Dirk Knudsen: OregonPreps.com

Time for OP to review the boys who remain in the playoffs and what they are up against this week as the playoffs open up! Boy there are some match ups going down and this is a year where you just have to appreciate the teams who have remained perfect while at the same time cheer for those who want a shot at the crown.  Here is a look at the match ups and some of the very best athletes on each team.

Oregon 6A Football

Reynolds at  Lake Oswego; 7 PM Kick Off:   No one is giving Reynolds a shot and with good reason as LO is perfect and has gathered together some migthy fine boys on this years squad.  But they have a rising star in Soph QB Josh Schleining who has over 2000 yards passing and 22 TD’s.  But the youngster also has 15 Picks and is a work in progress.

For LO:  Well we know that Steven Long is headed to PSU as one of the great RB’s in Oregon history.  But this squad also has Alew Matthews at QB, Turner Young at OL/DL, Zach Walen At TE/LB, Stevie Coury at WR,  Jack Anderson, Mitch Lomax, Noah Peterson, Grant Taylor and kicker Harrison Greenberg who can all move on and play collegiate ball.  And there are others too.  Yikes!

West Salem V Barlow at Mt Hood CC; 7 PM Kick Off:  West Salem has been battered a bit over the course of the season and are playing without their true QB.  But still it will be a hard fought game that they can win.  They are led by Lochlin Deeks the powerhouse MLB/DE/OG who has several offers and is still looking at his options and behind him is super Junior Matt Sommer at 6’5″, and 290 pounds.  The Titans are led by Brenden Shaffer.

Barlow is a good athletic team that under the more then capable leadership of collegiate talentCampbell Summerfield at QB could win this game.    Big plays and trunovers will dictate.

Lakeridge goes to Roseburg; ; 7 PM Kick Off:  Lakeridge is battered and bruised and we really feel for them and especially Tommy Knecht  their star Qb who is out.  Tommy will go on the Collegiate ball as will star Blake Dutton.  Can Blake lead the Pacers against the #7  team in the State?  Well no doubt they will have their hand more then full.  Roseburg is led by Josh Cole at Slot and Db and he is certainly one of the top athletes in the State.

Cenntennial AT South Medford; ; 7 PM Kick Off:  SM is coming into the playoffs really hot.  Jack Singler will be looking to take to the air and he and Matt Retzlaff the amazing WR and he are both heading to the Collegiate ranks.   AJ Weinke is a super sophomore RB and DB for the eagles and he will try and create problems along with the Centennial option attack but it likely will not be enough.  And what a bus ride.  Ouch!

Sprague at Tigard; 7 PM Kick Off:   Well Sprague is 5-4 and they get the pleasure of comign into Tigard and playing a Tigard team that is still flying a little under the radar.  The Tiger three headed monster running game that is Kaz Greene, Zach Floyd, and Benny Wick will be tough to stop.  All three of these under classmen can play in college as can transfer student QB and budding D-1 DE Sam Stelk.

Century at Southridge; 7 PM Kick Off:  What a great season Century has had.  Despite all of that Southridge is really rising fast and as we said a few weeks ago are not showing any signs of stopping.   Reza Aleaziz is a D-1 Qb prospect at this point and with Devin Martinezdeveloping as a starting RB and Justin Calo and Kevin McClean catching balls this Skyhawk team looks scary.  Not only that but the toughest OL we saw all year was Nathan Leddige and with him is 6’8″ Sean McGill and Sophomore sensation Will Eteaki.  This is a loaded Southridge squad and they are young!

Sunset at Tualatin; 7 PM Kick Off: This is a great looking battle.  Both teams have big play potential players and have showed signs of toughness and the ability to win.  They are very closely matched.  Sunset brings on the field multiple athletes who can strike fast led by Dane Poorman at QB, Reggie Coulter at Slot/WR, Cole Abdie at WR/Slot, Ian Banks Clark at WR and Junior Bruce Jones who is settling in to a star role at the Tailback spot.  Stephen Hordes andDavid Fennell are the big biys up front.  All can play at the collegiate level.    Tualatin is led by stalwart two way future Collegian Brady Watts at RB/LB who is one of the premier 2-way stars in the Pacific NW.   A battle of deep roster sand solid teams.

McMinnville at Jesuit; 7 PM Kick Off:  Well the Grizzlies had a nice run and made some moves this year.  But this Crusader team is back and healthy and no team boasts more collegiate level talent.  Nicholas Rothstein (PSU) should be back at QB/DB and JR AJ Glass was the top rusher in the State at 6A. WR  Adam Winterling has an Air Force offer and is getting more interest.  Then the Crusader line has several multi offer potential kids including Andrew Kirkland, Austin Griffin, Max Rich, Mike Ralston, Dom Mori, Dom Baldocchi, and Doug Brennerwho is a beast at DL.  Spencer Payne (Grizzlies RB) is a legitimate talent but may be held to a very low production night by a fired up and now healthy Jesuit squad.

David Douglas @ Westlinn; 7 PM Kick Off:  West Linn has played at the highest level with many of the State’s best.  Mason Finnerty (ath) has been unstoppable this year and the Lions feature super Junior recruit Evan Voeller at OL and Cam Keizur who is a 6’5″ 300 pound nightmare to deal with up front.  Ben Trussell is another college bound Lion.  For the Scotts Marcell Frazier is a two way phenom and has major college offers.  He is joined by collegiate level talentLamarcus Smith-Pharr and a host of other athletes.  This game will be a battle of tow good teams.

