PORTLAND, Ore. — We're on to Round 3 of the high school football playoffs in Oregon and Washington. The tournaments in Oregon are down to the semifinals, while teams in Washington are into the quarterfinals.
Here's a look at some of the matchups this weekend:
Oregon 6A State Championship Tournament
These are semifinal matchups. Both games kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.
(4) Central Catholic vs. (1) West Linn, at Pioneer Stadium in Oregon City
Since the 2022 season ended, this is the matchup a lot of folks have pointed to as the expected championship matchup. Instead, we're getting it in the semifinals. (We talked last week about the debate over the OSAA's seeding formula). But this matchup has all the makings of a title game: a pair of undefeated teams featuring two of the most potent offenses in the state led by two of the best quarterbacks. And the defenses aren't bad, either.
Central Catholic is into the semifinals for the seventh time since 2011. The Rams made it here with playoff wins over North Medford and Lakeridge. Senior quarterback Cru Newman threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 81 yards and two scores, accounting for all six of the Rams' touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Lakeridge. He's surrounded by a mixture of stars, both seniors and underclassmen. Sophomore running back Tyson Davis scored two touchdowns, while sophomore tight end Andreas Nicolaidis caught five passes for 50 yards receiving and a score.
Defending champion West Linn arrives in the semifinals after victories over West Salem and Jesuit. Junior quarterback Baird Gilroy accounted for four touchdowns rushing and passing in the first 20 minutes of the game, helping West Linn jump out to a 38-0 lead as the Lions cruised to a 59-14 win over Jesuit. The Lions' defense had three interceptions against Jesuit.
These two teams have split their last four playoff matchups, and the winner has gone on to win the state title in each instance. West Linn won in the 2016 championship game and in last year's semifinals. Central Catholic won in 2014 and 2019, both quarterfinal matchups and would go on to win the state title in both seasons.
(3) Sherwood at (2) Tualatin, at Hillsboro Stadium
Our second semifinal matchup is also a good one: the state's top defense facing off against one of its most potent offenses.
Sherwood is back in the semifinals for the first time since 2015. The Bowmen got here with wins over Oregon City and Tigard. Running back Treyson Eddleman ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns in the win. But the defense has been the headliner for this Sherwood team. Evan Morris and Keaten Fried both returned interceptions for touchdowns while the Bowmen only allowed only 122 yards of offense in the 43-0 shutout victory over Tigard. It was Sherwood's eighth shutout of the season. That includes a streak of seven straight during the regular season. In fact, they only gave up 28 points total in the regular season.
After an 8-1 regular season (the loss was to West Linn), Tualatin made it to the semifinals with wins over Roosevelt and Nelson. In his second game back from a broken collarbone, junior quarterback Nolan Keeny threw for 316 yards and six touchdowns for the Timberwolves. He's already got 679 passing yards and nine touchdowns in these playoffs, which come after he missed the final five games of the regular season with an injury. He's the triggerman who's got a lot of receivers to throw to, including AJ Noland, who had five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns against Nelson (he also filled in at QB while Kenney was gone) and Jayden Fortier, who caught five balls for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Oregon 6A Columbia Cup
For a second straight year, the OSAA broke its 32-team playoff field in half. Seeds 17-32 are playing for the Columbia Cup. Here are the semifinal matchups. The winners will play for the Columbia Cup championship next week. Both games are on Friday, Nov. 17.
(24) Barlow vs. (21) Sunset, at Wilsonville High School, 7 p.m.
(22) Clackamas vs. (18) South Medford, at Willamette High School, 7 p.m.
Oregon 5A State Championship Tournament
These are both semifinal matchups. The winners advance to play in next week's championship. Both games kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.
(5) Summit vs. (1) Wilsonville, at Willamette University
If this matchup sounds familiar, that's because it's a rematch of last year's championship game, a 35-28 win for Summit. These teams also met in the regular season, a 35-20 win for Wilsonville.
Summit finished the regular season 5-4, but still earned the fifth seed thanks to a very strong strength of schedule. All four of their losses were to teams that are still alive in both the 6A and 5A championship playoffs. They made it to the semifinals with wins over Canby and Lebanon. Senior quarterback Jimmy Hughes threw four touchdown passes to give the Storm a 49-13 win over Lebanon.
Wilsonville is the top seed in these playoffs after an 8-1 regular season (their only loss was to 6A Tualatin). They made it to the semifinals after wins over Crater and Thurston. Senior quarterback Kallen Gutridge threw for 458 yards and seven touchdownsin the 49-21 win over Thurston. The high-powered Wildcat offense was on its game, generating 681 yards of total offense.
(3) Mountain View vs. (2) Silverton, at McNary High School
The top two defenses in 5A go head-to-head in this matchup, with both teams coming in undefeated.
Mountain View (the Bend school, not the Vancouver school) is into the semifinals for the first time since 2017 after wins over Eagle Point and Hillsboro. Sophomore running back Angel Valenzuela ran for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the 40-21 win, and the Cougars held off a second-half Hillsboro comeback to secure the win last week. Valenzuela did go down with an injury in the second half, but as of this writing, all indications are that he will play.
Silverton is back into the semifinals after getting knocked out in the quarterfinals last year (they won it all in 2021). They beat Hood River Valley and West Albany to get here. Quarterback Sawyer Teeney threw for 166 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 88 yards and a score in the 41-14 win over West Albany last week.
More Oregon games
4A Semifinals: (4) Scappoose vs. (1) Henley -- Willamette HS: Saturday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
4A Semifinals: (3) Seaside vs. (2) Marist Catholic -- Hillsboro Stadium: Saturday, Nov. 18, 4:30 p.m.
3A Semifinals: (3) Dayton vs. (2) Cascade Christian -- Saturday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
3A Semifinals: (13) South Umpqua vs. (1) Banks --Saturday, Nov. 18, 4:30 p.m.
Both 3A games Saturday at Cottage Grove HS
Washington 4A Quarterfinals
(5) Skyview at (4) Eastlake | Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.
The Skyview Storm are back in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2016 after beating Skyline 42-7 in the first round. Gavin Packer continued his hot streak with three touchdowns (a week after he scored four in the Week 10 playoffs). Eastlake got past Sumner 21-18 in the first round to set up this matchup. This will be a battle of two of Washington's best defenses facing off with strong offenses.
More Washington games
2B quarterfinals: Kalama vs. Onalaska | Tenino High School, Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
1A quarterfinals: Seton Catholic vs. Cashmere | Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.
