In Class 4A football last week, Sweet Home defeated Cottage Grove 48-7, which was a boost for the Huskies after recently dropping two games. Meanwhile, Cottage Grove dropped its seventh game in a row. Chunk plays were the key to success for the Huskies, including an 80-yard touchdown by Bradyn McClure on a tap pass that he took around the right side. The Lions were down 41-7 by halftime. Cade May was the only Lion to catch a pass, and finished with 88 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown. Lions running back Declan Monahan had success on the ground, rushing for 105 yards on 22 carries.
Springfield upset Crater 41-26 last week in Class 5A football. Coach Frank Geske’s team earned its best victory of the season to spoil the Comets’ Senior Night. It was Springfield’s first win against a team with a winning record, and first against a team ranked in the top 15 of Class 5A. The Millers accomplished the feat with more of a balanced attack than had been the case all season. Last week against Eagle Point, the Millers set a passing season-high with 143 yards. On Friday, they shattered that mark, with 350 yards through the air. Adam Hernandez was the leading receiver with 156 yards. The star of the night for the Millers was Noah Solo. Solo rushed for 193 yards and five TDs, while adding 108 passing and an additional TD. He now has 493 yards and eight TDs on the ground in only his past three games.
Thurston sealed up the Midwestern League with dominating North Eugene 26-6 last Friday. The undefeated league team recorded its ninth regular-season victory for the first time since 2019 thanks to an old-fashioned ball control and defense game plan. The Colts ran for 222 yards, led by Justin Fisher’s 132. Fisher is 14 yards from 1,000 on the ground, which he should achieve during state playoffs. The Colts defense smothered the Highlanders offense, holding it to 2.8 yards per play and 1.7 yards per pass attempt. Thurston finishes atop its league for the 7th time in the past eight years, and now has a bye week before playoffs begin. The kind of stability that coach Justin Starck has provided for Thurston, with 23 years at the helm of the program, is rare and a key factor in the program’s success. He has taken the program to new heights in the past 10 years, with a 76-20 record, including back-to-back state titles in 2018 and ’19. This team looks to be one of his best, and Starck might have to find more room in the school’s trophy case.
PREVIEWS
CRESCENT VALLEY (4-4) AT COTTAGE GROVE (1-7)
Game facts: Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. … The Raiders are ranked No. 15 in Class 4A and the Lions are ranked No. 24.
What2Know: The Lions offense has to get going if it wants to end the season on a high note. It has scored fewer than 10 points in four straight games, and fewer than 20 in all seven of its losses. Crescent Valley is looking to bounce back from a low point offensively as well, after getting shut out and gaining less than 100 yards against Junction City. A very tight standings race in Class 4A Special District 3 means the Raiders have a chance at a playoff bid, but will need to take care of the Lions and hope a few other things break their way.
PLEASANT HILL (7-1) AT MADRAS (3-5)
Game facts: Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. … The Billies are ranked No. 12 in Class 3A and the White Buffaloes are No. 20.
What2Know: Pleasant Hill might be the hottest team in Class 3A, having won seven games in a row. Jacob Neely will try to top his output against Creswell, where he had 356 total yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Steven Bounds has been excellent in his past three games, with 568 yards passing and nine touchdowns on an impressive 11.8 yards per pass attempt. The Billies defense has also rounded into shape, with 20 or fewer points allowed in five straight games. Madras welcomes Pleasant Hill for Senior Night, looking to win its third game in a row after starting the season 1-5. The Billies’ first postseason appearance since 2016 seems likely, but for a league title, Kenny Koberstein’s team will need a victory in the finale.
LA PINE (0-8) AT CRESWELL (3-5)
Game facts: Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. … The Hawks are ranked No. 37 in Class 3A and the Bulldogs are No. 26.
What2Know: Bulldogs coach Chase Beach said he saw things “click” for some of his younger players in last week’s game against Pleasant Hill. Though 20 points doesn’t look overly impressive, it was the most the Billies’ stout defense had allowed in five games. The Hawks and Bulldogs have played in the season finale each of the past three years, with La Pine winning the first matchup and the Bulldogs prevailing in the most recent two. There are no playoff implications in this game, but Beach will hope his young players can build on what they showed last week and gain confidence heading into next season.
SPRINGFIELD (4-4) AT ROSEBURG (3-5)
Game facts: Friday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. … The Millers are No. 17 in Class 5A and the Indians are No. 27.
What2Know: The Millers have shown improvement since the beginning of the season. A passing attack that hadn’t managed 100 yards through any of its first three games threw for 350 on Friday. The Millers’ point differential through five games was -101; it’s +56 in its past three games. After rushing for 198 yards against Crater, the Millers are averaging 222 rushing yards per game in wins. In losses, the defense has allowed 40.5 points per game, while in victories only 18.5. The Millers have also been excellent on the road, winning three straight. Roseburg is rounding into form itself, with two consecutive victories by an average of 35.5 points. The state playoffs are possible if the Millers go all out with their last game against Crater this Friday. A strong win should push them inside the top 16 and earn a postseason berth as one of the six at-large teams.
