Oregon high school football playoffs — quick stats, what to know for each 4A-1A semifinal

The Oregon high school football playoffs continue this weekend. Here’s a look at each Class 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A semifinal.

By René Ferrán

The Oregon high school football playoffs continue this weekend. Here’s a look at each Class 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A semifinal. (Earlier: 6A quarterfinals | 5A semifinals)

FOOTBALL BRACKETS

Cory James (Estacada) photo by Dave Ball

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4A Semifinals | Bracket

No. 5 Mazama Vikings (9-2) vs. No. 1 Marshfield Pirates (13-0)

Noon Saturday, Grants Pass High School

Last meeting: The Pirates won 35-20 in both teams’ season opener — only the second time the teams played. The first came in the 2018 quarterfinals, when Marshfield won 28-23.

About the Vikings: Mazama has come a long way since that Week 1 loss to Marshfield. The Vikings were breaking in almost an entirely new starting 11 on both sides of the ball in that game, but that group matured through the course of the season. Even losing senior FB Zeke Heaton (635 yards in four games) to injury in Week 4 didn’t slow them — they won an eighth consecutive Skyline Conference title with junior Trevor Anderson and senior Brandon Gailey taking turns as the lead back. Heaton returned for 11 carries in their quarterfinal win over Banks, adding another weapon to the mix for their veer attack. Anderson (67 tackles, eight for loss, three sacks) and senior Daniel Yancey (66 tackles, three for loss) anchor the linebacking corps for a much-improved defense that allowed 100 points during a 2-2 start and 55 during their current seven-game win streak.

About the Pirates: Marshfield has been the consensus No. 1 team in Class 4A the entire season after winning the third-place game of the 4A Showcase in the spring. The Pirates have averaged 46.2 points in the 11 games they’ve contested on the field (they have two forfeit wins in league play on their record), with senior QB Dom Montiel expertly running the show. He has thrown for 2,973 yards this season and 6,646 for his career (No. 18 on the all-time state list). He’s also completed a career-best 69.2 percent of his passes (189 of 273) with 44 touchdowns to just six interceptions. Six receivers have caught double-digit passes, with senior WRs DJ Daughtery (60-1,050-19) and Maddux Mateski (38-652-10) his favorite targets. Senior RB Miguel Velazquez (78-813-17) has stepped up in the second half of the season to complement the passing game. An underrated defense led by all-state senior LB Ezra Waterman (111 tackles, 23.5 for loss) allows just 12 points per game.

No. 7 Marist Catholic Spartans (9-2) vs. No. 3 Estacada Rangers (11-0)

5 p.m. Saturday, McMinnville High School

Last meeting: This is the first meeting between the programs.

About the Spartans: Marist Catholic avenged a Week 6 loss to Cascade in last week’s quarterfinals to reach the semifinals for the second consecutive postseason and ninth time since 2003. The Spartans’ only other loss came in Week 9 to Marshfield 48-41 in the de facto Sky-Em championship game. Senior RB Lucas Tuski is the engine that propels the offense, running for 1,447 yards and 26 touchdowns and catching 11 balls out of the backfield (three for TDs). Senior QB Carter Greene has been efficient, throwing for 26 touchdowns with four interceptions while completing more than 65 percent of his passes (84 of 128 for 1,368 yards). Senior WRs Conner Chase (31-504-8) and Ryan Cary (28-497-11) are the top receivers. The Spartans allow 19.3 points per game, led by senior LBs Owen McOmber (80 tackles) and Wolfgang Betts (team-high 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks), both first-team all-league selections.

About the Rangers: It’s been five years since Estacada last reached the semifinals, and the Rangers now seek their second trip to a state final — their first came in 1953, when they lost to Crook County in the A-2 title game. They followed a Week 4 win at La Grande by knocking out the defending champions 44-22 in last week’s quarterfinals — the sixth time this season Estacada has gone over the 40-point mark in a game. The Rangers share the wealth in their veer offense, with junior QB Cory James (141-1,131-17 rushing, 662 passing yards and nine TDs) showing a deft touch under center. Junior RB/LB Waylon Riedel has been a two-way standout, running for 648 yards and nine touchdowns and making a team-high 66 tackles (9.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks). Senior RB/LB Jake Berhman has run for 15 touchdowns and has 56 tackles (five for loss).

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3A Semifinals | Bracket

No. 5 La Pine Hawks (7-3) vs. No. 1 Siuslaw Vikings (10-0)

1 p.m. Saturday, Herald White Stadium, Cottage Grove

Last meeting: The Vikings won 34-26 in Week 5 en route to the Special District 2 North championship — their first league title since 2011.

