Each team matched the other blow for blow, but the Challengers could not convert a 1st down late in the game, and Dayton finishes off an undefeated season with a 34-28 win.

Each team scored on punt returns in the opening quarter and the two top ranked teams exchanged scoring for most of the contest.  With 8:01 left in a tie game, Dayton faced a 4th and goal from the 1-yard line, and quarterback Nathan Bernards took it in himself. The Challengers blocked the PAT keeping the score at 34-28.

The Challengers marched down the field and faced a 3rd and 1 with 2:22 remaining. They ran a run play, but the Pirates stuffed it. After the play, a Challenger was called for a personal foul penalty which pushed them back to 4th and 16. They could not convert the 1st down, and the Pirates were able to run out the clock and take home the state championship.

Challengers quarterback Daniel Scottow finished with 99 yards passing and three touchdowns. Running back Brandon Williams tallied 167 rushing yards. The team finishes the season at 13-1.

MEDFORD, Ore. – Building a championship team in any sport takes more than star players, but perhaps no sport values the faceless athlete like football. As Cascade Christian prepares for the 3A state championship this Saturday, Coach Jon Gettman knows his team goes far deeper than the names in the  newspaper.
“There are so many guys that you just have to say, ‘You know, I’m going to do what’s best for the team,’” Gettman says, “We ask them to sacrifice for each other, for the team, and they do it.”

One of those guys is fullback Josh Brite.
“I don’t get any glory and that’s fine with me,” Brite says, “It doesn’t bother me at all. My name isn’t in the paper so they don’t know who I am.”

His team knows who he is. He’s the guy that opens holes for that explosive run game to break through.
“I kind of take it all,” he says, “I’m a lead blocker and I get out there and I kick out for all those guys, but I love it. I love hitting people.”
“He’s a kick out on every single time,” Gettman says. “He’s leading up. It’s one of the toughest jobs that you have.”

It’s an aspect that might be missed when watching this team play. It’s easy to recognize the phenomenal talents of all-state running back Brandon Williams, but championship-caliber teams depend on guys like Brite.

“He’s a selfless kid,” Gettman says, “and that’s what it really comes down to. Really he could go on some other teams and be the man. He is a fantastic athlete.”

But as Brite said, he’s comfortable letting guys like Williams be the man.  On this team, he’s just hoping to be a champion.

MEDFORD, Ore. – South Medford’s run through the state championship was nothing short of remarkable. Their 15-point win over Westview in the March 10th title game was their 30th win of the season. So I asked head coach Tom Cole when he got over the excitement and turned his focus to this year.

“March 10th,” Cole said. “We literally drove back and we celebrated as a school, had a couple assemblies and that was great, but truly those kids starting working on the idea of next spring.”

The team knows if they want to experience it again, it will take work. For one, they’ll have to overcome the loss of all-state star Tess Picknell, who now plays for Stanford. Plus, the Panthers’ schedule is filled with top teams and extended road trips.

“It’s going to be tough,” senior Luisa Tago says, “but we’re looking forward to playing these teams. We’re looking forward to getting better, and it’s just going to prepare us for the end of the season.”

Senior Yaremi mejia says, “That we’re going to play really tough teams, that means a lot because it’s going to make us better. We don’t like to lose. Nobody likes to lose so we just want to fight to win.”

Cole says, “I think the focus for the schedule was it’s an opportunity. This schedule wouldn’t be the same if we hadn’t done what we did last year so we look at it as a privilege.”

The team isn’t looking to simply repeat last year. They’re looking to build on it.

Cole says, “We had some really unselfish players and when they play for each other as opposed to playing for themselves, they can accomplish great things. I think that precedent was set last year so they all know what that looks like.”

“Just the team chemistry we have, it’s awesome,” senior Kylie Towry says. “We all work really good together. We mesh really well, and I just want to experience it all over again because when I think about it, I still kind of get chills.”

Like Cascade Christian, the Dayton Pirates are also undefeated and currently rank first in the state in RPI. While the Challengers are treating this week of practice just like every other, fullback Josh Brite did admit he stayed up until 4:30 am on Sunday watching film on Dayton.

Coach Jon Gettman says, “They’re good kids that are extremely focused in what they’re trying to do and on their goals… They’ve been hard-working kids, and so I think it’s just that focus and that confidence in one another. They put in the time and effort, and gameday is just that time to show it.”

Dayton and Cascade Christian will play on Saturday at 4:00 PM in Cottage Grove.

The Mazama girls soccer team is preparing for the State Championship this Saturday. Hannah Reynolds is a vital part of that preparation, but the vikings senior is also preparing for the start of basketball season, where she’s a captain. After basketball, she’ll prepare for golf. All this while juggling academic honors, acting President of the Honors Society and a former Vice President of Student Council.

“It’s crazy,” Reynolds said. “There’s definitely no down time or anything. I get home and it goes to homework and then to basketball. I’m really on schedule. I don’t waste a lot of time.”

“She really is amazing because she’s somewhat of a perfectionist,” said basketball coach Joy Lease. “I can’t imagine how much sleep she gets. It’s not very much.”

The lack of sleep hasn’t affected her play on the court or field. She was named first team all-conference last year in basketball. In golf, she finished third at state.

“Each sport gives me different skills,” Reynolds said. Like in soccer I learn to see the space and the field open. In basketball it makes me quick think and quick muscle and quick twitch and all that, and then in golf I learn to be patient and deal with what happens. So of course they all kind of give each other helpful things.”

“She’s great about it,” said Lease. “I think it helps us for her to be so involved in soccer and them to go so deep into the season because she’s excited for basketball.”

The one common thread between all three sports is Hannah’s competitive drive.

“I hate losing,” Reynolds said. “It’s one of my weaknesses. You can ask people at practice. We’ll just do simple drills and I’m like, ‘I’m not going to lose this one.’ And that’s part of the reason why I am so successful in all my sports is because I don’t want to lose any of them.”

Scores and highlights from the play-in round in the 6A, 5A and 4A. Games include North Medford at Clackamas, Corvallis at Ashland and Eagle Point at Crescent Valley.

North Valley’s Tristan Burke is a big play waiting to happen, through the air or on the ground.

“We ask a lot of him,” said head coach Todd Willaman. “There’s a lot of reads he’s got to make. He’s still making plays with his feet like he has, but he’s also making good reads and getting the ball where he needs to.”

Last year Burke threw for over 2,000 yards and ran for another 600 en route to a 6-4 record and second place in the Skyline Conference. The Knights strong season came to an abrupt end with a loss to Douglas in the play-in round. That defeat motivated Burke and his teammates to get better.

“It kind of put a chip on our shoulder a little bit because we didn’t really like how last year ended,” said Burke. “We thought we could have gone a little bit further.”

They thought right. This year North Valley finished the regular season 8-1 and won the Skyline outright. Burke still exhibited that same play-making ability, but he improved in taking care of the ball.

“We talk about making chicken salad out of something and he doesn’t try to do that anymore,” said Willaman. “He knows what’s expected of him. He knows what’s going to help and hurt his team.”

Burke’s 34 combined touchdowns have certainly helped his team, but when asked about his success, he defers the credit.

“Everyone’s just been doing really good on the offensive line so it’s easier to throw the ball, and receivers are making big catches,” said Burke.

It’s hard to deny what he contributes. The quarterback brings that big play capability and a knack for getting it done in the clutch.

“I just stay calm,” said Burke. “I try not to get all antsy and freak out, and it’s worked pretty good so far.”

As the Knights prepare for the state playoffs, they’re hoping their play maker keeps on working.