Border Wars Highlight Best of the West
State powers from Alaska, Oregon and Washington collide Saturday at PGE Park in Portland.
Staff Report
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Les Schwab Best of the West – Oregon’s first high school football triple-header – will bring six of the Pacific Northwest’s top teams to PGE Park Saturday.
Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, Ore.) will tune-up for its CBS College Sports appearance against Jesuit Sept. 12 by facing Alaska’s Juneau-Douglas in the event’s opener at 3:30 p.m.
Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) and Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.) follow at 6 p.m. Bellevue has won five state titles since 2001 and owns a record of 88-5 during that span. The Wolverines are the favorite in Washington’s 3A ranks once again this season.
The final game features a pair of defending state champions as Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.) squares off with Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.) at 8 p.m. Sheldon is the defending 6A state champion in Oregon after going 13-1 last fall. The Irish have already notched an impressive win in 2008, blasting Churchill 50-7.
Skyline captured Washington’s 3A title in 2007, but will be moving up to 4A in 2008, where it is a favorite to repeat. The Spartans also won state titles in 2000 and 2005. All-State quarterback Jake Heaps and wide receiver Gino Simone comprise the state’s top pass-catch combination.
Tickets for all three games are available at Ticketmaster and the PGE Park box office.
Additional information the event and teams is available at lesschwabbestofthewest.com.