CRESWELL AT LA PINE
■ Game facts: 7 p.m. Thursday at La Pine, 51633 Coach Rd. … Bulldogs (5-3); Hawks (7-1)
■ What2Know: After Creswell’s messy win at Pleasant Hill, the Bulldogs travel to face the top team in the Mountain Valley Conference. As the Bulldogs lost to Sisters, and therefore don’t own the head-to-head tiebreaker, the only way for Creswell to make the playoffs is to grab the singular at-large bid for Class 3A. While the Bulldogs don’t hold the spot for that at-large bid, an upset win at No. 6 La Pine could prove enough to clinch the playoffs. Either way, Creswell needs a cleaner performance on offense to win at La Pine.
■ Quotable: “I hope we can find a way. This team is definitely, I think, a state playoff-worthy team and it’s just, you know, it’s in our control. If we win, I think we’re in,” said Creswell head coach Scott Worsham. “I think defensively we got to do what we did against Pleasant Hill … Offensively I think we’re gonna have to probably score three or four touchdowns to win.”
COTTAGE GROVE AT HIDDEN VALLEY
■ Game facts: 7 p.m. at HVHS, 651 Murphy Creek Rd., Grants Pass … Lions (0-8); Mustangs (2-6)
■ What2Know: Cottage Grove’s final chance to grab a win this season comes at Hidden Valley on Friday. The Lions knew coming into the year it wasn’t going to be easy, but nonetheless a winless season would be a letdown for head coach Joe Polamalu. Hidden Valley is a winnable game for Cottage Grove, but a defense that has allowed 42.5 points a game this year will need to have its best game of the season.
SIUSLAW AT PLEASANT HILL
■ Game facts: 7 p.m. at PHHS, 84455 N. Enterprise Rd. … Vikings (6-2); Billies (3-5)
■ What2Know: While the Billies were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their loss last week to Creswell, the team still has a lot to play for. Pleasant Hill’s final home game of head coach Jeremiah Heacock’s first season sees the Billies host the defending 3A champion Vikings. The Billies could play spoiler for Siuslaw with a win, and end their season on a high note after losing five straight games.
SPRINGFIELD AT EAGLE POINT
■ Game facts: 7 p.m. at EPHS, 203 N. Platt Ave., Eagle Point. … Millers (5-3); Eagles (6-2)
■ What2Know: As Springfield has the head-to-head win over Churchill, the Millers should have a postseason spot locked up for the first time since 2015. After a rough showing last week at home, however, Springfield will want momentum heading into the postseason. Springfield now travels to face Eagle Point and star running back David Brown. If the Millers are going to upset the Eagles at home, they’ll need a stout run defense after giving 239 yards to North Eugene last week. On the offensive side, Springfield will need ability to control possession themselves with Connor Dye’s running.
CHURCHILL AT THURSTON
■ Game facts: 7 p.m. at THS, 333 58th St. … Lancers (3-5); Colts (6-2)
■ What2Know: Anyone who thought Thurston might not be 5A contenders after an 0-2 start were woefully mistaken. The Colts have been on a rampage since then, winning six straight with a total win margin of 147 points. One of those six wins was a forfeit as well, meaning Thurston has won its past five games played by an average of 29 points. The Colts welcome the Lancers from Eugene, and a win for the fourth-ranked Colts would almost surely secure home-field advantage until the semifinals of the playoffs.
