15 Class 5A offensive player of the year candidates in Oregon high school football

Here’s a look at 15 of the likely top candidates for Class 5A offensive player of the year.

By René Ferrán

SBLive will be coordinating the balloting for the official Class 6A, 5A and 4A all-state teams that will be published on SBLive Oregon and OregonLive next month. Coaches will be voting for the all-state teams in football, volleyball, and boys and girls soccer in the next couple of weeks, with the announcements coming in mid-December.

In anticipation of the all-state football awards, we wanted to offer our thoughts on who the coaches would consider their favorites for the big honors — classification offensive and defensive players of the year.

We made our predictions in the preseason, and while many find themselves on this list, many contenders have emerged over the course of the past 12 weeks.

Here’s a look at 15 of the likely top candidates for Class 5A offensive player of the year.

Chase Hix (Wilsonville) photo by Leon Neuschwander

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RB Josiah Davis, Jr., North Salem

Davis has blossomed into a bona fide star for the Vikings, finishing fourth in 5A during the regular season with 1,151 yards on 135 carries and sharing the classification lead with 20 touchdowns to help power the team to its first quarterfinal berth in the past 48 seasons.

WR Vandon Fessler, Sr., Silverton

Fessler has been a solid player for the Foxes through the years, but he has had a breakthrough season this fall, leading 5A during the regular season in catches (62) and receiving yards (1,115) and hauling in seven touchdowns.

WR Aiden Gebhard, Sr., Redmond

Gebhard led the NWOC East in receiving with 753 yards on 42 catches (five for touchdowns) for the Panthers.

QB Chase Hix, Sr., Wilsonville

Hix finally got his opportunity as the full-time starter for the Wildcats this fall after suffering an injury in Week 2 of the spring season, and he’s made the most of it — especially in their first two playoff games, when he threw for 835 yards and nine touchdowns.

QB Trenton Hughes, Sr., Hood River Valley

The NWOC East offensive player of the year led the Eagles to the postseason, throwing for 17 touchdowns and running for 12 scores.

RB Brycen Indell, Sr., Thurston

Indell, a transfer from Willamette, came on during the second half of the season after Gavin Knights went down with an injury, averaging 95 yards in the Colts’ last four games and scoring four touchdowns.

RB Tyler Konold, So., Canby

Konold burst onto the scene this season, winning the 5A rushing title with 1,412 yards on 123 carries with 16 touchdowns during the regular season.

QB Jordan McCarty, Sr., Silverton

The Mid-Willamette offensive player of the year led 5A in passing yards this season, throwing for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns while completing more than 59 percent of his passes (128 of 216). He rushed for 583 yards and 10 touchdowns.

QB Luke McNabb, Sr., Scappoose

McNabb won NWOC West offensive player of the year honors in leading Scappoose to a ninth consecutive state playoff appearance, throwing for 2,141 yards and 14 touchdowns and running for 895 yards and a 5A-best 20 touchdowns.

TE Jacob Newell, Sr., Thurston

The Arizona State commit and Midwestern League offensive player of the year moved between tight end (where he’ll play in college) and outside for the Colts this fall. He had caught a team-high 47 passes for 722 yards and nine touchdowns through two playoff rounds.

QB Chace Pence, Sr., Churchill

Pence led the Midwestern League in passing yards with 1,655 (with 17 touchdown passes against eight interceptions) while completing more than 52 percent of his passes (110 for 209).

RB Eric Pendergrass, Jr., Ridgeview

Pendergrass was the main man in the backfield for the Ravens this season, finishing second among 5A rushers with 1,250 yards on 193 carries while scoring 17 touchdowns.

RB Logan Person, Sr., Dallas

Person was a Swiss Army knife for the Dragons the past two seasons, not only leading them in rushing yards this fall (1,129 on 155 carries with 13 touchdowns) but also finishing second on the team in receiving.

WR Austin Ratliff, Sr., Silverton

Ratliff teamed with Vandon Fessler to form one of the state’s top receiving duos regardless of classification, catching 33 passes for 719 yards and seven touchdowns.

WR Carson Wright, Sr., Corvallis

Wright caught a 5A-leading 14 touchdown passes among his 57 receptions for 827 yards, both second to Silverton’s Vandon Fessler in 5A.