2022 State Semifinal & 6A Title Game Predictions

I recently broke down a hypothetical quarterfinal preview for next season. Here’s a look at the final 4 and how I would for see things playing out as of right now. &nbsp; <strong>SEMIFINALS </strong> &nbsp; #5 Tualatin @ West Linn #1   <strong>31-17 West Linn</strong> Tualatin handled the Lions on multiple occasions last year by a combined score of 84-27. This will be a completely different scenario with the recent addition of 3* QB [player_tooltip player_id="110171" first="Sam" last="Leavitt"] who made the move from Westview HS. West Linn will return one of the top underclass groups in the entire region. Many of whom gained valuable experience this past season While the T-Wolves matched up well against the Lions this past year, they lose a lot of size and experience, even with a phenomenal group of underclassmen coming up as well. This will not be the team who went and beat one of Nor Cal’s best (Menlo-Atherton) to start the year in 2021. Expect West Linn to squeak out a close league victory over Tualatin and pull away in the playoffs by a couple scores. There is still a lot yet to be determined with the Lions caoching situation. That said as West Linn has the potential of winning a handful of titles in the years ahead &nbsp; #3 Jesuit @ Central Catholic #2  <strong>  28-26 Jesuit</strong> Expect the Crusaders to field one of their best teams in school history next season. It’s a bold statement considering some of the teams they have produced, but they have big boys up front and the kids at the skill positions to boot. Central has become a state and regional power winning multiple 6A titles. They graduate a special senior class but return some of Oregon’s best, including one of America’s top TE’s in [player_tooltip player_id="104685" first="Riley" last="Williams"] and QB [player_tooltip player_id="152354" first="Cru" last="Newman"] who has some of that "IT" factor. This will come down to line play and ball control in my opinion. [player_tooltip player_id="152335" first="Liam" last="Cassidy"] 6-5 300, [player_tooltip player_id="238432" first="Roice" last="Cleeland"] 6-3 270, [player_tooltip player_id="205817" first="Sean" last="Khouri"] 6-3 270, and [player_tooltip player_id="270088" first="Sylus" last="Wallace"] 6-2 300 will lead maybe the best 1-2 punch in Oregon at RB ([player_tooltip player_id="205822" first="Payton" last="Roth"], [player_tooltip player_id="152333" first="Lonnie" last="Burt"]).  [player_tooltip player_id="110189" first="Joe" last="Merlino"] is legit and provides a nice counter for the Rams but I will take Jesuit in a close one. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>STATE CHAMPIONSHIP</strong> &nbsp; #3 Jesuit @ #1 West Linn  <strong> 34-28 West Linn</strong> This could go either way as I think the Crusaders will be that good. Seniors like [player_tooltip player_id="205818" first="Noah" last="Staley"] and [player_tooltip player_id="110579" first="Garrett" last="Speer"] are the type of guys who help you win titles, especially when already playing with a talented and experienced group. As noted, two of the top seniors in Oregon will lead the Lions in [player_tooltip player_id="110180" first="Mark" last="Hamper"] and [player_tooltip player_id="147247" first="Earl" last="Ingle"], along with D1 QB [player_tooltip player_id="110171" first="Sam" last="Leavitt"]. Much like Jesuit they will have other talented senior athletes returning ([player_tooltip player_id="270181" first="Ben" last="Winjum"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="270182" first="Hudson" last="Staats"]), who might not be high profile recruits but help you hang banners. In the end I will take some of West Linn’s ridiculous young talent to play beyond their years and be that X factor in the victory. Expect [player_tooltip player_id="152337" first="Wiley" last="Donnerberg"] to be dominant on both sides of the football and [player_tooltip player_id="152344" first="Hunter" last="Haines"] to have a 1st team all-state type season. There’s so much young talent, it’s tough to just mention a few. I will take the Lions by a touchdown in one of the best title games ever played, with West Linn projected to dominate the state in the following seasons. &nbsp;