As Lane County prep football kicks off, here’s what 6A, 5A and 4A coaches are saying

High school football returns to Oregon this week with the first matchups of the regular season.

Lookout Eugene-Springfield spoke with several Lane County coaches to take the temperature of local programs. Here’s the outlook for the county’s 6A, 5A and 4A prep football teams this season. (A preview of the county’s 3A, 2A and 1A teams is scheduled to appear Friday.)

6A

Willamette 

The recap: Willamette (10-1 in 2025) jumped to the 6A level in 2024 and ran the table in the 2025 regular season with a pair of University of Oregon commits before a second-round playoff loss.

The future: Willamette enters year three under head coach Josh Line with continuity at quarterback despite losing receiver Hunter Vaughn and defensive lineman Tony Cumberland to graduation. Junior Zeke Thomas is back under center for the Wolverines, who went undefeated in last year’s regular season and dismantled Mountainside in the Oregon School Activities Association’s playoff first round before a quarterfinal loss to Central Catholic ended their season. Line called that loss both “one of the more disappointing losses in my career” and “a growth opportunity.”

Thomas, who is committed to play at Boise State University, has a pair of receiving weapons back in Brady Barry and Knox Smith who both missed time down the stretch last year. Zuzi Alwineyan and Jonny Jenkins are expected to anchor the running game behind an offensive line returning four of five starters. Linebacker Kawai Chamberlin, an Oregon State commit, will return in the middle of the Wolverines’ defense.

The Wolverines open their season 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 with a marquee matchup at home against Lake Oswego High School, the reigning 6A state champion. The Lakers face turnover at multiple key positions, but still should offer a strong challenge.

Notable matchup: Home against Lake Oswego (Aug. 28) 

Sheldon 

The recap: The Irish, a traditional power in Eugene, went 2-7 and missed the playoffs in 2025 while “reevaluating” in the midst of staff turnover.

The future: After former head coach Josh Line left the program following the 2024 season, longtime defensive coordinator and Sheldon alum Tyler Martell took over and manned the ship as the Irish maneuvered a rebuilding season. Now, he says, they’re on a “redemption tour.”

Martell said last season’s circumstances “forces you to reevaluate things a little bit, which I think it’s always good to reset at times and really refocus on what the important things are that you need to accomplish in the program.” He says those “important things” center around “not cutting corners and holding people accountable.”

Ryker Rohaley is Martell’s chosen starter at quarterback. The junior took over in 2025 after the Irish’s starter was hurt early last season. He’ll throw to three-year starter Cameron Thomas behind an offensive line which will get Alexi Ganakis-Smith back from an injury which held him out of much of last season. Junior Cody Hall is expected to see time at running back and linebacker after he started on both sides of the ball as a sophomore.

Notable matchup: Home against Willamette (Oct. 30)

5A

North Eugene 

The recap: Despite some star power, the Highlanders were 4-5 in 2025 and missed the playoffs.

The future: All-state honorable mention safety D’Mariyae Ireland is back for the Highlanders as a senior alongside standout middle linebacker Bode Hough. Those two battled in preseason for the starting spot at quarterback; head coach Rick Raish said the player who doesn’t start at quarterback  will start at running back.

Josiah Corsini, who Raish calls “probably the best athlete we have on our team,” is back to start across the defense and in the offensive backfield for North Eugene. Drake Anderson will split time between wide receiver and free safety. Also returning for the Highlanders is kicker Mylee Johanssen, who Raish said made 26 of 28 PATs last season (with one blocked.) She’ll work with long snapper Alex Norene, whom Raish called “a phenom in how he snaps the football.”

Raish said this year’s edition is the strongest team he’s seen as a coach, “which is saying something,” he said. Several athletes will head to the wrestling team in the winter, which he thinks also helps with their tackling technique.

Notable matchup: At Thurston (Oct. 16)

South Eugene 

The recap: A rebuilding Axe program went 0-7 in 2025 in Eric Scott’s first year as head coach.

The future: South Eugene announced Aug. 25 that it would not play its 5A varsity schedule in 2026, and is exploring other options for competition.

Second-year head coach Scott told Lookout Eugene-Springfield Aug. 19 that he was focused on “rebuilding the culture” of a program he says was hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. In a follow-up interview Aug. 26, he said that the program waited “as much as we can” before making changes to its schedule, but that practice Aug. 21 drew just 13 players of the 20 or so  expected student-athletes. 

South Eugene canceled a scheduled matchup with Thurston High School last season due to low numbers — that time caused by minor injuries. Scott was adamant that the Axe will still play a modified varsity schedule in 2026.

“A lot of people think we’re canceling football altogether [or] canceling varsity. It’s not that,” he said. “We’re still going to play against other varsity teams. It’s just a schedule that we’re putting together that’s going to give us a chance to compete against teams with similar numbers to us.”

Tight end Jackson Ingram, who was set to headline the Axe’s roster, announced his transfer to Churchill High School after South’s decision Tuesday. Wideout/safety Elijah Gabriel (sidelined for preseason practice with an ankle injury, per Scott) and slot receiver Dash Fortner remain alongside running back Daniel Jetty.

Scott said South, which will operate as a de facto “independent” program, hopes to open its season next Friday, Sept. 4, against Phoenix High School, which competes in 4A, with the roster it currently has; that matchup has not yet been confirmed.

