Scappoose 24, No. 12 Cascade 19
Max Nowlin finished 32 of 44 for 248 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and he ran for a score as Scappoose (10-1) rallied from a 19-3 deficit to defeat the Cougars (7-4).
Nowlin’s 1-yard touchdown run with eight minutes remaining gave Scappoose its first lead since Brandon Sailer put the hosts up 3-0 on a 25-yard field goal set up by Allen Cloquet’s interception.
Cascade scored 19 consecutive points before Nowlin found Quinton Olson for an 11-yard touchdown pass with less than three minutes before halftime. On the ensuing kickoff, Elijah Greenan-Biggs forced a fumble, and after Scappoose recovered, Cayden Baker scored from 1 yard just before halftime.
Olson finished with nine catches for 91 yards. Eli Harrah added nine catches for 73 yards and had a clinching interception with 1:34 remaining.
No. 3 Seaside 14, No. 11 Marshfield 6
Jordan Westerholm returned an interception 15 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to seal the Seagulls’ win at Broadway Field over the Pirates (6-5).
Seaside (8-3) reached the semifinals for the first time since its run to the 2018 state final.
The Seagulls took a 7-0 lead on Jake White’s 10-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Marshfield answered with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Ashton Thornton to Steel Carpenter with 3:31 before halftime but missed on a two-point conversion try.
Seaside held the Pirates to 173 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers.
No. 2 Marist Catholic 48, No. 7 Mazama 27
Nick Hudson’s 1-yard touchdown run just before halftime put the Spartans (10-1) ahead to stay, and they scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to pull away and defeat the Vikings (7-4).
Bodie Norlock ran for two first-half touchdowns for Mazama, and Kristopher Baldwin ran for a score and caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Van Gastel that put the Vikings up 27-21.
Hudson finished 19 of 27 for 320 yards and four touchdowns, with three going to Christian Guerrero among his five catches for 92 yards. Kaden Erlenbush caught seven passes for 135 yards and a score, and Aiden Hazen ran for two short touchdowns for Marist Catholic.
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CLASS 3A | Bracket
No. 1 Banks 35, No. 8 North Valley 6
Kade Long was 10 of 12 for 161 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 79 yards, and Ashton Crossen ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns as Banks (11-0) beat the Knights (8-3) at Hare Field in Hillsboro to advance to the semifinals for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
Banks led 21-0 after one quarter, then needed 16 plays to go 40 yards to boost its lead to 28-0 because of penalties, leading it to amass 100 yards of offense on that scoring drive.
No. 13 South Umpqua 20, No. 5 Lakeview 0
The Lancers (8-3) became the lowest seed to reach the 3A semifinals since the OSAA began seeding the bracket a decade ago, holding Far West League rival Lakeview (9-2) to six rushing yards and 127 total yards.
David Logan led the defensive effort with four tackles, a forced fumble and an interception, and he blocked a punt as the Lancers avenged a 28-16 loss to the Honkers in Week 3.
“A huge win,” said South Umpqua coach Steve Stebbins. “It’s crazy. We had a lot of kids with two or three tackles. It was all spread out across the board. Just an overall great defensive effort.”
South Umpqua is the fourth double-digit 3A seed to advance to the semifinals, joining 11-seeds Blanchet Catholic (2014) and Rainier (2017) and 12-seed Salem Academy (2016).
Elijah Earls hit Kacey Benefiel on a 9-yard pass to open the scoring in the first quarter. Jacob Logan, who ran for 161 yards on 22 carries, scored on runs of 20 yards in the second quarter and a game-clinching 13-yarder in the fourth.
No. 3 Dayton 50, No. 11 Yamhill-Carlton 36
Senior quarterback Boston Hodges returned the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown, then ran for three touchdowns as the PacWest champion Pirates (11-0) held off Yamhill-Carlton (7-4) to reach the semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Kyle Slater ran for three touchdowns and threw for another for the Tigers, who were within 22-20 late in the first half before Hodges scored on an 11-yard run 1:12 before halftime.
Zach Smith ran for 283 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries for the Pirates. Hodges added 123 yards on 10 carries and had eight tackles and three pass breakups. Morgan Gallagher had a game-high 14 tackles.