Oregon City Hosts Crater; 7 PM Kick Off:   What a great year for the Pioneers who gave LO a good battle, beat Southridge, and lost to top rated WL by 1.  Trevor Dye (WR) and Landon Martinez (QB) have been hooking up for a couple years now and this has been a special pair all season.  Dye is also a terrific defender and had 2 picks last week.  Crater is known for toughness and we are going to find out if they can come to the Metro area in the playoffs and win.  Senior Chance Fahndrich is averaging 105 yards a game rushing and will dig in behind a solid line.  6’2″, 195 pound Safety Cory Wynant has 6 picks and may be locked down on Dye all night so watch that match up tonight.  The Comets average 235 rushing and 150 yards passing.

Aloha at Thurston; 7 PM Kick Off:  Well will Thomas Tyner play or won’t he?  Game time will tell us more.  If he does the game tips to the Warriors.  Otherwise this is a night that Thurston could advance.  There are so many star players here that we will simple list a few.  Aloha:  Ryan Russo (RB/DB)  Sheldon Prince (WR/DB) Thomas Tyner (RB) Johnny Horton (WR) Bryson Sullivan (DE/TE) Brayden Kearsley (OL/DL)  AJ McCollum (OL/DL) Michael Kluge(OL/DL) Lenana Meekisho (FB/LB/Kicker)  THURSTON:  Trevor Westover (DB/RB/WR)  Devin Chappell(WR/LB/DB) Chad Olson (QB- 2600 yards).  The Colts have been puting up 500 yards a night.  So while they may have fewer star power players that Trio is in a word Potent!

South Salem @ Central Catholic; Jeld Wen Field; 7 PM Kick Off: Ahh to hear football cries ringing from Jeld-Wen Park bring back memories of why the place exists.  Sorry Soccer fans!  Now thsi is a rematch of last years game game and this time the CC Rams want revenge.  This is a terrific game and on paper many are giving this one over to the Rams for sure.  But the Saxons feature Maximo Espitia Jr. (CAL) and like the great Colt Lyerla did Max can dictate the pace and outcome of plays anytime he touches the ball.  He is that special.   He and WR Kyle Moore led the Saxons.  The Rams feature All American Alex Balducci at OL/DL (DE-Oregon),Jacob Nall at DE (PSU), Dallin Leavitt  JR Safety(BYU), Beau Duronslet JR(RB/Slot/DB), Fergus Frederickson JR (DE), Tyler Nagae Sr (NT), Hayward Demison SR (RB),  Xavier Griggs JR (LB),Tye Collier SR (CB), and super sophomore Aidan Wilder (QB/DB).

Grants Pass Vs Grant at Lincoln HS; 7:30 PM Kick Off:  Well can you say Generals?  This team is loaded. Period and they are playing great football rigth now.  Paris Penn QB (PSU) is the best 2 way player in the State next to Espitia and is joined by long time playing mate and Army All American nominee Jamar Graves WR (PSU).  Add in there Daniel Halverson (PSU) a 6’3″, 235 pound FB/LB and his little brother Nathan who is a top RB/Slot/C for 2013 and you have power and skill.  Senior Johnathan Haley is getting it done at WR and DB and on his way to the collegiate ranks too.  Then there is LJ Sly Cain who has made an amazing personal journey to Grant from not the best circumstances.  LJ is special and has speed, agility and a 40″ vertical to boast.  If he gets his hands on the ball look out.  Also watch Bryant Peek Junior RB who has been starting on and off all season and is looking to lead the Generals next year too.  The Generals line has been solid this year and they have good size.  Something that has hurt the Generals in the past.

Westview at Canby; 7 PM Kick Off:  Canby is tough and that offense in this weather is going to be a challenge for th Cats.  But the Westview boys have proven that even though many wrote them off they had some figth in them and are shoiwng their pride.  Look for Senior RB Jordan Bacon to run to the open spaces for the Cats as the fastest back in the State next to Tyner.  Evan Sanders QB leads a Cougar team that posts 250 yards a game rushing.

Lincoln VS Gresham; 4PM at Lincoln:  A close game of two scrappy teams.   Devaunte Hoffmanof Gresham is dangerously fast and is one of the top Juniors in the Region.  Look for Lincoln to push pure athlete Koleman Vance to carry that rock now as he has apparently moved into that position where he could be a force.  Usiah Aisea is a 6’0″ 260 pound Freshmen that is exploding onto the scene for Lincoln and has all the markings of a D-1 DE.  This should be a hard hitting affair.

Clackamas at Sheldon; ; 7 PM Kick Off:  Irish.  Irish.  Irish.    Averaging almost 500 yards a game behind the arm of Dillon Miller Sr QB the Irish are a team most schools could never dream to assemble.  SR. Ryan Land has almost 800 yards rushing, Conor Strahm (JR) has 965 yard receiving, Mitch Carman Sr. has 675 yards receiving.  Sam Mccaskill, Tanner Zent, andDawson Housely are three Seniors heading to college and all are leading tacklers in an defense that is nothing short of stiffling.  Kameron Canaday OL/DL just was offered by PSU and Montana and EWU are on him too.

Too much Irish here.  can anyone beat them?

WOW that took some effort!  I’m sweating.  Ok.

FOLLOW THE SCORES, GAME TIMES AND BRACKETS RIGHT NOW HERE

Please Make Sure to Like Us On Facebook, Listen to NWPR Radio, Twitter, Check Out the NWPR You Tube Channel