With updated OSAA Power Rankings pending after every game, things start to get tense for all the SD1 teams EXPECTED to be involved in the post season.
This week’s games include: #32 Sprague is home vs. #14 South Medford, #35 Grants Pass travels to #5 North Medford, #37 Roseburg visits # 22 Sheldon, #10 North Salem entertains #42 McNary in their homecoming game, and #4 South Salem hosts #23 West Salem. At the 5A level, #16 McKay entertains #28 Crescent Valley in Mid Willamette Conference play.
South Medford (3-1, 1-1 in SD1) at Sprague (1-3, 1-1) 7:00 pm THUR
Sprague is coming off their first win for coach AJ Robinson, a high-scoring 40-36 win at Roseburg. South Medford lost at home to unbeaten South Salem 45-21.
The Olympians will see how they operate their spread offense with a victory under their belt against a team that is bigger and more experienced than Roseburg. South Medford is also a team with a larger roster and a deeper squad directed by longtime coach Bill Singler.
South Medford will likely be very motivated as they face the Olympians, hoping to quickly recover from their stunning home loss to the Saxons last Friday. The Panthers also hope to have junior RB Kameron Rague back in the line-up. Rague did not play against South Salem after suffering an injury the week previously.
Coach Robinson says his team is getting better at running the multi-formation offense, but there is still room for improvement—on both sides of the ball. Olys QB Dukkati Witherspoon would love to have a repeat of his 200-yard passing night, as would RB Kenya Johnson, who rushed for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns last Friday. The Oly defense will face a Panther offense that rushes for better than 300 yards a game on the season.
Thursday will be senior night for Sprague footballers, in advance of Homecoming early next month. Kickoff at Olympic Stadium is slated for 7:00 pm.
McNary (0-4, 0-2 SD1) at North Salem (3-1, 1-1) 7:15 pm
The McNary Celtics are still looking for a victory, and don’t have an ideal matchup this week in facing North Salem for their Homecoming game. The Vikings are also coming off a tough 56-21 loss to North Medford last week—their first loss of the season.
McNary was short-handed last Friday at Sheldon, but the Irish were already favored after winning their first District game handily against Sprague. McNary managed just about 100 yards of offense against the stingy Irish defense.
McNary coach Connor Astley is hoping to get back his injured players for the upcoming game. Another Herculean effort will be needed by the Celts to slow down the speedy Vikings on Friday. Last week, North Salem RB Jamahl Wilson had two rushing TDs (14, 99 yards) and a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the loss to North Medford. The Vikings also had a pair of linemen nicked up last week, and hope they will return for Homecoming.
The Friday game at North’s Littlejohn Stadium is slated to begin at 7:15 pm.
West Salem (1-3, 1-1 SD1) at South Salem (4-0, 2-0) 7:15 pm
Both West and South are coming off significant victories last week. The Titans overcame a sloppy start to seize control Thursday at home vs. Grants Pass—claiming a 49-14 win. Quarterback Kaden Martirano, RB Ian Herber and WR/DB Evan Wusstig all had good games. Wusstig was actually fantastic, with three TD catches, and an 89 scoop and score on a fumble recovery to begin scoring for West.
South Salem made the long trip to Medford and thumped a quality South Medford team 45-21, racing out to an early 14-0 lead. Saxon senior QB Athan Palmateer was the leading passer and rusher for South, the ground game was solid through-out the contest, and the defense was stellar, with Jacob Nemecek recording a pair of interceptions, including a 48-yard pick-six to keep the team unbeaten.
South is decidedly the more experienced team, and the difference in this game may come down to which team—the Saxons or Titans—control the game defensively. Should be a good one for fans who make their way to South’s Caldarazzo Stadium on Friday night.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 pm.
Grants Pass (1-3, 0-2 SD1) at North Medford (3-1, 1-1) 7:00 pm
The visiting Cavemen are coming off a decisive road loss to West Salem, while the Black Tornado claimed a road victory against previously unbeaten North Salem. North Medford QB Traeger Healy completed 23 of 28 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns, Tight end AJ Pugliano caught three TD passes and jumped on a blocked punt for a TD in the victory.
Grants Pass is a young but athletic squad. The question will be can they line up against a very intimidating offensive and defensive front presented by North Medford.
Unless GP has some sort of clever scheme on both sides of the ball, the advantage for this upcoming game goes decidedly to North Medford. The only Tornado loss, which came in the season opener at Tigard, was caused by numerous turnovers. It appears they have gotten most of those fumble and interception issues out of their system.
Kickoff for the game at Spiegelberg Stadium in Medford is set for 7:00 pm on Friday.
Roseburg (1-3, 0-2 SD1) at Sheldon (2-2, 2-0) 7:00 pm
After coming up just short in a rally at home last week vs. Sprague, the Roseburg Indians travel to Eugene Friday to take on defending district champion Sheldon—which is back after losing two straight non-league contests to open the 2023 season.
Roseburg is among the group of young teams in Special District One action this season. They haven’t won a game since the opening victory at Beaverton, but were impressive in the 40-36 loss to Sprague. Junior QB Owen Bentea threw five touchdowns for the Indians.
Sheldon only managed a pair of field goals in their first two games against Mililani High of Hawaii, and Oregon 6A champion West Linn. They have throttled both Sprague and McNary in the last two games, scoring 99 total points in those contests.
There may not a team in the District that can slow down Sheldon RB Mana Tuioti, who runs up 70 or 80 yards on have a half-dozen carries, then plays the rest of the night on defense as a linebacker for Sheldon.
Roseburg needs to get off to a good start offensively, and hope they can slow down the Irish enough to forge a victory.
The game at Sheldon High in Eugene begins at 7:00 pm.
5A Crescent Valley (2-2) at McKay (3-1) 7:00 pm THUR
Thursday is Homecoming for McKay High School. Homecoming Court will circle the football field at halftime with music playing, before a King and Queen are announced. In the meantime, there is a football game to be played.
McKay (3-1) comes in to the game just behind the two unbeatens in the 5A Mid Willamette Conference—Silverton and West Albany. The Scots snagged a big win last week, shutting out winless Woodburn 35-0. The game was essentially over at halftime. Scots QB Kyrin Fuimaono passed for 257 yards and three touchdowns on 11 of 14 throws. RB Joel Sanchez had 151 yards passing on just four carries with two TDs—one of them for 81 yards.
Crescent Valley (2-2) is coming off a heatbreaking 27-26 home loss to previously winless Central.
Coach Brandis Piper was very happy with his team’s focus in the Woodburn victory, and is hopeful the squad can duplicate that success this week, despite all the Homecoming festivities.
Kickoff for the McKay-CV game is at 7:00 pm Thursday.