No. 2 Cascade Christian 27, No. 7 Vale 26 (OT)
The defending champion Challengers (11-0) stopped a two-point conversion try in overtime as the Vikings (9-1) went for the victory at Crater High School’s Dutch Meyer Stadium.
Cascade Christian had the first possession in overtime and scored on Ashton Moody’s 1-yard quarterback sneak. Mason Hoffman made the PAT, which proved critical after Vale answered on its possession with a 1-yard touchdown run by Colten Stepleton.
On the winning try attempt, Bryson Walker made the initial hit, with Luke Wilson and Kris Fralich cleaning up the play to finish the tackle short of the goal line.
Vale led 20-12 on Kase Schaffeld’s 24-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Challengers forced overtime when Moody scored from four yards, then hit Fralich on a two-point conversion pass, with Fralich making a shoestring catch in the flat and beating a couple of defenders to the pylon.
Schaffeld ran for a game-high 230 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries for the Vikings.
Moody finished 13 of 23 for 202 yards and two touchdowns, with Wilson catching five passes for 102 yards and a score. Dylan Westlake added four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, and Brendan Van Wart made a team-high nine tackles.
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CLASS 2A | Bracket
No. 1 Weston-McEwen 59, No. 9 Illinois Valley 18
Caleb Sprengler ran for one score and caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Choin, and the defending champion TigerScots (10-0) built a 44-18 halftime lead en route to the victory at Hermiston’s Kennison Field.
Choin, a first-team all-Blue Mountain Conference receiver, moved to quarterback in place of injured all-state junior Easton Berry for his first career start. He finished 5 of 8 for 123 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and he rushed for 67 yards and three scores.
“Bryson did an outstanding job. I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said coach Kenzie Hansell, who remains optimistic that Berry will be back for next week’s semifinal against Regis. “And the leadership Easton showed yesterday was tremendous. What he brings for us both off and on the field is remarkable.”
Maddox King ran for 110 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and linebacker Sean Roggiero returned a fumble for a score and had an interception.
Daniel Polk scored two touchdowns for Illinois Valley (7-4), including a 73-yard pass from Zack Dugas that tied the score at 6-6.
No. 4 Regis 27, No. 5 Heppner 20
Kollin Schumacher threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Parker Bartholomew with 7:07 remaining, and Charlie Miller’s interception 2½ minutes later secured victory for the Rams (11-0), who reached the semifinals for the first time since winning the 2016 title.
Back-to-back penalties following Miller’s interception had the Rams facing first-and-25, but they converted on Schumacher’s 41-yard pass to Noah Richter. Schumacher also hit Bartholomew on a 28-yard completion with 1:36 left, and Regis ran out the clock.
The Mustangs (8-3) drew within 21-20 on an 85-yard touchdown pass from Mason Orem to Cameron Proudfoot and Caden George’s two-point conversion. Orem finished 8 of 12 for 181 yards, a touchdown and an interception, with Proudfoot catching five passes for 142 yards.
Schumacher overcame four interceptions — two by Proudfoot, including a 56-yard pick-six to open the scoring in the first quarter — to go 15 of 35 for 283 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed for two touchdowns. Bartholomew had six catches for 150 yards.
No. 3 Lowell 48, No. 6 Gold Beach 20
JaMar Thurman ran for three second-half touchdowns and finished with 259 yards on 30 carries, and Carter Harris tossed two touchdown passes to Rowan Files and ran for a third score as the Devils (10-1) defeated the Panthers (8-3) at Pleasant Hill High School.
Harris finished 13 of 17 for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Files had a team-high 14 tackles and caught six passes for 113 yards, and Lowell sacked Gold Beach quarterback Jake Westerman six times, including three by Brody Thurman and two for Louie Estrada.
Paul Clark added a strip sack and recovery for the Devils, and Justus Thurman returned a punt 75 yards for their final touchdown.
No. 2 Oakland 32, No. 7 Gervais 18
The Cougars (9-2) jumped out to a 12-0 lead, but the defending champion Oakers (10-1) scored 32 consecutive points to take control at Sutherlin High School and end Gervais’ best season since reaching the Class B state final in 1951.
The Cougars’ nine victories are a school record as they made the playoffs for the first time since 1953.
Ryan Fullerton’s touchdown pass to Waylon Browning 16 seconds before halftime gave Oakland its first lead at 16-12.
