Class 3A Special District 3 might as well be completely renovated for the 2025 high school football season.
With Cottage Grove moving back to Class 4A after its undefeated regular season last year in Class 3A, Harrisburg moving down to Class 2A after 10 years in 3A, and four of the six schools seeing coaching changes, a wrecking ball has virtually turned the league upside-down.
However, in the debris, new coaches Kenny Koberstein of Pleasant Hill and Chase Beach of Creswell – the two schools with the most intense rivalry within the league with only 8 miles separating them – have drafted new blueprints, poured the cultural cement, and laid down a new foundation.
“I give the energy, but most of all, I care about the lessons and the stories,” Koberstein said last week during a preseason practice in Pleasant Hill. “I want to give them the lessons that this game gave to me. I want them to know that this game has given me a great deal in my life, enriching it and teaching me things I would not have learned otherwise. This game will teach you a lot about how to live your life with character and with honor.”
“What Creswell can expect from me is authenticity,” Beach said while watching over his team’s practice last week at Creswell. “I’m 100% committed to my players and 100% committed to leaving it better than I found it. I tend to give everything when I coach. I was born to coach and be a part of these young men’s lives. It exceeds the wins and losses. Don’t get it twisted. I’m ready to win, too, but I will always 100% be myself first.”
Coach Koberstein
Koberstein saw himself being welcomed to the Billies’ family in January as Pleasant Hill struck quickly during its coaching search. The announcement was less than two months after former head coach Jeremiah Heacock resigned in late 2024. Heacock departed Pleasant Hill after three years at the helm with a 10-17 record. In his last season, the Billies went 3-6, finishing sixth in Special District 3.
Koberstein
Koberstein comes in with a 5-13 head coaching record. He began his coaching career in 2007 as the offensive coordinator at Molalla from 2007-10. From there, he gained offensive coordinator experience at McKay from 2012-14 and at 5A South Albany from 2014-15, where he helped the Redhawks win their second league championship. In 2017-18, he was the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Harrisburg. He helped the Eagles win the Mountain Valley Conference 2018 title and reach the playoffs twice.
Koberstein’s main head coaching experience is from two stints: 2A Myrtle Point in ’11 and 6A South Eugene in ’19, when he helped the Axe achieve only their second winning season since 2009.
Koberstein said he doesn’t feel there will be much of a transition from 6A to 3A.
“Our staff has won conference championships at the 3A level,” he said. “We’ve made a deep playoff run there, we feel confident in our understanding of this level of ball and how to be successful.”
Billies’ blueprint
With a new revamp for the Billies, Koberstein revealed his plan for the three phases of the game.
Offensively, the focus is on players like Jacob Neely and Kai Davis, with an emphasis on putting players in positions to make plays.
“It’s going to be important for us to put our kids in a position to make plays,” Koberstein said. “For Neely, we’re going to put him in a position to have the ball … have the ball in space.”
Neely contributed all over the field last season, earning first-team all-league honors at defensive back, receiver, and punter. On the defensive side of the ball, he was a Class 3A honorable mention all-state pick.
Koberstein said he’s been focusing on active listening, accountability and grit to develop bonds with his new players. PHOTOS BY ADON ECCLES
“He’s the kid where I’m like, ‘Why doesn’t this kid touch the ball 20 times a game?’” he said. “He’s explosive; he’s special. There were games last year where he would get the ball eight times and score twice. At a certain point, the math is not very hard there. He’s going to have the ball in his hands more this year than he has in the past. For him, I think of what I learned over time, ‘It’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s the Jimmys and Joes.’ Putting your kids in a position to be successful is the main thing we’re trying to do.”
Davis assumed the Billies’ lead ball carrier role as a freshman last season. He’ll return as the featured back, expected to handle 18-25 carries per game.
“He’s going to be pretty well reliable,” Koberstein said. “He’s definitely shown himself. He’s got a lot of burst and is a very athletic kid – he’s explosive. Also, he’s one of our strongest kids in the weight room.”
Steven Bounds returns at quarterback after suffering numerous injuries in a December 2024 car crash. He has a firm grip on the offensive playbook, the coach said.
