Here’s what 3A, 2A and 1A coaches are saying as Lane County prep football kicks off

High school football returns to Oregon this week with the first matchups of the regular season. Ahead of those games, Lookout Eugene-Springfield spoke with several Lane County coaches to take the temperature of local programs. 

Here’s the outlook for the county’s 3A, 2A and 1A teams. (A preview story for the county’s 6A, 5A and 4A teams appeared Thursday in Lookout.)

3A

Siuslaw-Mapleton

The recap: Siuslaw went 7-3 (and an undefeated 5-0 as the Vikings won 3A’s Special District 4) before a 48-28 first-round playoff loss to Gervais.

The future: Siuslaw will add Mapleton to its name in 2026 with the addition of lineman Gabby Sweet, whom head coach Sam Johnson added to the program after Mapleton didn’t have enough players to field a team this season. He’s a welcome addition to a roster which graduated 11 seniors, including the Vikings’ starting quarterback.

That quarterback, though, missed time last season with injury. Then-sophomore Jericho Lake stepped in, and he’ll return to start at quarterback in 2026. Johnson fills out the backfield of his split-back veer offense with senior twins Dylan and Caleb Gray, who’ll also start at inside linebacker and defensive line, respectively.

Siuslaw-Mapleton faces league rival Coquille twice in 2026 — at home Aug. 28 and in the final game of the season on the road — and Vale Sept. 5 in a matchup against a team, which as Johnson said, “everyone in 3A knows is the team to beat this year.”

Notable matchup: At Vale, Sept. 5

Creswell

The recap: The Bulldogs went 4-5 (2-3 in 3A’s Special District 3) and missed the playoffs in 2025 with a sophomore and senior-heavy roster.

The future: Quarterback Carson Jolliff, whom second-year head coach Chase Beach said “has a complete understanding right now of the system,” is back for his second season as the starter.

“He’s getting a ton of work, and we’re excited to use his legs a little bit this year,” Beach said.

Elsewhere, the Bulldogs are replacing an 11-athlete senior class from the 2025 season with a roster which Beach says is notably deep with two or three viable options at every skill position. 

They’ll have four underclassmen and one junior on an offensive line Beach says has “worked their butts off” to prepare alongside that deep skill pool,which includes tight end/outside linebacker Gavin Crowl, wide receiver Logan Rich, wide receiver Mason Schartz and running back Hogan Artz.

Notable matchup: At Madras, Oct. 23

Pleasant Hill

The recap: The Billies rode a dominant offense to a 7-3 record (4-1 with a second-place finish in 3A’s Special District 3) before a first-round playoff loss to eventual state champion Cascade Christian.

The future: Pleasant Hill must replace its first-team all-league quarterback and league offensive player of the year wide receiver, both of whom were lost to graduation. To do so, head coach Kenny Koberstein is turning to senior Wylie Blake at quarterback. Koberstein said Blake offers a dual-threat ability that will expand the Billies’ options from the backfield.

Blake, who spent time across several skill positions last season, will have the reigning league offensive lineman of the year back in left guard Max Keepers alongside Ryder Swaim at left tackle. Junior Kai Davis returns behind them at running back with a wealth of experience after starting as a freshman, and should also get time at inside linebacker.

Notable matchup: At Dayton, Sept. 18

Elmira

The recap: The Falcons went 2-6 and finished fifth in 3A’s Special District 3 with a 1-4 league record in 2025.

The future: Head coach Conrad Davis said he’s fielding a three-way battle at quarterback ahead of Friday’s jamboree. Daniel Mataisz, Michael McCoy and Connor Cutsforth are in contention to start under center for the Falcons, with all three expected to take snaps Friday.

Treyson Wasak returns after starring as a freshman wide receiver, while Sam Full is expected to slot in as a flex player on both sides of the ball after getting his hand in the dirt as a defensive end last season. Jonah Cooper is moving from the offensive line to the backfield as a senior.

“He’s a Swiss Army knife that can be used in a lot of different ways, and his reply is always ‘Yes, coach,’ Davis said of Cooper. “So we know that he’s a we-before-me kind of guy, and that’s what we like.”

Notable matchup: At Creswell, Oct. 30

2A

Lowell

The recap: The Red Devils went 9-2 with an undefeated (6-0) record to win 2A’s Special District 3 before ending their season with a second-round state playoff loss.

The future: Running back Ben Thurman is back for his junior season along with first-team standout receiver Carson Ewan. Tyler Harris and Jax Norcutt will pair up on the defensive line, while Wyatt McNamee is stepping into the starting role at quarterback after spending time as a backup alongside new offensive line starter Justin Yarbrough. 

