Prep sports preview: Regular season winds down for Lane County teams

We’re heading into the final weeks of the prep football season, and while some Lane County teams appear to be a lock for the playoffs, others could benefit from a big win to bolster their postseason resume — or just to wind up the season on a positive note. 

Game of the week

Thurston at North Eugene, 7 p.m. Friday

Both the Colts (6-0 league, 8-1 overall) and the Highlanders (3-3 league, 4-4 overall) wrap up their regular seasons with this rivalry game. Thurston, No. 7 in the Oregon School Activities Association rankings, seems assured to advance to the playoffs. North Eugene, No. 26, seems unlikely to see postseason action — but a win against a crosstown foe would be a nice way to end the year.

Here’s the rest of this weekend’s sports schedule for Lane County’s prep teams.

Football 

Thursday, Oct. 23

• Alsea at Mapleton, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24

• Sheldon at Grants Pass, 7 p.m.
• Willamette at North Salem, 7 p.m.
• Thurston at North Eugene, 7 p.m.
• Churchill at South Eugene, 7 p.m.
• Springfield at Crater, 7 p.m.
• Cottage Grove at Sweet Home, 7 p.m.
• Philomath at Marist Catholic, 7 p.m.
• Crescent Valley at Junction City, 7 p.m.
• Pleasant Hill at Creswell, 7 p.m.
• Madras at Elmira, 7 p.m.
• Brookings-Harbor at Siuslaw, 7 p.m.
• Oakridge at Toledo, 7 p.m.
• Lowell at St. Paul, 7 p.m. 
• Mohawk at Perrydale, 7 p.m.
• Jewell at Triangle Lake, 7 p.m.
• Days Creek at Crow, 7 p.m.
• McKenzie at North Douglas, 7 p.m.

Volleyball  

Thursday, Oct. 23

• Eugene Christian at McKenzie, 6 p.m.
• La Pine at Pleasant Hill, playoff match, 6 p.m.
• Douglas at Siuslaw, 6 p.m.
• Lowell at Culver, 6 p.m.
• Triangle Lake at Mohawk, 6 p.m.
• Junction City at Marshfield, 6:30 p.m.
• Marist Catholic at North Bend, 6:30 p.m.
• South Eugene at Sheldon, 6:45 p.m.
• Thurston at North Eugene, 6:45 p.m.
• Crater at Springfield, 6:45 p.m.
• Eagle Point at Churchill, 6:45 p.m.
• Willamette at North Medford, 7:15 p.m. 

Saturday, Oct. 25

• Lowell at home, playoff match, opponent and time TBA
• Crow-Northwest Christian at Mohawk, 9 a.m. at Harrisburg High School

Wednesday, Oct. 29

• 6A first round state playoff games, teams and times TBA
• 3A first round state playoff games, teams and times TBA
• 1A first round state playoff games, teams and times TBA

Girls soccer

Thursday, Oct. 23

• La Pine at Pleasant Hill, 4:30 p.m.
• Sisters at Creswell, 6 p.m.
• North Eugene-Triangle Lake at Ashland, 6:30 p.m.
• Elmira at Siuslaw, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25

• Springfield-Mohawk at Crater, 1 p.m. 

Monday, Oct. 27

• Marist Catholic at North Bend, 4 p.m.
• La Pine at Elmira, 4:30 p.m.
• Junction City at Marshfield, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

• Thurston at Eagle Point, 6:30 p.m.

Boys soccer

Thursday, Oct. 23

• Springfield at Thurston, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25

• Thurston at Eagle Point, 1 p.m.
• Springfield at Crater, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 27

• Marshfield at Junction City-Harrisburg, 4:30 p.m.
• South Umpqua at Creswell, 4:30 p.m.
• Marist Catholic at North Bent, 6 p.m. 
• North Eugene at Ashland, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28

• Siuslaw-Mapleton at Pacific-Bandon, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 30

• Elmira at Sisters, 7 p.m. 

Cross-country

Thursday, Oct. 23

• Cottage Grove, Mapleton, Siuslaw at The Run for the Brownies, Sandpines Golf Links, Florence. Races begin at 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

• South Eugene, Willamette, Sheldon at 6A-7 Southwest Conference Championships, Lane Community College. Races begin at 2 p.m.
• Churchill, North Eugene, Springfield, Thurston at 5A-2 Midwestern League Championships, Oak Knoll Golf Course, 3070 Oregon Highway 66, Ashland. Races begin at 2 p.m. 
• Elmira, Mohawk, Triangle Lake at 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 Championships, Cheadle Lake Park, 37941 Weirich Drive, Lebanon. Races begin at 3 p.m.