Oregon high school football finals: Breaking down each of this week's championship games, from 6A to 1A
Here's a capsule look at every matchup in the final week of the Oregon high school football playoffs.
Photo by Dan Brood
Class 6A Championship | Bracket
No. 4 Central Catholic (12-0) vs. No. 2 Tualatin (11-1)
12:30 p.m. Friday | Hillsboro Stadium
Last meeting: Central Catholic won 44-14 in the 2021 Class 6A state final.
About Central Catholic
Last state championship: 2021 (sixth)
Last state final: 2021 (eighth appearance)
Coach: Steve Pyne, 21st season (193-54; 214-71 overall)
Offensive leaders: QB Cru Newman, sr. (136-203-4-2325-30 TDs pass, 79-623-13 rush); RB Killian Sombe, soph. (67-590-10 rush); RB Tyson Davis, soph. (46-507-9 rush; 16-410-4 rec); WR Landon Kelsey, jr. (29-620-9 rec); WR D’Marieon Gates (19-345-6 rec)
Defensive leaders: S Cade Gehlen, sr. (73 tackles, 5½ for loss, 2 interceptions); DE Matix Carpenter, sr. (64 tackles, 12½ for loss); CB Timmy Mitchell, sr. (57 tackles, 7 interceptions); LB Dexter Foster, sr. (46 tackles, 14½ for loss)
Surprise standout: John McGregor wasn’t sure he wanted to return to play football after last season, and Pyne had several talks with him to convince the junior to turn out. Good thing McGregor listened. Pyne installed him at center to free Carpenter (an all-state selection as a junior) to play more on defense, and McGregor became a first-team all-Mt. Hood pick while Carpenter won MHC defensive player of the year. “John has been extremely steady the entire season,” Pyne said.
About Tualatin
Last state championship: None
Last state final: 2021 (fourth appearance)
Coach: Dominic Ferraro, second season (20-4; 24-9 overall)
Offensive leaders: QB Nolan Keeney, jr. (81-119-5-1667-20 pass; 59-391-4 rush); WR Jayden Fortier, sr. (54-1055-10 rec; 39-211-11 rush); WR AJ Noland, sr. (19-512-7 rec); TE Tyson Hunt, sr. (29-376-3 rec); WR Kenen Elder, sr. (32-352-3 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB Fortier (58 tackles, 8 for loss, 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles); LB Calvin Evans, sr. (89 tackles, 9 for loss, 4 sacks, 6 fumble recoveries); LB Liam Pickering, sr. (66 tackles, 4 for loss); S Thomas Ngure II, sr. (61 tackles, 4 for loss, 3 sacks)
Surprise standout: Evans handles all kicking duties for the Timberwolves and was a backup strong safety last year. Ferraro moved him to inside linebacker this season. His solid play in the middle of the defense “has been critical to our success,” Ferraro said. “He does an excellent job blitzing off the edge and has gotten better every week.”
MORE: Position-by-position breakdown — which team has the edge?
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Class 6A Columbia Cup | Bracket
No. 21 Sunset (8-4) vs. No. 18 South Medford (9-3)
1 p.m. Saturday | Cottage Grove High School
Last meeting: South Medford won 35-27 in Week 1 of the 2015 season.
About Sunset
Coach: Damien Merrick, 10th season (55-46)
Offensive leaders: QB Drew Nees, sr. (140-213-6-1847-22 pass; 97-419-6 rush); RB Owen Scholes, jr. (165-805-8 rush); RB Justin Craigwell, soph. (99-553-12 rush); WR Blake Hurley, sr. (45-741-5 rec); WR Derek Craigwell, sr. (37-468-9 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB J.Craigwell (93 tackles, 8 for loss, 4 fumble recoveries); DB D.Craigwell (97 tackles, 3 forced fumbles); LB Hurley (91 tackles, 12 for loss, 4 interceptions); DB Griffin Jevning, sr. (80 tackles, 2 interceptions); CB Matthew Lohaman, jr. (31 tackles, 1 interception)
Surprise standout: Senior Carson Lindert didn’t turn out for football until his sophomore year. He played JV the past two seasons while showing flashes of the potential Merrick believed he had. He began this season as a backup on the O-line and entered the starting lineup at left guard in Week 2 because of injury and has seized his opportunity. “He’s a bit undersized (5-foot-11, 218 pounds) but makes up for it and then some with his ability to see defensive fronts and analyze in real time,” Merrick said. “Carson has been like having another coach on the field for us.”