Lowell is expecting to replace nine starters — five offensive and four defensive — heading into a league which head coach Ray Yarbrough said “is going to be a lot better than it was.”

“There’s quite a bit of turnover this year,” Yarbrough said. “It’s how we’re going to handle that — the team will be interesting.”

Notable matchup: At Monroe, Oct. 9

Oakridge

The recap: Oakridge went 1-7 (0-6 in 2A’s Special District 3) and missed the state playoffs in 2025.

The future: The Warriors graduated just three seniors from a young team which head coach John Taylor said learned through a year of “close games” and “tough losses.” That sophomore class is returning for its junior season, including quarterback Rowdy Williams, who started in 2025 and also plays snaps at outside linebacker.

“[Williams] is the quarterback — he’s got a good arm and he can throw the ball really well — but he’s also a good running back and does a really good job making decisions and running with football,” Taylor said.

This year’s senior class — seven total — includes a four-year starter at center and defensive line in Logan Kusak; tight end/defensive end Colton Hamlin, who missed last season with injury after starting his first two seasons; and running back Aayden Dillon, who transferred to Oakridge before his junior season.

Notable matchup: At Lowell, Oct. 30

1A (eight-player)

Mohawk

The recap: The Indians went 2-6 in 2025, finished third in 1A’s Special District 2 with a 1-3 record and missed the state playoffs.

The future: After longtime head coach Jeff Litle and the Mustangs navigated a 2-6 season in which he said they “just couldn’t finish ball games,” Mohawk has multiple potential starters returning in 2026.

Quarterback Liam O’Dea is back for his senior season, while junior Aaron Wallace, who stepped in when O’Dea went down two years ago, is also contending for the spot. Both can play skill positions (Wallace as a receiver, and O’Dea in the backfield.) 

“I can put [O’Dea and Wallace] both on the field at the same time, and we can do some stuff with them that way, and so it’s a good problem to have,” Litle said.

Offensive lineman Wyatt Sweeney, of whom Litle says “if we can get him to play to his potential is going to do big things for us this year,” leads the Mohawk defense from the front.

Notable matchup: Home against Perrydale, Oct. 9

1A (six-player)

Crow

The recap: A “magical” 2025 season saw Crow make a run to the state final and finish 8-4. As the Cougars retool, they take on a difficult schedule.

The future: Crow graduated multiple stars from the team which took the program to the 1A state final in 2025. Head coach Nick Nevins enters his fourth year as the head coach without his two most productive players from that 2025 run, but Michael Parker will start at quarterback for the Cougars, with sophomore Aidan DeLeon returning at running back after breaking out as a freshman. Peyton Wrinkle and Brad Parker should pair up on the offensive line, with the former also an option at tight end and the latter available as a quarterback.

Nevins said that Crow’s slate is difficult, mostly because he believes that its 1A Special District 3 is “probably going to be the toughest league in the state.”

“We have got a lot of production that we need to replace, and we’ve got a lot of hungry kids trying to fill it,” Nevins said.

Notable matchup: Home against Elkton, Oct. 9

Triangle Lake

The recap: Triangle Lake was undefeated until it ran into Crow in the first round of the state playoffs after winning 1A’s Special District 2.

The future: OSAA all-state second-team quarterback Owen Mooney is back for his senior season alongside third-team linebacker Ayden Sagmoen, a rising junior. They’ll pair with a duo of rising sophomores in Leland McLain and Makiah Brown to fill out a Lakers roster which dominated Special District 2 last year. The Lakers graduated six seniors from that 12-athlete roster in 2025.

“We had a good team last year, but, to be honest, it’s a new group of kids and a new group of talent,” head coach Shane Mooney said.
“So, new team, you’re kind of starting over and rebuilding.”

Notable matchup: At Crow, Sept. 11

McKenzie

The recap: The Eagles went 1-7 in 2025 and finished at the bottom of 1A Special District 3 in head coach Willie Kumle’s second season.

The future: Quarterback Hayden Kumle is heading into his fourth year as a starter for the Eagles alongside senior running back/linebacker Rhys Hamlow. Hamlow, whom Kumle deployed at several spots, is expected to fill the shoes of now-graduated 2025 league defensive player of the year Elijah Santiago.

“You tell him to do something and ask him to do it, and he does it. Defensively, he’s our anchor,” the coach said. “He’s up for the challenge. I’m excited for him — for it. I think he’ll be a big part of what we’re doing this year.”

Notable matchup: At Crow, Sept. 25

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.