About the Hawks: La Pine is in uncharted waters for a program that hadn’t won a playoff game in the past 21 years before knocking off Amity in the first round and stunning Warrenton in the quarterfinals. The Hawks have made one previous semifinal appearance, losing in 1991 to eventual champion Vale. They’ve won five in a row since the loss to Siuslaw, fueled in part by feeding the ball to senior RB Dylan Hankey, who’s run for 414 yards and six touchdowns in the past three games. Junior QB Colton Campbell ran for 98 yards and threw for 89 on 5-of-6 passing with a touchdown in the 30-8 quarterfinal win over Warrenton.

About the Vikings: Siuslaw has a proud football heritage, winning 15 league titles from 1970-89 and earning state championships in 1981 and 2006. However, since losing in the 4A final to La Salle Prep in 2011, the Vikings have fallen on hard times — four playoff appearances and zero wins until this fall’s run to the semifinals. Three standout seniors have them poised to get back to the state final. QB Beau Erickson, who backed up Elijah Blankenship for three seasons, has made the most of his only season as the starter, throwing for 21 touchdowns and running for eight. WR Braydon Thornton has 20 touchdowns, including 17 through the air (seven coming in a state-record performance against Pleasant Hill, one off the national record), and RB Camp LaCouture has accounted for 16 touchdowns (13 rushing, two receiving, one passing). 

No. 7 Vale Vikings (10-1) vs. No. 3 South Umpqua Lancers (10-1)

10 a.m. Saturday, Caldera High School, Bend

Last meeting: The Lancers won 36-7 in the 1977 Class AA semifinals en route to the second of the program’s three state championships — the last coming in 1981. The Vikings have reached eight finals and won five titles since South Umpqua’s last appearance in the title game.

About the Vikings: Vale has won a state-leading 12 championships in 16 appearances in the final, with its last coming in 2015. The Vikings haven’t returned to the championship game since, but the way their defense has played since a Week 4 loss to La Grande, they have the look of a champion despite their deceiving No. 7 seed. They’ve allowed just 7.6 points per game during their eight-game win streak and last week held a Rainier rushing attack that averaged 347.1 yards per game to a season-low 101 in a 14-6 victory. Senior LB Peter McBride and S John Wolfe led the defensive effort against the Columbians. The offense hasn’t posted huge numbers, but dual-threat senior QB Tanner Steele runs the show, rushing for both touchdowns last week and accounting for three scores (two passing, one rushing) in Vale’s 43-8 first-round win over Sutherlin.

About the Lancers: South Umpqua hasn’t been to the semifinals since that 1981 championship season — a 40-year drought that included nine playoff appearances and three wins. The Lancers built toward this season with a 4-2 mark in the spring, and their 10 wins are their most since the 1981 title season. Their only loss came in a hastily arranged Week 9 game against Kalama, when they lost 40-0 to the undefeated Chinooks, playing in the Washington Class 2B quarterfinals this weekend. Junior QB Jace Johnson (1,995 passing yards and 31 touchdowns) leads the way, with a bevy of receiving options surrounding him, including his cousin Kade, who has 12 touchdown catches. Senior RB Caj Simmons has run for 11 touchdowns. The defense has allowed 10.8 points per game to Oregon opponents and just two touchdowns in the playoffs.

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2A Semifinals | Bracket

No. 4 Coquille Red Devils (8-1) vs. No. 1 Heppner Mustangs (11-0)

Noon Saturday, McMinnville High School

Last meeting: This is the first meeting between the teams.

About the Red Devils: How weird has this season been for Coquille? It had a five-week break between its first and second games, first because Week 2 opponent Creswell went into COVID quarantine, then a three-week hiatus because of a COVID outbreak at Coquille that closed the school for two weeks. Since returning against South Coast rival Reedsport with a rare Monday game in Week 6, the Red Devils have gone 6-0 on the field, escaping 40-38 in Week 8 against Bandon and romping to playoff wins over Monroe (44-0) and Jefferson (48-8). Senior RB/LB Gunner Yates ran for 358 yards and six touchdowns in their quarterfinal win. He has 1,686 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, averaging 240.9 yards per game and 18.3 per carry in the wing-T. Yates also leads the team with 64 tackles, and freshman LB Waylon Messerle has 49.

About the Mustangs: The 2019 state champions have won 29 consecutive games, including a 40-0 victory over Weston-McEwen in the quarterfinals that marked their sixth shutout of the season. They’re looking to become the first back-to-back 2A champions since Scio won in 2009-10. Coach Greg Grant is fourth on the state’s all-time wins list with 323 and seeks his fourth state title at Heppner — the others coming in 1992 and 2015. The Mustangs allow six points per game, with only five opponents putting up points against them. Senior RB/LB Brock Hisler leads the team with 88 tackles (12 for loss), and fellow LB Blane Mahoney has 13 tackles for loss and a team-high six sacks. Sophomore DB Caden George has five interceptions. Hisler also is the engine of the offense with 1,114 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and sophomore QB Landon Mitchell has thrown for 1,001 yards and 16 TDs.