About South Medford
Coach: Bill Singler, 25th season (159-105)
Offensive leaders: QB Colby Schwartz, sr. (52-107-7-742-5 pass; 68-248-9 rush); RB Ryder Scheid, sr. (143-1049-10 rush); FB Bridger Foss, jr. (94-832-8 rush; 20-264-4 rec); RB Kameron Rague, jr. (101-720-8 rush)
Defensive leaders: LB Gio Livingston, sr. (55 tackles, 8 for loss, 5 sacks); S Rague (45 tackles, 3 interceptions); LB Caleb Morgan, jr. (42 tackles); LB Jacob Dalton, jr. (42 tackles, 4 for loss); DT Makani Manuwai, sr. (37 tackles, 10 for loss, 2 sacks)
Surprise standout: Foss swung up from the JV team last season, progressively getting more time as the injury bug decimated the Panthers (14 players missed their first-round loss to Central Catholic). After Foss finished second in the 152-pound weight class at the state wrestling meet in February, Singler thought he might have an impact on the gridiron this fall, “but Bridger has been better than advertised for us, especially on offense. He’s a tough inside, downhill runner and catches the ball very well out of the backfield, which is a bonus. And he contributes greatly to the success of our defense (19 tackles at safety). In short, Bridger is a football player, and a good one.”
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Class 5A | Bracket
No. 3 Mountain View (12-0) vs. No. 1 Wilsonville (11-1)
4:30 p.m. Friday | Hillsboro Stadium
Last meeting: Wilsonville won 54-21 in Week 1 of the 2015 season.
About Mountain View
Last state championship: 2011 (first)
Last state final: 2011 (second appearance)
Coach: Brian Crum, 12th season (76-45)
Offensive leaders: QB Connor Crum, sr. (113-173-5-1560-24 pass; 62-303-6 rush); RB Angel Valenzuela, soph. (234-1756-27 rush); WR Jack Foley, jr. (43-691-16 rec)
Defensive leaders: DE Eli Clason, sr. (79 tackles, 11 for loss, 8 sacks, 11 hurries); DE Jackson Hersch, sr. (62 tackles, 11 for loss); DL Garren White, jr. (68 tackles, 9 for loss, 2½ sacks, 9 hurries); DB Brady Kennedy, jr. (63 tackles)
Surprise standout: Clason was a game-changer at tight end and defensive end on the Cougars JV last season, but Coach Crum believed “he wasn’t mature enough physically or invested enough yet to really be a difference-maker on Friday nights.” That changed last offseason, and Clason transformed himself into the team’s No. 1 game-changer on a defense that allows just 6.3 points per game. “We were hopeful this year in what we were going to get,” Crum said. “And then we saw. He makes plays inside on the run for loss. He moved linemen around and got to the quarterback. He wrecks people.”
About Wilsonville
Last state championship: 2004 (first)
Last state final: 2022 (sixth appearance)
Coach: Adam Guenther, 14th season (126-33)
Offensive leaders: QB Kallen Gutridge, sr. (208-321-9-3482-53 pass, 62-583-6 rush); RB Roman Kealoha, soph. (84-720-7 rush); WR Mark Wiepert, jr. (69-1397-19 rec); WR Nick Crowley, jr. (53-948-13); WR Nick Colyer, sr. (26-348-7)
Defensive leaders: S Wiepert (98 tackles, 6 for loss); LB Ty Smith, sr. (96 tackles, 9 for loss, 3½ sacks); LB Will Ingle, jr. (89 tackles, 12 for loss, 3 sacks); DB Lucas Larson (38 tackles, 6 interceptions, 7 pass breakups); DL Gavin Waddell, sr. (44 tackles, 16 for loss); DT Noah Lubisich, sr. (35 tackles, 9 for loss, 8 sacks)
Surprise standout: Senior Noah Lubisich didn’t have much of a role for the Wildcats last season — unlike twin brother Jack, who was a starter on the offensive line the first three weeks and has been an integral part of that unit this fall. But after an offseason spent in the weight room, Noah added 20 pounds of muscle and transformed himself into the NWOC defensive lineman of the year, leading the team in sacks. “Things just click at different times for different players, and they clicked for Noah this year,” Guenther said.
