FOOTBALL GAME-BY-GAME PREVIEWS
COTTAGE GROVE LIONS (1-5) AT STAYTON EAGLES (2-4)
■ Game facts: Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., 757 W. Locust St., Stayton
■ What2Know: After earning their first win in almost two years, the Lions had back-to-back losses against top-10 teams in Cascade and Marist Catholic. This week, Cottage Grove travels north to face a Stayton team that’s lost four in a row.
■ Pierre’s take: Cottage Grove, Stayton, and Sweet Home are the bottom three teams in the Sky-Em League. The Lions already took down Sweet Home thanks to QB Gavin Grogan’s heroics. While Stayton should be the favorites in this one, the Lions should be competitive if they play well.
CRESWELL BULLDOGS (1-5) AT HARRISBURG EAGLES (2-4)
■ Game facts: Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., 400 S. 9th St., Harrisburg
■ What2Know: Creswell travels to face Harrisburg as both teams look to turn around 0-3 starts in conference play. Senior skill-position players Victor Giffen, Jaydon Warthen, and Asher Parsons have all had solid moments for the Bulldogs, and will need good games for an offense that’s struggled this season.
■ Pierre’s take: An 0-3 start in Mountain Valley Conference play is slightly deceptive for the Bulldogs, who have faced the clear-cut top three teams in the MVC so far. The schedule gets easier starting this week for a Creswell team that’s still looking for consistency on both sides of the ball.
SISTERS OUTLAWS (5-1) AT PLEASANT HILL BILLIES (3-3)
■ Game facts: Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., PHHS
■ What2Know: The Billies host No. 7 Sisters, the top team in the Mountain Valley Conference. Junior wide receiver Kaeden Howes looks to build off last week when he had 4 catches for 178 yds and 2 touchdowns for the much-improved Pleasant Hill passing attack.
■ Pierre’s take: Pleasant Hill had a one-point loss to La Pine last week and tries to bounce back with what would be a huge upset as it plays host to the run-oriented Sisters. The Billies defense has been formidable at times and will be tested physically Friday.
WILLAMETTE WOLVERINES (0-6) AT SPRINGFIELD MILLERS (5-1)
■ Game facts: Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., SHS
■ What2Know: After a big bounce-back win over Churchill last week the Millers now play host to Willamette, the only winless team in the Midwestern League. A physical rushing attack behind lineman Sam Keen and Nate Williams should give the Millers plenty to work with against a Willamette team that’s allowing 38 points a game.
■ Pierre’s take: Running back Connor Dye continues to make his case for Class 5A offensive player of the year after a 294-yard, 2-touchdown performance last week. Springfield should roll against the lowest-ranked team in Class 5A.
SOUTH EUGENE AXE (2-4) AT THURSTON COLTS (4-2)
■ Game facts: Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., THS
■ What2Know: Thurston hosts South Eugene on Friday as the Colts look to win their fifth straight game of the season. Thurston has won a whopping 35-straight Midwestern League games, dating back to September 2017. Noah Blair and the blazing Colts offense will likely continue that streak this week.
■ Pierre’s take: Thurston hosts a much-improved South Eugene team this week, though much-improved is a relative term. The Colts’ passing attack dominated once again last week, scoring 33 points in the first half against then second-place Eagle Point. More of the same will likely be the doctor’s orders for Thurston.
FOOTBALL RECAPS
Marist 50, Cottage Grove 0
■ Recap: Cottage Grove hosted No. 7 Marist Catholic and lost 50-0. Marist took a 22-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, finishing with 17 first downs compared to Cottage Grove’s 5. Gavin Grogan had 57 yards passing, and both CJ Dugas and Chandler Houck had interceptions.
La Pine 26, Pleasant Hill 25
■ Recap: Pleasant Hill fell to 3-3 with a tough loss at La Pine. The Billies were led by sophomore QB Jacob Neely, who threw for 356 yards and 4 touchdowns in the loss. Two of those touchdowns were to Kaeden Howes, who finished the night with 4 catches for 178 yards and the two scores.
Springfield 21, Churchill 8
■ Recap: Springfield moved to 5-1 on the season with a 21-8 win at Churchill. RB Connor Dye had a massive game after failing to hit 100 yards for the first time all season in the loss against Thurston. Dye racked up 294 yards rushing and 2 TDs on 33 carries. Zack Sherman added a rushing TD and the Springfield defense held Churchill to only 129 yards of total offense on the night and had 3 INTs.
Millers’ top performers: Zack Sherman, 10-of-17, 72 yards, 1 rush TD; Connor Dye 33 rushes, 294 yards, 2 TDs; Kilion Phaigh, 5 tackles; Davonte Peterson, Jaevon Spencer, Jackson Babbitt, 1 INT each.
Thurston 47, Eagle Point 6
■ Recap: Thurston continued its domination of the Midwestern League, dispatching Eagle Point – which was 3-0 in league play coming in – 47-6. Noah Blair threw 3 touchdown passes in the first half: a 15-yarder to Walker Bonar, a 59-yarder to Luke Newell, and a 45-yarder to Lombel Doreen. Ethan Burkhead added an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as the Colts rolled to 4-2 on the season.
