What we learned in Week 6 of Oregon high school football

Here's what stood out during the sixth weekend of action

The Oregon high school football season continued last week with Week 6 action around the state. Here's what stood out during the sixth weekend of action. 

Photo by Leon Neuschwander 

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North Medford escapes trap, readies for SCFC showdown at Sheldon

Since North Medford lost its opener against Tigard, the Black Tornado have been on a roll, winning five in a row to be part of a three-way tie atop the South Central Football Conference standings.

Their latest victory — 30-9 at Roseburg — wasn’t as easy as the score would appear against a one-win Roseburg team. The visitors led just 14-9 entering the fourth quarter before they took advantage of three Roseburg turnovers to secure the win.

North Medford coach Nathan Chin discounted any thought his team overlooked Roseburg with a massive showdown at Sheldon looming this week.

“We know Roseburg is always a tough place to play regardless of the circumstances,” he said. “They have a group of kids that play hard, and we got ourselves into some situations in the first half that we did not convert. Our kids were resilient to stay together and get the win.”

The Black Tornado have ridden their defense to their 5-1 start, posting two shutouts and allowing just 177.5 yards and 11.5 points per game.

Two-way standout AJ Pugliano and linebacker Jeremiah Robbins were known quantities entering the season, but they’ve gotten contributions from many players, including ball-hawking safety Tate Snyder (six interceptions) and interior linemen Trey Kennedy Coleman and Connor Trinca.

“Our front seven plays hard, and if one person gets additional attention, then another has an opportunity to make a play,” Chin said.

That defense will be tested Friday at Sheldon, where two years ago the Black Tornado came close to knocking off the Irish (37-35) after beating them 48-16 at Dennis Ludwig Stadium during the COVID 2021 spring season.

Last year, Sheldon won 42-6 at Spiegelberg Stadium — North Medford’s only SCFC defeat — and Chin still rues an early goal-line opportunity his team missed that could have changed the momentum of the game.

“In the last two years, we’ve had our opportunities against Sheldon,” he said. “The keys to this game have to be eliminating the big plays they are capable of making and playing a complete game. Offensively, we have to take care of the football and be effective in both the run and pass game. We have playmakers all over the field, so we need to utilize them throughout the game.”

Liberty looks in the mirror, fixes flaws to emerge as Pacific contender

Liberty entered the season as one of the sleeper teams to make a deep run in the 6A state playoffs after their semifinal appearance in the inaugural Columbia Cup last fall.

Back-to-back losses to Sunset and Tigard in Weeks 3 and 4 stunted that momentum a bit, but the Falcons have found their way again, proving they will likely be the team to challenge undefeated Sherwood in the Pacific Conference after a dominant 51-14 win at Newberg.

Liberty coach Eric Mahlum credited Sunset and Tigard as “solid, well-coached teams that played us very well,” but he also acknowledged that the losses “helped us look in the mirror to fix some things that needed to be fixed. We’ve done a better job preparing our players the last two weeks, and our players were locked in coming into conference play.”

Mahlum also said his team has developed depth players, and that depth showed against Newberg, which was 4-1 entering the game. The Falcons have four players who have rushed for between 240 and 340 yards, and three of them — Tanner Steinbach, Mitchell Denniston and quarterback Reid Linkmeyer — were among the six who ran for touchdowns Friday.

“I feel it’s hard to key on any one of our players,” Mahlum said. “We just did a good job keeping them guessing as to how we were going to attack on offense. We had a ton of respect for them watching their film. Our players just had a great week of practice and were ready to go.”

The Falcons also held Newberg to its fewest points of the season, allowing just 76 rushing yards and 195 total, with Mario Page recording two sacks and returning a fumble for a touchdown and Mitch Mahlum making three tackles for loss.

“Definitely our most complete game of the season,” Coach Mahlum said.

Central Catholic bides its time as rivals beat up on each other

After No. 2 West Linn and No. 3 Tualatin duked it out Thursday night at West Linn, top-ranked Central Catholic quietly went about its business the following night in Gresham, dispatching the winless Gophers 49-7 to post its 26th consecutive Mt. Hood Conference win. 

