Tug of war, egg toss bring Oregon high school football stars together ahead of 2023 Les Schwab Bowl

Best football players in the state trade the practice trenches for lively competition

McMINNVILLE, Oregon — Jace Eveland and William Davis described the days ahead of the 2023 Les Schwab Bowl — filled with two-a-day practices led by some of the state's top coaches — as an elevated level of competition from what the two standouts and Division I prospects are used to. 

But when the teams went head-to-head in competitions such as egg toss, linemen punt return and, namely, tug-of-war, the offensive linemen were at ease.

"It was lite for us," said Eveland, a Redmond (Oregon) 6-7 class of 2025 tackle. "Well, for the linemen, at least ... just be big and pull." 

Added Davis, an Idaho State-committed senior from Franklin: "(Team Willamette) didn't want to run it back." 

The annual Oregon high school football all-star game — Team Columbia versus Team Willamette — kicks off at Linfield University in McMinnville on Saturday at 6 p.m. Lots open for tailgating at 2 p.m. and gates open at 3. A live stream is available for $10.

The bowl rosters were determined by a live-streamed draft of the state's best sophomores, juniors and seniors. 

Scroll to the top of the page for sights, sounds and reactions to the competitions and fun Wednesday night.