2009 State Football Finals

A nice thing about state finals, versus BCS votes, is that there really isn't any reason to debate who the best team in the state is.  The best team won on the field.  However, I actually heard a radio announcer say Jesuit outplayed Sheldon.  Of course he said he didn't want to take anything away from Sheldon.  Excuse me, but S-C-O-R-E-B-O-A-R-D.  

6A: Sheldon led wire to wire. The final score consists of all phases of the game, not just one guys incredible running.  What about Jesuit's special team muffed punt? What about Sheldon's long kickoffs and Jesuit's bobbling of most of them? Did Sheldon outplay Jesuit in special teams?  What about the Sheldon defender stripping the ball out of a Jesuits player's hands?  What about the incredible speed that Sheldon can put up points?  What about Sheldon's O line not giving up a sack?  Overall, it was close, but Sheldon outplayed Jesuit.

5A: I was once again impressed by Hillsboro's D.  Their lateral motion to get to the ball was incredible, and their DB's were always close enough to bother the receivers.  And there was almost always just enough pressure on the QB to take away the easy throws.  As often times happens in the semi's or finals, the trailing team had to pass but wasn't really a passing team.  The championship game was not the time for Jefferson to be forced into developing a passing game as Hillsboro D wasn't going to let the Jeff QB sit back and throw.  Jeff's QB Elisonoa Aluesi was 7 for 25 with two picks and a TD.  The Democrats longest pass went for just 20 yards.  Jeff's explosive running game was held to 4.6 yards per carry.  That would be great in the pros, but not in high school.  Hopefully we will see Hillsboro and Marist face each other next year.  Hillsboro's Colt Lyerla versus Logan Silver from Marist.  That would be fantastic.  

Marist's championship run was similar to Jesuits 6A season in 2006.  Not much competition.   Jesuit's closest 2006 playoff win was by 34 points in the first round that year.  Jesuit beat Sheldon by 58 in the quarters, Canby by 42 in the semis and Southridge by 49 in the finals.   Marist's 2009 playoff wins were by 62 over Cascade, just 8 over Central, then 35 over Ontario and 39 over Baker in the finals.  Except for the Central game, you can say Marist was totally dominant this year.  Marist graduates a ton of Sky-Em all leaguers, but they will be able to fill 9 slots with returning all stars.  Some of the names you are probably already familiar with: RB Logan Silver, LB (and great baseball player) Will Swindling and Matt Devereux.

Other than finding out who makes all state in football, it's time for baseball to start.  I'll watch a little hoops - I've already seen Springfield - but mostly I'll be driving by the cages at Swede  hoping to hear that 'ping' of the ball coming off of the bat.

OSAA Championship Committee Update - Nov 23

The OSAA Championship Committee met on November 23rd.  Here's the current thinking :

6A Thurston, Sheldon and South Eugene will drive up I-5, past six teams in the Central Valley Conference, past six teams in the Metro League, and past eight teams in the Pacific conference to play Grant and Lincoln.  Redmond will also be in this 6A 'Hybrid' league.  Two teams are guaranteed playoff spots, with all others eligible for one of 14 at large spots based on 'power rankings'.  (Don't fret, it's hard not to make the 6A playoffs.  28 of 44 teams go to state.  Almost 2 out of every 3 teams.

5A  The new 5A MWL is guaranteed two playoff teams.  The 5A teams are Churchill, Marist, Marshfield, North Eugene, Springfield and Willamette.  The teams that don't make the one or two seed will be eligible for one of nine 'at large' berths based on power rankings.  It's likely that the 5A MWL will have three or four teams at state every year as 54 % of all 5A teams will make the playoffs.

All in all, I like the set up.  I just think it is weird that after all of the effort to set up leagues to 'play locally' that our 6A teams will drive past three leagues to play 'hybrid league' games.  I also think there are too many 'at large' berths.  But having 9 and 14 'at large' slots will make it harder for teams to say they got cheated than if there were just 4 or fewer 'at large' berths.  All the Power Rating Gods have to say is, "Man, you had a chance to make one of nine (or 14) slots.  It's not like we only had two slots and we gave them to Notre Dame and Texas because they have tradition."

I also like it that the Eugene-Springfield schools are not  driving over Sexton Pass to play games in the winter and early spring.  Over time, a lot of games would have been rescheduled, and that's a real hassle for players, officials, coaches, AD's and parents.  

My only other thought is that I think they should cut the playoffs down to 16 teams.  High school ball isn't the pros with TV income, and $10,000,000  in gate attendance for one game.  Cutting back to 16 teams at each level would put 800 student's minds and seats back in the classroom for another week which would be a good thing.  Even at 16 teams, almost 40 % of the teams at the 4A-5A-6A level would make the playoffs.  Let's see: in some schools 90% is an A, 80 % is a B, 70 % is a C, 60 % is a D, and 59% or less is an F.  We are sending D and F teams into the playoffs.

Note: The OSAA Championship Committee has not finalized this plan and is still taking input.  Here's the link to the document OSAA CC Meeting.  If you read the OSAA minutes different than I do, or if you have other comments, click on the 'comments' link below the line or email me at  mwlnow@yahoo.com

State Finals PreGame Comments

All three MWL playoff teams lost to one of the state finalists - Hillsboro and Jefferson.  Our #1 seed, Thurston, lost to Hillsboro in the quarterfinals, 27-10.  Churchill fell to Jefferson in the second round of the playoffs,   56-27.  And Marshfield lost at Jefferson 25-31 in the Pirates last non league game of the regular season.     