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Class 4A | Bracket
No. 2 Marist Catholic (11-1) vs. No. 1 Henley (12-0)
5 p.m. Saturday | Caldera High School, Bend
Last meeting: Henley won 51-7 in the first round of the 1994 Class 3A playoffs.
About Marist Catholic
Last state championship: 2009 (fifth)
Last state final: 2021 (11th appearance)
Coach: Charlie Landgraf, first season (11-1)
Offensive leaders: QB Nick Hudson, jr. (239-365-11-3442-43 pass); RB Aiden Hazen, sr. (118-442-9 rush); WR Brady Bidwell, sr. (77-983-12 rec); WR Kaden Erlenbush, sr. (64-963-14 rec); WR Christian Guerrero, jr. (37-576-7 rec); WR Aaron Bidwell, jr. (28-500-6 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB James Harvey, sr. (136 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions); LB Hazen (126 tackles); DL Jackson Christian, jr. (58 tackles, 4 ½ sacks); CB Cash Andrus, jr. (44 tackles, 5 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries)
Surprise standout: Landgraf inherited a young team that had many starters to replace this season, and one who has worked out brilliantly is junior lineman Dawson Relling, who earned first-team all-league honors at left tackle and defensive tackle (47 tackles, 2 sacks). “Dawson is the leader for us in the trenches,” said Landgraf, who was an all-state center a decade ago at Jesuit. “He plays with great physicality. He’s got great size and athleticism and has really developed into a dominant player for us.”
About Henley
Last state championship: 1982 (second)
Last state final: 1982 (fifth appearance)
Coach: Alex Stork, seventh season (49-19)
Offensive leaders: QB Joe Janney, soph. (72-122-4-1190-13 pass; 79-632-10 rush); RB Logan Whitlock, sr. (260-1944-42 rush); WR Chris Janney, sr. (22-418-6 rec); WR Luke Bennett, sr. (27-499-6 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB C.Janney (69 tackles, 7 for loss); DL Cohen Redman, sr. (43 tackles, 12½ tackles for loss, 6½ sacks); LB Jason Kern, jr. (68 tackles, 6 for loss); DB Mark Carpenter, jr. (7 interceptions)
Surprise standout: After Stork’s youngest brother, Shaw, graduated in June after winning a second conference offensive player of the year award, he had to decide between two sophomores to fill the starting quarterback role. He chose Janney, and the youngster has delivered a solid season complementing Whitlock’s dominant performance at running back. “Joe has really stepped up for us, especially during our playoff run,” Stork said. “His poised demeanor in the pocket and on the field have been a X-factor for us. He has continued to progress each week and make better decisions as the season has gone on.”
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Class 3A | Bracket
No. 2 Cascade Christian (12-0) vs. No. 1 Banks (12-0)
5 p.m. Saturday | Cottage Grove High School
Last meeting: This is the first meeting between the teams.
About Cascade Christian
Last state championship: 2022 (fourth)
Last state final: 2022 (seventh appearance)
Coach: Jon Gettman, 14th season (135-28)
Offensive leaders: QB Ashton Moody, sr. (152-224-3-2183-29 pass; 70-501-14 rush); RB Caleb Scaglione, soph. (105-681-10 rush); WR Peyton Maurer, sr. (53-964-9 rec); WR Luke Wilson, sr. (35-456-5 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB Brendon Van Wart, sr. (83 tackles, 10 for loss); LB Mason Hoffman, sr. (50 tackles, 12 for loss); DB Kristofer Fralich, sr. (53 tackles, 12 for loss, 5 hurries, 4 fumble recoveries); LB Moody, sr. (39 tackles, 13 for loss); DE Alex Fiannaca, soph. (52 tackles, 10 for loss, 7 hurries, 2½ sacks)
Surprise standout: Fralich’s older brother, Kristian, was an all-state performer for the Challengers, but Kristofer has been more of a glue player for the program, someone who “from his first day as a freshman has set an example of a great work ethic and humble servant,” Gettman said. This season, Fralich has nearly doubled his tackles from a year ago while doing “all the little things — blocking, taking on blockers, setting an example — that have allowed us to get to this point,” Gettman said. “By setting aside his ego and putting the team first, he and the other nine seniors have created a great team-first environment.”