Koberstein and top Pleasant Hill returners at practice last week. ALL PHOTOS BY CRAIG STROBECK
On defense, Koberstein said the scheme will be more different this year than in the past.
“Our huge focus throughout these last two weeks has just been on tackling and emphasizing that everyone can do their job. Also, it’s a 3A school, so kids play both ways. Neely is still going to be an important cog as a safety.
“Lastly, for special teams, we just want to be as fun and as unique as we can. I think one of the things our coaching staff does a good job of is approaching that phase of the game the same way we approach offense and defense, and we understand it’s important.”
Creswell’s Chase Beach
While Koberstein was already shaking hands in Pleasant Hill and drawing up offseason practices, Creswell was still swimming in a pool of applicants. Beach was hired in April, nearly six months after former head coach Scott Worsham announced his resignation on Oct. 28. Worsham, who still teaches and coaches other sports at Creswell, accumulated a 25-42 record through eight seasons leading the football team. The Bulldogs went 4-5 in the ‘24 season and earned third in Special District 3.
Beach
Beach, a 2012 Thurston alumnus, takes over the Creswell helm after serving as Thurston’s QB coach last year. He has multiple coaching stints around the Willamette Valley that vary in classifications, though he has gained the most experience in the football powerhouses of Thurston and Willamette.
His coaching journey started at 6A Willamette in 2013. There, he was the wide receivers coach and JV head coach until 2015. He took on the wide receivers coach and passing coordinator roles until 2019, before helping out as offensive coordinator for the Covid-19 season at 4A Cottage Grove in 2020. From 2021-23, he was head coach at Harrisburg, his first head coaching role, and recorded a 5-21 overall coaching record.
“Being a head coach for three years at the 3A level and really building from scratch, there were a lot of things I wish I could have gone back and had more time to focus on,” Beach said about his experience at Harrisburg. “Going back to Thurston helped reignite my confidence and passion. I took a lot of time to figure out, ‘How can I melt this and gel this into what I believe it takes to be successful?’ And really, what it comes down to is, can you get that buy-in when it’s not required?
“I didn’t think that I’d be back as a head coach as soon as I am, but when things started to fall into place, I could see the dedication, the drive, and the passion that these kids have for this program. The administration and the parents, too. They all want to see this place succeed. And, man, they’ve been close so many times.”
Bulldogs’ blueprints
Beach said that offensively, the Bulldogs will employ a spread attack with a focus on tempo and running, featuring running back Hunter Mustin and quarterback Carson Jolliff.
“We all sort of are building this offense out with more of a 5A feel, in terms of how we’re going to spread it out,” Beach said. “We plan to use tempo to throw the ball, but we’re going to run it quite a bit ourselves.”
CRAIG STROBECK / THE CHRONICLE
Mustin is one of the top returners in the league. As a junior last season, Mustin earned first-team all-league honors at linebacker. He will be featured on both sides of the ball this season.
Jolliff is a younger quarterback, and despite this first year as a sophomore, Beach said they can depend on him. “We like his leadership ability and some of the things he can do with his arm,’” he said.
Defensively, the Bulldogs will emphasize speed, intensity, and simplify the game, with defensive end Luke Bailey and linebacker Mustin as key players.
“For defense, it’s about taking advantage of our studs,” Beach said. “Bailey is a first-team all-league returning defensive end. He is a matchup nightmare, and we really want to use his ability to get after the passer, so that means stopping the run and forcing them into passing situations. Mustin is a linebacker – a safety type that we expect very big things from. But overall, we’ve got depth at each position, which is everything in 3A.”
Beach and his players working hard in practice. ALL PHOTOS BY CRAIG STROBECK
For the special teams, Beach is looking forward to seeing the “return of a couple of standout kids” such as Coleman Breslaw, Logan Rich, and Mustin.
“We’re excited to see some of these guys get the ball in their hands and see if we can take advantage. Special teams is a third of every win.”
Developing a culture
While both coaches have their designs, what remains similar about the schools are their extended playoff droughts. Both teams have endured postseason dry spells, struggling to sustain any consistency over the past decade.
The Billies haven’t been to the playoffs since 2016, with their last league title in 2001.