Jacob Chenoweth and James Baimbridge ran for second-half touchdowns to push the lead to 32-12.
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CLASS 1A 8-Man | Bracket
No. 1 Lost River 49, No. 8 Perrydale 14
Connor Dunlea ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, and the defending champion Raiders (9-0) held the Pirates (8-3) to 191 total yards.
Quarterback Chase McAuliffe also ran for three scores and had four tackles and an interception, and Kayden Hartman had 16 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Brock Lacy led Lost River with six tackles, and Beau Sanders had three sacks to help lead the defensive effort.
Brandon Lux had 24 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Pirates, and Brody Burr was 9 of 13 for 101 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
No. 5 St. Paul 34, No. 4 Imbler 22
George Pohlschneider threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns, both to twin brother Ralph Pohlschneider (eight catches for 144 yards), and the Buckaroos (10-1) won at Imbler (8-2) to advance to the semifinals for the sixth consecutive season.
Diego Medina had six carries for 101 yards and two scores for St. Paul, which will face Lost River next week in a rematch of last year’s state final, which the Raiders won 43-0. Medina also caught four passes for 126 yards, and Ralph Pohlschneider (18 tackles), Grady Wolf (17 tackles) and Clay Smith (16 tackles) led the defensive effort.
Panthers quarterback Trevor Treat ran for one touchdown and threw for another, and Dallin Rasmussen had a team-high 89 rushing yards on 21 carries.
No. 3 Myrtle Point 58, No. 6 Adrian 32
The Bobcats (8-1) jumped out to a 30-12 lead after one quarter and went on to defeat the Antelopes (7-4) and reach the semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Logan Backman threw for 208 yards and five touchdowns for Myrtle Point. Evin Warner accounted for 315 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns — four receiving and three rushing — and made 10 tackles with an interception.
Billy Reynolds rushed for 156 yards, and Skyler Zick caught a touchdown pass and had an interception.
No. 2 Crane 64, No. 7 Enterprise 24
The Mustangs (9-0) led 28-0 after one quarter and 40-8 at halftime en route to the home win over the Outlaws (7-3), advancing to their first semifinal since 2019.
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CLASS 1A 6-Man | Bracket
No. 1 Prairie City/Burnt River 47, No. 8 North Lake 0
Maison Teel ran for 195 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Tucker Wright, and the Panthers (7-1) held North Lake (6-3) to 24 total yards in advancing to their first semifinal since 1990.
JW Haskins led the Panthers with five tackles and an interception, and Cody Reagan had two sacks and a forced fumble. Wes Voigt and Cayden Howard also had interceptions as the hosts forced four turnovers.
No. 4 Joseph 44, No. 5 Eddyville Charter 6
The Special District 1 champion Eagles (8-1) overwhelmed Eddyville Charter (8-2), which was coming off its first postseason win since 1995.
Kane Johnson threw for two touchdowns and Gavin Russell ran for two in a balanced effort for Joseph, which had seven players involved in the scoring as the hosts — in the playoffs for the first time in the past 12 years — earned their first playoff win since 2008.
“Joseph really came out to win,” said Eddyville Charter coach Abe Silvonen. “I’m not sure on our best day near sea level if we could have competed. But it’s been a great year for ECS football. With our culture clearly set in stone, the future is very bright.”
No. 3 Elkton 58, No. 6 South Wasco County 34
Anthony Alimenti threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, and Jordyn Nederhood ran for 113 yards and three scores as the Elks (8-1) avenged a 46-12 loss to the Redsides (7-3) in last year’s playoffs and earned the program’s first postseason win since 1981.
Tyler Pritchard had a team-high 10 tackles, forced a fumble, caught a touchdown pass and ran for a score. Andrew Houx caught four passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and he registered a sack and an interception.
Kaleb Geyer had two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as the Elks forced four turnovers.
No. 10 Echo 46, No. 2 Powers 18
The Cougars (7-3) are in the semifinals for the first time since 1987 after shocking the district champion Cruisers (8-1) behind three-way threat Dom Curiel, who ran for 146 yards, passed for nearly 100 and had 132 receiving yards, scoring three touchdowns and throwing for two.
Keegin Chitty had 160 receiving yards and caught two touchdowns, and Kobe Harwood had four tackles for loss among his seven tackles. Beau Wade and Mack Murdock each had an interception.
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