About Banks
Last state championship: 2018 (first)
Last state final: 2019 (fifth appearance)
Coach: Cole Linehan, eighth season (73-13)
Offensive leaders: QB Kade Long, sr. (135-203-6-2019-24 pass; 52-338-7 rush); RB Ashton Crossen, sr. (121-966-17 rush); WR Brayden Bigsby, sr. (42-537-2 rec); WR Parker Littlejohn, sr. (29-584-6 rec); TE Max Walker, jr. (38-471-12 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB Deisel Schoegje, jr. (67 tackles, 10 for loss); LB Crossen (52 tackles, 19 for loss, 6 sacks, 10 hurries); DT Luke Bigsby, jr. (49 tackles, 22 for loss, 5½ sacks, 11 hurries); DE Cole Wilson, soph. (33 tackles, 14 for loss, 4½ sacks, 7 hurries); S Walker (33 tackles, 5 for loss, 6 interceptions, 6 pass breakups)
Surprise standout: Linehan first called upon Lane Gilbert last year as a freshman, when he took over at quarterback in the semifinals after Christian Lyda suffered an injury. Gilbert remained the backup quarterback this season while also moving to a starting safety role (60 tackles), but Linehan quickly realized he needed Gilbert on the field both ways, so he moved him to receiver, where in last week’s semifinal against South Umpqua, he scored three touchdowns and was named player of the game. “Much different from last year,” Linehan said. “He has turned himself into one of the best safeties in the state. He works so hard in everything he does, is coachable, and it is really paying off for him and his team.”
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Class 2A | Bracket
No. 3 Lowell (11-1) vs. No. 1 Weston-McEwen (11-0)
2 p.m. Saturday | Hillsboro Stadium
Last meeting: Weston-McEwen won 25-23 in Week 4 of this season.
About Lowell
Last state championship: None
Last state final: 2013 (second appearance)
Coach: Ray Yarbrough, first season (11-1; 48-55 overall)
Offensive leaders: QB Carter Harris, soph. (83-130-6-1468-16 pass; 81-479-11 rush); RB JaMar Thurman, jr. (215-2692-39 rush; 20-381-3 rec); TE Rowan Files, sr. (29-678-12 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB Files (109 tackles, 21 for loss, 9 sacks, 2 interceptions); DE Brody Thurman, sr. (53 tackles, 24 for loss, 18 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries); DE Louie Estrada, sr. (53 tackles, 14 for loss, 9 sacks); DL Paul Clark, jr. (32 tackles, 21 for loss, 4 sacks); LB Ryder Greco, sr. (4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles)
Surprise standout: While Carter Harris transformed from a backup to running back JaMar Thurman last season to a dual-threat quarterback who complements Thurman in the backfield, it’s Carter’s younger brother, Tyler, who might be an even bigger surprise. The freshman 170-pounder has started on the offensive line since Week 1, “and I can’t say enough good things about what he has done and how much he has progressed,” Yarbrough said. “We’re talking about a 14-year-old lining up against 18-year-old men that sometimes weigh close to 300 pounds and him not batting an eye at that. His progression has been huge for us.”
About Weston-McEwen
Last state championship: None
Last state final: 2022 (fourth appearance)
Coach: Kenzie Hansell, fifth season (36-11; 73-34 in two stints over 11 seasons)
Offensive leaders: QB Easton Berry, jr. (78-132-6-1586-21 pass; 79-399-7 rush); RB Maddox King, jr. (175-1025-11 rush); RB Sean Roggiero, sr. (88-471-5 rush; 22-326-4 rec); WR Caleb Sprenger, sr. (22-549-10 rec)
Defensive leaders: LB Mazon Langford, sr. (95 tackles, 5 for loss); LB Roggiero (65 tackles, 5 for loss, 4 interceptions); LB King (62 tackles); DE Jace Dunlap, soph. (33 tackles, 7 for loss, 4 sacks); CB Bryson Choin, sr. (26 tackles, 3 interceptions)
Surprise standout: Choin was sparingly used as a junior backup to all-state quarterback Berry, but he moved to wide receiver this season and started at cornerback. He caught 16 passes (three for touchdowns) in the TigerScots’ first nine games, but for their quarterfinal against Illinois Valley, he was thrust under center when Berry couldn’t play because of injury, going 5 of 8 for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Back at receiver for the semifinals, he had a 32-yard catch.