Rams coach Steve Pyne did what he could to test his team in nonconference play, scheduling games against Bellevue (Wash.) and Jesuit, but once MHC play begins, he faces a familiar dilemma — getting as much as he can from games against often overwhelmed opponents (all four MHC games have ended with running clocks).

One advantage to Central Catholic’s schedule is that it has allowed the team to integrate several newcomers into the program.

Standouts such as Dexter Foster (Roosevelt), D’Marieon Gates (Jefferson) and Landon Kelsey (Ridgefield) arrived on campus over the summer, and each has had moments to shine during the Rams’ 6-0 start. 

“They have all been great,” Pyne said. “They are great people and have fit in well with the team and embraced what we are doing.”

Dexter Foster (Central Catholic) photo by Leon Neuschwander 

The Rams have been able to weather the loss of junior wideout Zhaiel Smith, who sustained an ankle injury in Week 4 against Nelson and sat out the past two games against Reynolds and Gresham. 

Pyne is hopeful Smith can return this week against Barlow, and with games against Clackamas and David Douglas to follow, he’ll have time to get Smith up to speed before the 6A state playoffs kick off Nov. 3.

“We can only play the schedule we have, so we are preparing for whoever we have that week and trying to simulate situations we may encounter in the playoffs during practice,” Pyne said. 

Caldera finds itself in IMC playoff mix in program’s second season 

Caldera coach Mike Mitchell emphasizes to his players the importance of building the program “brick by brick.”

The first bricks were added to the foundation last year, when the Wolfpack played their first varsity season and finished 3-6.

This season, the foundation has grown significantly. Caldera has already exceeded its win total of a season ago, with its 21-8 victory at Ridgeview improving its record to 4-2 entering an Intermountain Conference game against Bend this week that suddenly has playoff implications.

“We realize that, but we are really trying to keep our kids focused on ‘one brick at a time’ and improving every time we go on the field,” said Mitchell, who has coached at eight high schools with a 152-166 record since starting his career in 1969.

“So far, we feel we are getting better each time out, so we will count them up at the end and see where we stand.”

Mike Mitchell (Caldera) photo by Max Rhulen  

Mitchell worried in the offseason when his defensive coordinator, Kevin Feist, left the program. Mitchell brought in Neil Elshire, who played for Mitchell at South Albany in the late 1970s before heading to the University of Oregon and the NFL, and another coach with NFL ties in Jeff Bridewell to join offensive line coach Sal Cesario, a former NFL lineman. 

“I think the addition of these three NFL guys made our kids realize we have some serious plans as we grow into a contender,” Mitchell said.

Elshire took over for Feist and has helped with developing players such as junior Ethan Perkey, who led the IMC with 58 tackles through five games. Bridewell has worked with junior quarterback Tommy Morris, who threw for 159 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens.

Most important, the program invested heavily in its offseason weight training program over the summer. Mitchell noted how the team went from having just three players who could bench 200 pounds to more than 20, and the Wolfpack have seen the dividends of that offseason work paid this fall.

“That is substantial growth in that short of time,” he said. “Obviously, we have much more work to do, but the work ethic has been established.”

Scappoose coach reflects on career milestone, Cowapa title race

While Mitchell recently celebrated his 150th victory, Scappoose coach Sean McNabb is now at 201 and counting following his team’s 41-0 win over Seaside that left Scappoose alone atop the Cowapa League standings.

“Two hundred means I have been around for a while, for sure!” said McNabb, who has a 201-73 record in 24 seasons at Scappoose. “I reflect on the previous head coach, Keith Eeds — I was an assistant for him for six seasons, and he was a great mentor. I owe him a lot for the trust he put in me.

“It also makes me think of the great players who have come through here. Some of them have kids that I teach now. The community, the admin, the players and the staff that we have, Scappoose has been a great place to teach, coach and raise a family. I also think about my wife, Mary, and our three boys, all the games she would take them to, and then of course getting to coach them. What a ride!”

