Kasen Covert has lofty football goals — a Les Schwab Bowl ‘ring’ and a state championship for Sherwood

“I guess, actually, it’s not a ring, it’s a trophy. But yeah, I want to win.”

By Dan Brood 

Kasen Covert is enjoying each and every aspect of being part of the Les Schwab Bowl. 

The Sherwood senior-to-be, a quarterback for the Team Columbia squad, is cherishing all of the moments of the week leading up to Saturday’s main event, a high school football all-star game featuring many of the top players from around the state to be played at Linfield University in McMinnville. 

“It means a lot, especially being out here with all of my guys, even though all of my (Sherwood) teammates are on the other team,” he said. “But it’s just going to be great to be out there competing with everybody, making new friends and building relationships.”

Don’t get Covert wrong — he’s totally devoted to excelling for the Bowmen this upcoming high school football season, but this week, even though Sherwood teammates Jaylan Moore and Suliasi Laulaupea’alu are also there as part of Team Willamette, Covert is focused on helping Team Columbia get the victory in Saturday’s game.

“It’s super important. Hey, I want to win a ring. I guess, actually, it’s not a ring, it’s a trophy. But yeah, I want to win,” he said. 

“Honestly, we’re not teammates here. I’ll see them in the dorms every day, and I might say hi, but we’re not teammates this trip, especially on Saturday. Jaylan (Sherwood’s standout defensive back), if you’re hearing this, get ready for Saturday. I’m coming right at you.” 

Covert, after saying that, immediately got a big smile. 

“That’s my guy, he’s one of my best friends,” he said of Moore. “It will be fun competing with him.”

While he really wants a victory Saturday night, Covert also is working hard on his quarterback skills during the week.

“It’s all been fun, but it’s really fun picking up a new offense,” he said. “I’ve never run this offense before, an RPO (run-pass option), and Coach (Steve) Pyne has been really helping me out.”

It’s also helpful that Covert is practicing alongside Central Catholic’s Cru Newman, who is the other quarterback for Team Columbia.

“Cru is a great quarterback,” Covert said. “It’s been great pushing each other and learning from him every day.”

Covert, who helped lead the Bowmen to an 8-3 record and a berth in the quarterfinal round of the Class 6A state playoffs while accounting for 22 touchdowns and earning all-Pacific Conference first-team honors a year ago, appears to be bigger and stronger as he prepares for his senior season at Sherwood.

“Last year, I was around 155 (pounds); now I’m at 180,” he said. “That’s definitely a difference, and I’ve put on an inch or two.”

He also has some very high hopes for the Bowmen this fall.

“The goal is always a state championship,” he said. “We’ll see. We’ve got a lot of young guys, but we’ve got a lot of returners coming back, too. We’ll make the most of what we’ve got. We’ve got a lot of talent.”

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Proceeds from this year’s Les Schwab Bowl, presented by Express Employment Professionals, will benefit the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association general scholarship fund, the Brayden Bafaro Scholarship Fund, and various youth charities.

This is the 75th game in the series, but just the second that won’t be North vs. South. Instead, players were drafted by the Team Columbia coaching staff, with head coach Steve Pyne from Central Catholic, and by the Team Willamette coaching staff, with head coach Josh Line from Sheldon. In last year’s game, the first under this format, Team Columbia posted a 28-9 win over Team Willamette.

Gates will open at 3 p.m. Saturday, with food carts on site. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

Tickets for the game can be purchased at lesschwabbowl.com/tickets. The game can also be streamed online, at a cost of $10, at lesschwabbowl.com. 

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