Lane County prep football teams open postseason play

Lane County prep football teams that have qualified for the postseason play first-round tournament games Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7 and 8, with one exception — top-ranked Triangle Lake earned a first-round bye and plays Nov. 15.

Here’s the roundup. 

6A 

Mountainside at Willamette, 7 p.m. Friday

The Wolverines, the No. 4 seed in the 16-team championship bracket, face No. 13 Mountainside in the first round. Willamette (9-0) ripped through the regular season without a loss — and, in fact, had only one game all season that was decided by less than 10 points, a 19-10 victory on the road at West Salem Nov. 3. The Mavericks, from Beaverton, bring a 6-3 record to Friday’s game. Mountainside’s three losses all have been to teams in the championship bracket.

5A

Bend at Thurston, 7 p.m. Friday

The Colts (9-1), winners of Special District 4, entertain the Lava Bears (4-5) in Friday’s first round. No. 5 Thurston has rolled to eight straight victories and has relied on a stingy defense that has held four opponents to less than 10 points. No. 12 Bend finished fourth in the Intermountain Conference and gave up more than 30 points a game. If Thurston wins this game — and if Churchill pulls off an upset at Lebanon — the second round would feature a Thurston-Churchill rematch.

Churchill at Lebanon, 7 p.m. Friday

The Lancers, the No. 13 seed in the 16-team tournament field, travel to No. 4 Lebanon for a first-round battle. Churchill (6-3) finished second in Special District 4, but the 8-1 Warriors, who haven’t lost since the first week of the season, will pose a challenge. The good news for the Lancers is that their defense is playing at a high level — the team posted two shutouts to close the regular season.

4A

Stayton at Junction City, 7 p.m. Friday

No. 8 Junction City entertains No. 9 Stayton in what should be a closely fought first-round game. The Tigers (6-3) boast a defense that’s held five opponents to 10 points or less, including a 17-10 road win last week at Marist Catholic. Stayton (7-2) plays the same way, with a defense that’s posted four shutouts this season — but with an offense that can put points on the board; the Eagles have scored 40 or more points six times this season.

Marist Catholic at Estacada, 7 p.m. Friday

No. 11 Marist travels to No. 6 Estacada for its first-round game. The Spartans (4-5) are underdogs here, but the team has won three of its last four after a rocky 0-3 start to the season. The Rangers are 6-3 and had won four of their last five games before stumbling last week at home against Cascade.

3A

Pleasant Hill at Cascade Christian (at Crater High School), 7 p.m. Friday

The No. 16 Billies have a tough task in their first-round game: The team travels to Crater High School to take on top-ranked Cascade Christian. Pleasant Hill, 7-2, ran off seven straight wins before falling last week at Madras. Cascade Christian, 9-0, is scoring an average of 55 points a game and is allowing an average of — you’re reading this right — about five points a game. (Four of its nine wins have been shutouts.)

Gervais at Siuslaw, 7 p.m. Friday

The No. 5 Vikings (7-2 overall) entertain No. 12 Gervais in their first-round game. Siuslaw has racked up six straight wins since a 57-0 loss to (you probably saw this coming) Cascade Christian. The Vikings, the winners of Special District 4, have a potent offense, averaging nearly 40 points a game. Gervais (6-3) doesn’t have that type of scoring firepower, but plays stingy defense — it’s held opponents to 10 points or less six times this season.

2A

Oakland at Lowell (at Pleasant Hill High School), 7 p.m. Friday

The No. 8 Devils are on a roll: Since an opening week loss at Oakland, Lowell (8-1) has run off eight straight wins — and Friday’s game gives the team a chance to avenge its sole defeat. The Devils combine a high-powered offense that’s scored more than 50 points a game with a stingy defense that’s held opponents to 10 points or less in five games. No. 9 Oakland is 4-4, and has dropped its last two games by a total of 79 points.

1A (6-player)

Crow at Dayville-Monument-Long Creek (at Dayville High School), 1 p.m. Saturday

The No. 9 Cougars (6-2) hit the road for this first-round game against Dayville-Monument-Long Creek. (It’s a trip of about 250 miles.) Crow is scoring more than 38 points a game, and gives up about 17 — and has shut out four teams this season. The No. 8 Tigers can score as well — 35 points a game — but give up about 24. The winner moves on to a second-round game against No. 1 Triangle Lake, which earned a first-round bye.