Scappoose returned to the Cowapa last year after spending four seasons in 5A. Before leaving the Cowapa, Scappoose had won four of the past six league titles — including their final season in 2017 — and losing to Tillamook in the de facto league championship game last year has motivated the team to bring the title back home this fall.

“Finishing second to Tillamook didn’t sit well with our guys,” McNabb said. “Our group started talking about bringing the trophy back as soon as the season was over. It’s a huge deal to our group to be league champs. Our strength coach, Joe Nowlin, has done a great job in the weight room. Everyone buys in and puts in the work.” 

That includes Joe’s son, Max, a junior in his second season as the starting quarterback. He’s already approaching his full-season numbers of a year ago in half the games, throwing for 1,544 yards and 18 touchdowns and completing more than 72% of his passes (140 of 194).

Max Nowlin (Scappoose) photo by Dan Brood 

To think, McNabb wasn’t sure Nowlin would be the starter entering camp last year after Nowlin didn’t play as an eighth-grader because of COVID, then missed his freshman season because of injury.

“Max has worked as hard or harder than anyone we have ever had here in Scappoose,” said McNabb, who coached former NFL signal-caller Derek Anderson earlier in his tenure.

“I was very impressed by the poise and confidence he had being a sophomore. He put on 30 pounds and grew a couple of inches in the offseason, and he also got faster and stronger. He is able to get out of the pocket and extend plays this season, and this was something he struggled with as a sophomore.”

Scappoose has the annual 7-Mile War rivalry game with Columbia County neighbor St. Helens this week before Tillamook comes to town in Week 8 for what again should decide the Cowapa title.

Landgraf melds best of two coaching legends in Marist Catholic’s 5-1 start

Charlie Landgraf had two of the best coaching mentors possible before landing his first head coaching job this year at Marist Catholic.

Landgraf was an all-state center at Jesuit under Ken Potter in 2012-13 before walking on at the University of Oregon, playing on the 2019 Pac-12 champion team as a senior.

He returned to the Portland area in 2021 to complete his master’s degree, spending the past two years as the offensive line coach at Central Catholic working for Steve Pyne.

His experience being around two of the state’s all-time greats has helped him succeed another legendary coach (Frank Geske) at Marist Catholic, where Landgraf has the Spartans off to a 5-1 start and in the hunt for a second consecutive Oregon West Conference title.

“I am constantly taking things I learned from them and implementing them here at Marist,” Landgraf said after his team’s 50-0 win over Cottage Grove. “The biggest thing I took away from my time playing for Coach Potter was how to create a strong culture within the program and the importance of holding everyone to the same standard. Your best players need to be your hardest workers. It’s something the players have bought into down here at Marist. 

“From Coach Pyne, it was a lot of the management aspects of being a coach that you don’t really think about until you have your own program — things like a calendar, offseason program, weekly game-planning. Spending time with him and seeing how he operates year-round was very beneficial to me.”

Geske’s departure wasn’t the only change at Marist Catholic, which saw most of its lineup turn over this year because of graduation and transfers. Landgraf had a hidden gem in senior quarterback Nick Hudson, who had only a handful of snaps under his belt entering the season.

Toss in the addition of the Bidwell brothers, Brady and Aaron, from Churchill, and the Spartans passing game has soared.

Hudson has thrown for 1,653 yards and 25 touchdowns, with Brady (39 catches for 444 yards and seven touchdowns) and Aaron (16 for 339 yards and six scores) his top two receivers.

“I can’t say enough good things about Nick,” Landgraf said. “He is one of the more talented passers in the state. He has a strong arm, is very intelligent, but more than anything is a really good kid. Looking at his development throughout the year, I think the game has just slowed down for him. He is seeing the field much better and is becoming more comfortable in the system we have in place.

“And the Bidwells have been tremendous additions to our team, not only for their ability on the field, but their leadership has been so valuable to us. Both Brady and Aaron have such good size, athleticism and ball skills — that allows us to create some advantage matchups. Add in Kaden Erlenbush, Christian Guerrero and CJ Giustina, and we feel really good about the guys we have on the perimeter.”