Jeff was 0-4 when they hosted the Pirates and haven't lost since.  Jefferson's first five games were against teams that eventually made the playoffs, including 6A Grant, West Albany and Sherwood.  How's that for a killer non league schedule.? (Now if only the SEC teams would schedule like that, instead of playing powder puff girls teams like Florida International.)

If you have a kid who is going to play varsity football next year, take him to Reeser to watch the 5A and 6A finals.  It's a lot easier for a player to think 'state finals' if they've actually seen them - visualization is a well documented technique.  But more than planting that picture in football players minds is watching the studs on the field.  Jeff's QB Eli Aluesi is 6' 6" and 220.  Four Demo linemen are in the 300 pound range and a couple more go 280 ish.    The Demo RB, Ian Perkins, has rushed for 1835 yards at a 10.6 Yard Per Carry clip!  He's a JUNIOR and the QB is a SOPH.

Hopefully, you saw Hillsboro at Thurston.  Hillsboro is a solid team with their studs Colt Lyerla (a 6'5" RB who splits out a lot), RB Mikkel Smythe and QB Dominique Mims.  The Spartans have a super D and the players are good at taking what is being given them, the pass or the run.  

The word is that Jefferson is playing very disciplined ball, which is highly unusual for the Demos.  If they play one more game without yellow flagging themselves out of the game, I think they'll upset the #1 Spartans.  It's going to be a great game with tons of players to watch.

Sheldon vs Jesuit.

I've seen Sheldon three times this year.  I started with the season opener against Churchill.  Churchill's line played with a ton of heart and showed a lot of good technique, but were just overwhelmed by the size, speed and strength of Sheldon.  I came home and told my stepson, Alex Brink, you've got to see the Irish.  I said the Irish are on a different level than anyone else and only the 2006 Jesuit team could beat them.  (The 2006 Crusaders went through the playoffs 48-14 vs Tualatin, 65-7 over Sheldon, 63-21 vs Canby and 56-7 over Southridge) .  I haven't been too far off, although I don't think the state will ever again see a team like the 2006 Jesuit team.

Sheldon had a close call against Southridge, winning 33-28.  But perhaps being on national  TV was a bit distracting.  The only other semi close game was against Aloha - a 26-13 win for the Irish.  Note that both close calls were on the road against Metro teams.  And Sheldon will be on the road (at least it's a neutral site) against a Metro team.  

Sheldon's skills guys are explosive.  QB Jordy Johnson can be compared to Tym Pearson.  But add in the magic of Merlin to escape and a better passing game - Johnson has 40 TD's to 4 INT's.  Those stats include 5 SOC teams, 2 Metro teams, Central Catholic, Lake Oswego and Canby.  You can add in another 1062 yard on the ground.  He's a must see.

Sheldon has developed several strong, explosive and extremely fast backs over the past ten years.  Cameron Abeene is this years model.  Just when you think an arm tackle is going to bring him down, he 'pops' away and is gone, just gone.

Sheldon's WR John Campbell is unknown on the recruiting circuit, but who knows why.  He's averaging 21.5 yards per catch, 23 TD catches, and 108 YPGame.  That's unbelievable.   Curtis White, the 6'5" future Duck gets the press, with 17 yards per catch, 48 YPG, and 11 TD's.  Of course White is a chiseled 6'4, 250 pound Roman warrior.

The Irish can put some beef on the field if they want to.  Drew Minor checks in at 6'3" and 340 pounds and he's on the field a lot on offense and some on D.  The Irish also have a couple of 295 pounders, but you'll usually find some 230 pound lightweights protecting Johnson, or harassing opponent QB's.  (Several linemen/LBs return for Sheldon next year.  This sets up some interesting match-ups for Thurston's Kraig Akins as the Colts move up to 6A.  Sheldon's OL/LB Sam McCaskill 6'2", 220; OL/DE Kristian Tharp 6'2", 240; and LB Cooper Strom 6'1", 210  all return.)

Jesuit's line is similar to Sheldon's, but without the huge guys.  7 players are listed in the 230-250 pound range.  The Crusaders are the last of a long string of Sheldon playoff opponents that run the ball.  Normally, the Irish rush D is Sheldon's Achilles heel.  But so far the Irish have played stellar D in the playoffs.  They have one final test against a dominant running team and it's by far the biggest test of all.   Jesuit features two star backs, Jordan Talley and Keanon Lowe.  The QB, Jeff Elorriaga, uses the running game to set up an efficient passing attack.  The Crusaders average only 113 yards per game in the air, but Elorriga has 18 TD's to just 3 INT's.   The Crusader's play exactly the type of game that matches up well against the Irish.  On D, the Crusaders have given up just 5 TD's in their last 7 games.  On O, the Crusaders average 245 yards per game on the ground.  They have a clock eating ground game, which will keep the ball out of explosive Irish hands.

The 6A final game could go a lot of ways.  Sheldon could win in a rout.  Not likely, given Jesuit's D. Or  Jesuit could control the clock with long scoring drives and frustrate the Irish.   A possibility if Sheldon doesn't score on their first two or three drives.  Or the game could be a mid range scoring affair.  I'd give the Irish the slight nod if that's the case.  This game is just too hard to call.  All I know is that there is going to be war in the trenches, and there is a ton of speed and quickness at the LB and DB positions.  I couldn't ask for more.

For 10 bucks you can take in three games - I'm going to watch the 5A and 6A games.  

You can comment by clicking on the 'comments' link below the line or email me at mwlnow@yahoo.com