Bitter ends in 2008 spur top contenders; State stocked with playmakers in Jesuit's Lowe, Lake Oswego's Coleman, West Albany's LaCoste and Sheldon's Johnson.
As football kickoff inches closer around the country, MaxPreps forecasts the top five teams in the state of Oregon for the 2009 season.
Keanon Lowe, Jesuit
Photo by Traci Flitcraft
You can bet that a pair of 2008 losses to rival Lake Oswego – including a season-ending defeat in the postseason – didn’t sit well with the Crusaders over the offseason. Jesuit, whose last state championship came in 2006, faces Washington powerhouse Skyline, aforementioned Lake Oswego and No. 3 Westview in the first five weeks of the season, but has the talent to handle such a rigorous schedule. University of Washington verbal Keanon Lowe (5-10, 170) is the state’s premier playmaker, racking up 1,287 all-purpose yards as a junior with 15 touchdowns. Linebacker Taylor Martinek (6-3, 210) and tight end Jacob Wark (6-4, 230) are both Division I prospects. Senior running back Dylan Jackson will be the featured runner after tallying over 500 yards in a backup role a year ago. Sophomore quarterback Eric Williams (6-3) could replace departed senior and brother Scott Williams under center.
2. Lake Oswego (12-1)
Jesuit wasn’t the only team feeling the sting this summer. Lake Oswego was on the verge of a dream season in 2008 until Southridge crushed the Lakers’ state title hopes in the 6A final. Lake Oswego had been dominant to that point, averaging nearly 40 points per game behind star senior quarterback Jack Lomax, who threw for 3,744 yards and 46 touchdowns. No Lomax, no problem in 2009? That’s probably a stretch but head coach Steve Coury has some talent to work with this fall. It starts with junior running back Tyson Coleman (6-2, 200), one of Oregon’s more intriguing collegiate prospects. Coleman ran for 627 yards and 15 TDs as a sophomore and caught 25 passes for 359 yards and five more scores. Will Storey (6-2, 210) is a versatile athlete being recruited to play linebacker at the next level (and was an All-State selection at that position last year), but is expected to take over the quarterback reins and is coming off a 1,000-yard receiving season as a junior. Junior Andre Lee (6-2, 245) was the only non-senior to earn first team All-State 6A honors a year ago. The Lakers open with a tough test against Portland Central Catholic Sept. 4.
3. Westview (6-5)
Don’t put too much stock into Westview’s 6-5 mark from a year ago. The Wildcats play in the rough-and-tumble Metro League (which also features Jesuit and defending state champion Southridge) and hit a skid in mid-September that resulted in three-straight losses. Nobody in the state returns more beef up front. Twin brothers Doug (6-6, 265) and Mike Saeks (6-4, 280) along with Timote Pongi (6-3, 310) – all seniors – are being eyed by Division I schools and will man the lines on both sides of the ball. Westview also might have the best receiving duo in the state with Hayes Garrity (6-3, 190) and Daniel Keel (6-1, 185), but who will be throwing to them is still a question. Seniors Matt Tyner (6-2, 185) and Colin Forman (5-10, 165) are the lead candidates. Beau Brooks (6-2, 185) and Martin (6-3, 205) and Malcolm Jackson (6-3, 175) are promising juniors that will be asked to step up from limited roles as sophomores.
4. West Albany (14-0)
The Bulldogs are back-to-back champions in the state’s 5A classification and the return of senior running back Anthony LaCoste is enough to keep a big target on the program’s back. LaCoste (5-10, 180) racked up 2,631 yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground in 2008. He topped 200 yards six times with season highs of 312 yards and five TDs against Portland Jefferson in the second week of the season. Linebacker Jeremy Lepman (5-11, 185) led the defense with 151 tackles, four forced fumbles and four sacks as a junior. Even with key departures on both sides of the ball, the Bulldogs were way ahead of the competition a year ago, averaging nearly 45 points per game and allowing just over 10. West Albany is 41-1 over the past three seasons.
West Albany's Anthony LaCoste (28) takes off during a 312-yard performance last fall against Jefferson.
Photo by Traci Flitcraft
Jordan Johnson, Sheldon
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
The Irish had big expectations entering last season, but got shutout by Washington juggernaut Skyline in the second week of the season (21-0) and never seemed to fully recover. But big things could be ahead for Sheldon – 50-10 since 2004 – behind the senior duo of Jordan Johnson (6-1, 185) and Curtis White (6-5, 240). Johnson is one of the state’s top returning QBs after throwing for 2,570 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 939 yards and 17 more scores as a junior. He has accounted for over 6,400 yards and 63 touchdowns over the past two seasons and led Sheldon to a state title as a sophomore. White is considered the Beaver State’s top 2010 prospect and has already given his verbal commitment to the hometown Oregon Ducks. As a tight end, White hauled in 61 passes for 684 yards and six scores last season. He will also play defensive end. Drew Miner (6-3, 340) and Derek Nielsen (6-4, 280) are both college prospects on the offensive line. The Irish open Sept. 4 against Churchill.