Now, the Spartans enter the teeth of their league schedule, with Philomath up first this week, followed by fellow 3-0 teams Cascade and Junction City to finish. 

“Heading into the last part of the regular season, it is just going to be important for us to stay locked in on our process,” Landgraf said. “We talk a lot about the things it takes to win football games, and so making sure we do those things consistently will be important for us.”

Dayton wins battle of bruisers in first of two critical PacWest clashes

The PacWest Conference schedule-makers did Dayton no favors with the quinella they dealt the Pirates midseason.

In back-to-back weeks, they had to face the other two unbeaten teams in the conference standings. They survived the first matchup, outlasting Scio 36-12 in a bruising contest matching ground-and-pound powers, and now get Santiam Christian this week in a game that should decide the conference title.

The Pirates led just 14-6 entering the fourth quarter, then scored 22 points in an eight-minute span to blow the game open.

“The difference was the ability of our student-athletes to remain focused and executing the game plan for four quarters,” coach Jacob Peterson said. “We have played a lot of tough teams this season, and we are tested.”

Senior running back Zach Smith (184 yards and four touchdowns) and quarterback Boston Hodges (161 rushing yards) got the headlines, but Peterson reserved his praise for the grunts on the offensive line — seniors Camilo Medina and Cannon Capener on the left side and junior center Corban Sanchez, right guard Garrett Stahl and right tackle Cash Yount.

“Camilo has been incredible, Cannon and (tight end) Morgan Gallagher have powered a big offensive showing, and the junior linemen have stepped up this season to make this offense go,” Peterson said.

“Scio was one of the best defensive fronts I’ve seen and very well-coached. But our dedication in the weight room showed, as we were able to continue grinding down Scio and ultimately break two 50-plus yard runs.”

Now, the Pirates make the bus ride to Adair Village to take on Santiam Christian, which runs a one-back offense led by senior John Coiner (1,018 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) that presents a different challenge from the Loggers’ Diesel attack.

“Football is always about matchups,” Peterson said. “I have the utmost respect for the Santiam Christian program. They will battle until the very end. We will look at their strengths and try to put our athletes in the best position to match them.”

Blanchet Catholic wipes away memory of winless 2022 with 5-1 start

One of the state’s best turnaround stories has taken place just east of the Highway 213 exit off I-5 in Salem.

A year ago, Blanchet Catholic suffered through an 0-8 season during which the Cavaliers were outscored 348-112. It was the second winless season during a five-year span that saw them go 8-33.

While co-coaches Michael Trevino and Justin Hubbard knew things would improve this year, neither could have foreseen the Cavaliers’ 5-1 start that includes last week’s 28-12 victory over Colton, a Tri-River Conference co-champion and 2A state semifinalist last season.

“We knew we would be a better football team, but to what extent, we didn’t really know,” Trevino said. “It was a combination of factors. Our returning starters have really stepped up their game. Our offensive line has been together a few years now and has allowed us to do some things on offense we haven’t been able to do. Defensively, we just understand the game much better than we did last year. That lets us focus on the physical part of the game.”

The Cavaliers also have a quartet of running backs — seniors Corben Guerra, Hap Freres and Holden Prince and junior Phalen Arnold — who rotate through the backfield to stay fresh. Each averages around 54 yards per game,

This week, though, the Cavaliers face their stiffest Tri-River test when they play host to Regis, which shared the conference title last year and features 2A’s highest-scoring offense (55 points per game) led by senior quarterback Kollin Schumacher (1,846 passing yards, 31 touchdowns).

“They are a great football team,” Trevino said. “Watching film, it is hard to find a spot to attack on offense. Defensively, we have to defend the whole field. We just have to continue to play our style of football — be aggressive on defense and play smart and methodically on offense. Controlling the pace of the game will be huge.” 

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Instant analysis: 10 things to know from Week 6 of Oregon high school football

Our Week 6 predictions: How did we do?