The Bulldogs’ last postseason was in 2011, with no league title recorded in the past 20 years. The era has been particularly difficult for the Bulldogs, who saw the program dip down to 2A football and then back to 3A post-pandemic.
With the changes in Special District 3 this year, the chances of a successful league season are more favorable for two building teams like Pleasant Hill and Creswell. In a shrunken league where there’s no clear favorite, the title is up for grabs.
Regardless of the future results, Koberstein and Beach said they are trying to develop a culture in their programs that will make a lasting difference.
“Everything is brand new,” Koberstein said. “What’s important first is being there for them, being accountable, and pushing them outside their comfort zone, and then we’ll see kind of where the results go.”
Said Beach: “Yes, success is something that you can find by league championships, or with your name on a field, but for me, success is every single player that I’ve ever coached.”
PLEASANT HILL BILLIES 2025
HEAD COACH
■ Kenny Koberstein in first year at Pleasant Hill; 5-13-0 career record.
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 3-6 overall, 3-4 in league play … 6th in Special District 3 … missed playoffs … No. 29 in Class 3A.
GAME INFO
■ Stadium: Pleasant Hill Billies Stadium
■ Tickets: Adults ($7), seniors ($3), visiting students with ASB card ($5). … Kindergarten and below are free
TOP THREE GAMES
■ vs. Elmira, Oct. 3
■ vs. Sisters, Oct. 17
■ at Creswell, Oct. 24
Senior night
■ vs. Sisters, Oct. 17
TEAM BREAKDOWN
■ Varsity returners: 15
■ Returning starters: Offense (6), Defense (5)
TOP RETURNERS
■ Jacob Neely, WR/DB No. 17, 5-foot-10, 170 lbs, Sr.
Notes: First team all-league DB and third team all-state in ‘24 season.
■ Steven Bounds, QB, No. 4, 5-foot-10, 185 lbs, Sr.
Notes: First team all-league QB in ‘24 season.
■ Kai Davis, RB/LB No. 13, 5-foot-9, 160 lbs, So.
Notes: First team all-league RB as a freshman in ‘24 season.
TEAM STRENGTHS
■ Attitude and effort
DID YOU KNOW?
■ The Billies’ last state championship was in 1974, led by head coach Bob George. The Billies went 11-1-0 that year and George totalled a 50-42 school record from 1971-79
CRESWELL BULLDOGS 2025
HEAD COACH
■ Chase Beach in first year at Creswell … 5-21 career record (Harrisburg Eagles 2021-23)
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 4-5, 4-3 in league play … 3rd in Special District 3 … missed playoffs … No. 22 in Class 3A
GAME INFO
■ Stadium: Markley Field
■ Tickets: Adults ($7), seniors ($3), visiting students with ASB card ($5) … Kindergarten and younger are free
TOP THREE GAMES
■ vs. Cottage Grove, Sept. 19
■ vs. Sisters, Oct. 3
■ vs. Pleasant Hill, Oct. 24
Senior night
■ vs. La Pine, Oct. 31
TEAM BREAKDOWN
■ Varsity returners: 20
■ Returning starters: Offense (7), Defense (7)
TOP RETURNERS
■ Hunter Mustin, RB/SS, No. 16, 5-foot-11, 170 lbs, Sr.
Notes: First team all-league at both running back and linebacker in ’24.
■ Luke Bailey, DE/WR, No. 80, 6-foot-5, 220 lbs, Sr.
Notes: First team all-league defensive end in ‘24.
■ Logan Keppler, C/DT, No. 73, 5-foot-9, 270 lbs, Sr.
Notes: Forced 8 fumbles, 4 sacks, 20 total tackles in ’24.
NOTABLE NEWCOMER
■ Carson Jolliff, QB No. 13, 5-foot-11, 170 lbs, So.
Comments: Played freshman season on the JV team. Jolliff has taken control of the new offense and is improving every day. He was recently voted a team leader and will be running the offense for the Bulldogs this season.
TEAM STRENGTHS
■ Speed and athleticism in the WR/RB and DB/LB groups
■ Expected to be able to lean on the running game
Strong senior leadership in each position group
DID YOU KNOW?
■ The Bulldogs haven’t recorded a league title in the past two decades, with no state championships recorded in program history.