Springfield 

The recap: A 4-5 record in 2025 offered evidence of the Millers’ growing talent base.

The future: Head coach Frank Geske is entering his 39th year as a coach, and his fourth at Springfield after spending time elsewhere in Lane County and in the Portland area. This year, he has potentially his most experienced group of Millers yet. It’s anchored by several sophomores who played their first snaps under Geske two years ago and are set to become three-year starters in 2026.

Quarterback Brayden Wickersheim is expected to start at quarterback for Springfield, with a pair of wideouts in Adam Hernandez and Jackson Rich whom Geske characterized as “powerful” and “quick as all get-out,” respectively, alongside all-purpose standout Jariah Leata. Three-year starter Saul Teo returns at edge among a defense which Geske says “could be a lot better experience-wise.”

“Last year, open field was not an issue — it was red zone and goal-line stuff,” Geske said. “But when everybody this year squats 50 to 100 pounds more, and cleans 25 to 50 pounds more, it’s a different deal. We will be able to move some bodies around.”

Notable matchup: Home against Thurston (Sept. 25)

Thurston 

The recap: The Colts went 9-2 in 2025 and earned the fifth seed in the playoff bracket. They claimed an opening-round win over Bend before a quarterfinal loss to No. 13-seed Churchill ended their season.

The future: The Colts will return much of the core that delivered them the Midwestern League championship last season, including senior quarterback Emmett DiStefano and several of his receivers. 

Chief among those pass catchers is three-star recruit Leofatu Filipe, who has offers from multiple Power Four programs and senior Bodie Bonar, whom head coach Justin Starck said led the league in receiving as a junior. Starck will work with a pair of junior corners with varsity experience in Bentlee Davenport and Quinn Piquette to solidify a strong defensive backfield.

The Colts’ front-heavy schedule features a nonleague opener Friday night against Sheldon and another against West Albany before a rematch against Churchill to begin league play.

Notable matchup: At Sheldon (Aug. 28)

Churchill 

The recap: The Lancers were 8-4 in 2025 and upset fourth-seeded Lebanon in their playoff opener before beating Thurston in the quarterfinals. A loss to top-seeded Summit in the semifinals ended their run.

The future: Seven players earned all-state honors last season as the Lancers advanced to the 5A semifinal round, but six are gone to graduation. The remaining honoree, junior honorable mention Finnley Carington, should return to build on his sophomore campaign. Ingram, the tight end previously at South Eugene, is expected to join Churchill.

Notable matchup: At home against Thurston (Sept. 17)

4A

Marist Catholic

The recap: The Spartans went 12-0-1 with a 4A state title in Zach Loboy’s first season at the helm (2024) before falling to 4-6 and a first-round playoff exit last season.

The future: Senior quarterback Brody Gilliam, whom Loboy says is “entertaining offers” but is yet to commit to a collegiate program, is expected to return for Marist after a knee injury early last season. He’ll throw to Grady Hazen, the Spartans’ wide receiver and cornerback.

“I’m not disappointed in the kids,” Loboy said of Marist’s 2025 season. “They worked really hard, and I think a lot of them gave it everything they had, and so I’m not gonna say the season was a disappointment. I will say, though, that our expectation at Marist is to win state championships, and that’s what we shoot for every year. And so, in that respect, we had a season that wasn’t up to our expectations.”

Aidan Miller, who medaled at the state level in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles in 2026, is expected to join Hazen at cornerback; Gabe Dietmeyer will also play both sides of the ball as a receiver and free safety to fill out a secondary Loboy said will be “really important for us this year.”

Notable matchup: Home against Cascade Christian (Sept. 18)

Junction City 

The recap: The Tigers were 7-4 in 2025 as they won the Sky-Em League and took a first-round win over No. 9 seed Stayton. A loss to eventual champion Cascade snapped their streak.

The future: Under first-year head coach Tye Rauschert and his staff, the Tigers turned around the program and won a Sky-Em league title before bowing out in the playoffs to eventual champion Cascade in the second round. Rauschert, a Junction City alumni, is back in 2026 with several of those players with a chance to defend the Tigers’ league title.

Madix Waldrop, a senior wide receiver, will partner with sophomore quarterback Brayden Rauschert. The Tigers return just one all-state player from last year’s squad — guard Brody Woods, who is shifting over from center to facilitate Junction City’s outside run game. Waldrow also backs up a talented secondary as its safety, with Zaidensen Dodson at cornerback alongside his brother, Cashton, at outside linebacker.

Notable matchup: Home against Marist Catholic (Oct. 30)

Cottage Grove

The recap: The Lions were 1-8 in 2025 and missed the playoffs.

The future: In 2023, Cottage Grove dropped down from 4A to 3A and went 9-1. It’s been back in 4A since then with little success against an improved field, and will need to take a jump in 2026 in order to solidify its program.

Notable matchup: At Marist Catholic (Oct. 9)

Weekend schedule 

The 2026 Lane County prep football season gets underway Friday, Aug. 28 with a handful of games. Here’s the weekend schedule:

Friday, Aug. 28

• Thurston at Sheldon, 7 p.m.
• Lake Oswego at Willamette, 7 p.m.
• Churchill at Canby, 7 p.m.
• North Eugene at South Albany, 7 p.m. 
• Coquille at Siuslaw-Mapleton, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 29

• Ione-Arlington at McKenzie, 1 p.m.