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Class 1A 8-Man | Bracket
No. 2 Crane (10-0) vs. No. 1 Lost River (10-0)
1 p.m. Saturday | Caldera High School, Bend
Last meeting: Lost River won 51-12 in Week 9 of the 1994 season.
About Crane
Last state championship: None
Last state final: 2016 (fourth appearance)
Coach: Matt Hawley, first season (10-0; 37-7 overall)
Offensive leaders: QB Josh Zander, jr.; RB Carter Nichols, sr.; TE Cody Siegner, jr.; TE Trenton Potter, soph.
Defensive leaders: DB Nichols; DL Potter; DL Keegan Sallee, jr.; LB Tommy Jack Rose, jr.; LB Brady Otley, jr.
Surprise standout: After Hawley took over the program last summer, he noted at the first practice that his offensive linemen “struggled to get in a stance.” Now, as the Mustangs prepare for the final, “they are the group I would choose to go to battle with. They played amazing last weekend (against Myrtle Point) against a much bigger D-line.” The quintet: center Eli Maley, Rose and Otley at guard, and Siegner and Potter on the ends.
About Lost River
Last state championship: 2022 (third)
Last state final: 2022 (sixth appearance)
Coach: Dennis Dunlea, 25th season (186-83)
Offensive leaders: QB Chase McAuliffe, sr. (603 passing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns); RB Connor Dunlea, sr. (1,285 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns)
Defensive leaders: CB Dunlea (10 interceptions); S McAuliffe; DE Joel DeJong, sr.; LB Emmett O’Brien, sr.; DL Beau Sanders, jr.
Surprise standout: When teams line up to throw against the Raiders, they see Connor Dunlea and his 10 interceptions on one side and another all-state player in McAuliffe roaming the middle. That leaves senior JC Navarro, but teams who think they can pick on the 5-9, 155-pounder find he more than holds his own. “He’s taken the brunt of playing opposite Connor and Chase and done everything we’ve asked of him,” Coach Dunlea said. “It’s not that we didn’t expect him to step into this role, but it’s different when you’re an every-down guy.”
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Class 1A 6-Man | Bracket
No. 10 Echo (8-3) vs. No. 4 Joseph (9-1)
2 p.m. Saturday | Hermiston High School
Last meeting: Joseph won 52-28 in Week 1 of this season.
About Echo
Last state championship: None
Last state final: First appearance
Coach: Thomas VanNice, third season (16-10)
Offensive leaders: QB Kholvin Wyse, soph. (17 passing touchdowns); RB Dom Curiel, sr. (2,473 all-purpose yards, 39 touchdowns); RB Sam Wyse, sr. (1,085 total yards, 13 touchdowns); WR Keegin Chitty, sr. (854 total yards, 10 touchdowns)
Defensive leaders: DE Mack Murdock, soph. (40 tackles, 9 turnovers); DB Curiel (42 tackles); LB Kobe Harwood, sr. (39 tackles)
Surprise standout: Kholvin Wyse played sparingly as a freshman, but after the Cougars’ Week 3 loss to Prairie City/Burnt River, VanNice moved him to the starting lineup, freeing VanNice to utilize Curiel as a Swiss Army knife-type player, where he became the league’s offensive player of the year. “Kholvin’s only a sophomore, so we know he’s going to make a few mistakes,” VanNice said. “But he has gotten much better at handling them and rolling out the next drive not thinking about that, but only thinking about the next play.”
About Joseph
Last state championship: None
Last state final: 2008 (second appearance)
Coach: Damian Huff, second season (15-3)
Offensive leaders: QB Kane Johnson, sr.; C Kellen Crenshaw, jr.; WR Jaxon Grover, sr.; RB Zander Walker, sr.
Defensive leaders: DE Crenshaw; LB Grover; DE Walker; NG Gavin Russell, jr.
Surprise standout: The Eagles entered the season with a gaping hole at one of the starting defensive end spots. Huff installed Walker in the lineup, and while that took the senior out of the running for the starting quarterback job, “Zander not only stepped up to the challenge but has been one of the top ends in our league, if not the state,” Huff said. “The combination of him with Kellen has helped anchor our defense and set up everyone else for success.” Walker still serves as a change-of-pace signal-caller who diversifies the attack as the designated RPO quarterback.
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