Class 6A football power rankings: The final lineup of the regular season

Posted by author October 30, 2024 Football

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We’ve made it to week nine, the final week of the football regular season.

And with the end of the regular season, we have the final power rankings for Class 6A football.

On Friday night, when the final games are completed, the OSAA’s computer rankings will freeze and the football brackets will be posted. The games will be win or go home, and the state’s top teams will have to put their best foot forward.

Here is a look at the state’s top teams:

Lake Oswego players celebrate in the end zone during the Three Rivers League football game between Lake Oswego and West Linn on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at West Linn High School.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive

1. Lake Oswego Lakers (8-0, 4-0 Three Rivers League)

The Lakers didn’t allow the high of a 21-17 win over West Linn affect last Friday’s game against Oregon City. Lake Oswego kept the ball rolling with a 42-13 win over the Pioneers last week. LaMarcus Bell continues to stand out as one of the state’s top running backs, with 12 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon City. He’s averaging over 10 yards per carry on the season and has the Lakers running one of the state’s top offenses.

Friday’s matchup with Lakeridge could win the Three Rivers League for Lake Oswego, in what could be one of the biggest editions of the “Battle for the Lake” rivalry game.

Oregon high school football: Central Catholic Rams vs Nelson Hawks — The Central Catholic Rams and the Nelson Hawks compete in a Mt. Hood Conference football game on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 at Hillsboro Stadium.Grant Pauli for The Oregonian/OregonLive

2. Central Catholic Rams (8-0, 6-0 Mt. Hood Conference)

The Rams are one win against Reynolds this Friday away from a 22-0 streak that stretches through all of last season. The last time the reigning Class 6A state champions lost a game was the 2022 state semifinals against West Linn.

So far, the Charlie Landgraf era of Central Catholic football seems to look at lot like business as usual.

Oregon high school football: West Linn Lions vs Tualatin Timberwolves — West Linn’s Hudson Hardy (1) celebrates a touchdown during the Three Rivers League football game between West Linn and Tualatin on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 at Tualatin High School.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive

3. West Linn Lions (7-1, 3-1 Three Rivers League)

A 56-26 win over Tualatin last Friday is a great way to respond to a four-point loss to Lake Oswego on Oct. 18. West Linn’s offense really picked things up, scoring 50-plus points for the first time since a 55-0 win over Tigard on Oct. 4.

If the Lions can continue this offensive showing against Oregon City this week, West Linn will be one of the most dangerous teams in the postseason.

Tualatin Timberwolves vs. Lakeridge Pacers Football — Lakeridge’s Marcus Post extends out to get past the end zone line during the Three Rivers League football game between Lakeridge and Tualatin on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at Lakeridge High School.Ali Gradischer for The Oregonian/OregonLive

4. Lakeridge Pacers (7-1, 3-1 Three Rivers League)

Lakeridge is on a nice run heading into another huge matchup. The Pacers beat Tigard 35-0 last Friday, showcasing the team’s offensive and defensive prowess ahead of a rivalry game against Lake Oswego on Friday.

In a district with great defenses, the Pacers’ defensive squad truly stands out at times. Lakeridge’s defense is allowing 8.6 points per game, which is the lowest in the TRL and second lowest in all of Class 6A.

5. Sheldon Irish (8-0, 7-0 Special District 1)

The Irish remain the state’s most explosive team and continue to look like contenders in coach Tyler Martell’s first year at the helm. Sheldon leads Class 6A in points scored (54.2 per game) and points allowed (7.8) and has scored 60-plus points in four of its past five games.

This Friday’s matchup against Sprague will essentially decide Special District 1.

Oregon high school football: Mountainside Mavericks vs Jesuit Crusaders — Jesuit’s Grant Valley (5) wraps up a Mountainside ballcarrier during the Metro League football game between Jesuit and Mountainside on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at Jesuit High School.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive

6. Mountainside Mavericks (6-2, 4-0 Metro League)

The Mavericks, with running back Jordan Hicks back and healthy, are one win over Beaverton away from winning the Metro League for the first time in school history. A big feat for a school only a few years into its existence. Mountainside is averaging 52.8 points per game over its last four contests and is on one of the best rolls in Class 6A.

Extra note: the Mavericks’ tight 27-20 loss to Lakeridge on Sept. 20 looks more and more impressive as the weeks go on.

Oregon high school football: Sherwood Bowmen vs Tigard Tigers — Sherwood players prepare to run out on the field during the game between Sherwood and Tigard on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 at Tigard High School.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive

7. Sherwood Bowmen (6-2, 3-0 Pacific Conference)

The Bowmen have really looked strong since opening the season on a 1-2 roll with losses to West Linn and Tualatin. Sherwood has been towed by running back Wilson Medina, who has had one of the best performances of the 2024 season. In Sherwood’s 35-6 win over Liberty on Friday, Medina had 17 carries for 206 yards and four touchdowns.

8. Tualatin Timberwolves (5-3, 1-3 Three Rivers League)

It’s been a tough run through the TRL for the Timberwolves, who have lost by double digits to Lake Oswego (45-31), Lakeridge (33-22) and West Linn (56-26). Star receiver Zhaiel Smith has been out with an injury, and it’s slowed down a Tualatin offense that relies on quick play. According to coach Dom Ferraro, Smith will be back in time for the postseason, so Tualatin’s offense will be playing with a little more speed in a couple of weeks.

9. Sprague Olympians (8-0, 7-0 Special District 1)

It remains hard to gauge how good Sprague really is. Going into week nine, the Olympians have played only two games against opponents with winning records. But being undefeated at this point in the season doesn’t come easy, so Sprague’s success this year shows that they should be taken seriously.

Of course, Friday’s matchup against Sheldon will truly be the biggest test of the year.

10. Nelson Hawks (6-2, 5-1 Mt. Hood Conference)

Coming off back-to-back wins over Gresham and Barlow, the Hawks are on a roll heading into an important matchup. The Hawks are No. 11 in the OSAA computer rankings going into week nine, playing Clackamas (No. 8). A win would likely secure a spot in the Class 6A open championship bracket for the Hawks, while a loss could move Nelson out of the top 12 (especially since the bracket will need to be restructured to fit the winner of the Portland Interscholastic League).

Oregon high school football: Wells Guardians vs. McDaniel Mountain Lions — The Wells Guardians and the McDaniel Mountain Lions compete in a Portland Interscholastic League football game on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 at McDaniel High School.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive

Honorable mention

After falling to Central Catholic 54-28 on Sept. 26, the Clackamas Cavaliers (6-2, 5-1 Mt. Hood Conference) have just been on a roll. A tight win over Barlow was followed by two blowout wins over David Douglas and Gresham. A matchup at Nelson on Friday has become very important for state rankings.

After opening the season with two losses, the Wells Guardians (6-2, 5-0 Portland Interscholastic League) have been on a roll in league play. Wells has already secured the PIL and will play in the open championship bracket this fall.

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— Nik Streng covers high school sports in Oregon. Reach him at nstreng@oregonian.com or @NikStreng