No. 3 Lakeview Honkers (10-1) vs. No. 2 Kennedy Trojans (10-1)

5 p.m. Saturday, Grants Pass High School

Last meeting: The Trojans won 57-0 in the first round of the 2009 Class 2A playoffs in the teams’ only previous game.

About the Honkers: Lakeview is in the semifinals for the first time since 2008, rallying for a 27-26 victory over Bandon on sophomore QB Benny Alves’ 29-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Max Graham with 20 seconds left. This is the first time the Honkers have posted a 10-win season, although one was a forfeit win over Coquille. Their previous nine-win seasons came in 1977, 2007 and 2008. The Honkers have never played in a state final, losing both of their semifinal appearances (2007 and 2008). Alves has had an up-and-down first season as a starter, throwing 13 touchdown passes, and senior RB Gavin Patterson has rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. 

About the Trojans: Kennedy has played in the past two Class 2A state finals, winning the school’s first championship in 2018 by beating league rival Santiam and losing to Heppner in 2019. The Trojans have reached the semifinals five times in the past six postseasons and 11 times overall. This season, they rode to the semifinals on the backs of their stifling defense, which has allowed 8.8 points per game — 34 coming in their only loss of the season, to Heppner in Week 4. Junior DB Ethan Kleinschmit had two interceptions in their 50-16 quarterfinal win over Gaston. Sophomore RB Elijah Traeger ran for three scores in the victory.

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1A Semifinals | Bracket

No. 4 Lost River Raiders (10-1) vs. No. 1 Adrian Antelopes (11-0)

2 p.m. Saturday, Caldera High School, Bend

Last meeting: This is the first meeting between the teams.

About the Raiders: Lost River was a perennial playoff qualifier in Class 2A, making the postseason every year since 2004, when it won its last state championship, before dwindling numbers led the Raiders to drop to the eight-man ranks starting with the spring season. Their only losses the past two seasons in Class 1A have been to St. Paul. Since falling to the Buckaroos in Week 1, they’ve won 10 in a row, posting four shutouts during that stretch and ending Waldport’s storybook season with a 63-34 victory. Junior RB Nathan Dalton scored seven touchdowns in the win, including scores on the final play of the first half and the first of the second half for a 48-18 lead, and ran for 291 yards. Sophomore QB Chase McAuliffe was the star of their first-round win over Camas Valley, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two.

About the Antelopes: The defending champions dispatched of Dufur in the quarterfinals, scoring their most points in a game since at least 2004 in an 88-6 drubbing. Senior QB Conley Martin racked up 291 yards on the ground and scored five touchdowns, and senior DT Misael Munoz led the defense with nine tackles and two sacks. Dufur’s late touchdown was only the fifth the Antelopes have allowed this season — they’ve posted five shutouts and outscored opponents 556-34. 

No. 3 St. Paul Buckaroos (10-1) vs. No. 2 Powder Valley Badgers (10-1)

6 p.m. Saturday, Caldera High School, Bend

Last meeting: The Badgers won 50-40 in Week 3 for their second win this calendar year against the Buckaroos — their only two wins in six all-time meetings.

About the Buckaroos: If it seems like St. Paul is always in the state semifinals, it’s because the Buckaroos usually are. Their 44-6 win over Crane in the quarterfinals earned them a fourth consecutive semifinal berth — including a 2A spot in 2017 — and 23rd trip all-time. They feature a balanced attack, with senior QB Lance Tuck having thrown for 859 yards and 15 touchdowns, while seniors Bryce Williams and Clancy Koch have combined for more than 1,600 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Koch also leads a defense that has allowed two touchdowns in its past three games (17.6 points per game for the season) with 55 tackles (six for loss) along with Williams (43 tackles, five for loss, two sacks) and junior Carter Milroy (37 tackles, five for loss).

About the Badgers: Powder Valley has been building for this season for three years, with a cadre of talented seniors boosted by the emergence of a precocious freshman to lead the Badgers to the semifinals for the first time since their 1A championship season in 2003. They’ve been led by a high-powered offense most of the season but posted their first shutout in the quarterfinals, beating Myrtle Point 36-0. Senior QB Reece Dixon has been a dual-threat force all season, and senior WR/DE Kaden Krieger had seven sacks in their season-opening win over Dufur and hasn’t looked back. With freshman RB Tucker Martin now 100 percent after having dealt with injuries the first part of the season, the Badgers have another weapon in their arsenal, joining senior RBs Clay Martin and Case Olson.

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Our game-by-game predictions

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