2023 Program Preview: Lake Oswego

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The start of the high school football season is approaching. It's time to preview the different high school football programs that you should look our for this year in Oregon. In this article, I will be previewing the Lake Oswego Lakers in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The Lakers are a part of the 6A-5 Three Rivers league conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season the Lake Oswego Lakers will be led by 32nd year veteran head coach Steve Coury, who has led the Lakers to the playoffs for over 17 consecutive years. “We've just got a great community, a great bunch of kids, so I always feel good going into the year,” said Coury. Steve Coury has served as the Lakers head coach since 1992, leading them to an impressive six state football finals and two state titles. The Lakers won the state title in 2011 and in 2018. As of the year 2022, Steve Coury has a head coaching record of 259-87 for Lake Oswego.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steve Coury feels confident and excited about his team this season. “The biggest difference between this season and last is that we're a little bit more athletic. Mark McGlouglin is our strength and conditioning coach, and he does a great job,” said Coury. “Our offseason program has been good. There was a lot of buy-in with kids.” Coury said that his squad is physically and athletically a bit better than they were in the past year. He attributes their improvement to the determination, dedication, buy-in, and hard work of his players, in addition to his strength and conditioning coach Mark McGlouglin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, the Lakers finished with a record of 7-4, including going 3-2 in league play. They had a regular season record of 6-3 and made the playoffs. The Lakers then defeated North Medford by 15 points with a final score of 28-13 on November 4, 2022 in the first round of the playoffs. Lake Oswego were then bounced from the second round of the playoffs last season. They lost to Sheldon with a final of 42-7 on November 11, 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is what coach Coury had to say about how his team performed overall last season. “The season was about what we were capable of doing, and again Sheldon was just a better football team than we were, and the score indicated that. They moved on and we went home. No shame in it. It was a great year, and we lost to a really great team,” said Coury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are three potential sleepers on Lake Oswego who could shine when given the opportunity to:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402416"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"LaMarcus Bell is a 5'10, 175-pound sophomore running back and DE. “The kid that's gonna play running back quite a bit for us as a sophomore is LaMarcus Bell. I think he's a kid you'll hear a lot of things about coming up in the future,” said Coury. Coury described Bell as a “very good player,” who has some “god given skills.” Coury mentioned that Bell has gotten bigger in the offseason, and he expects a lot of things from him. Bell's shiftiness in addition to his speed and power make him unique. LaMarcus Bell is a sleeper who could make a huge impact for the Lakers as a sophomore this year. Coach Steve Coury had high praise for him.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["285881"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='285881' first='Lusiano' last='Lopez'] is a 6'1, 210-pound junior nose guard, offensive lineman, and defensive lineman. Coury said he did well for Lake Oswego last year at the nose guard position. “He did a lot of good things and he's just kind of grown up,” said Coury. Lopez is a sizable lineman who is strong, poised, and much improved. Look out for Lopez to make a massive impact for the Lakers this season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["152359"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='152359' first='Zavier' last='Russell'] is a 5,10, 210-pound senior running back for the Lakers. “I really like him. He played last year for us, he's a big kind of a bruising back,” said Coury. “He's a guy that's had a really good offseason and he looks good in the fall.” Coury said that he expects a lot from LaMarcus Bell and [player_tooltip player_id='152359' first='Zavier' last='Russell']. He believes that they will give their squad a chance to be able to run the ball and to make some plays down the field. Russell will be one of the most utilized running backs on Coury's roster this season. He's an underrated player who is strong and powerful, who is destined to make an impact for the Lakers this year.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64f264f51390a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five players that standout on Lakers head coach Steve Coury's roster this year:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["511788"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='511788' first='Tobia' last='Tagliabue'] is a 6 '1, 220-pound senior offensive lineman and linebacker. He's a sizable lineman who has what it takes to play at the next level. He is strong, big, and athletic. Tagliabue was regarded by coach Steve Coury as a team leader. When describing Tagliabue, coach Coury had great things to say. “He spent the offseason doing all the things you need to do, I'm really anxious to watch him play. He is a leader of the team,” said Coury. Look out for Tagliabue this season, as he will indefinitely make a massive impact on the field.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["285866"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='285866' first='Liam' last='Davis'] is a 6'1, 170 pound junior quarterback for Lake Oswego. Davis is a versatile, left-handed and dual-threat quarterback who can throw on the run. His speed lets him easily outrun opponents. He started the final six games for the Lakers last season. Davis threw for 11 touchdowns and threw five picks as a sophomore on Varsity. Davis tallied an impressive 1,287 yards thrown on the season. Davis also registered a 60.53 seasonal completion percentage, completing 92 out of 152 passes thrown. He recorded 238 rushing yards, and added two rushing TD's for the Lakers. Davis will be competing for the starting quarterback position. Coach Coury believes that [player_tooltip player_id='285866' first='Liam' last='Davis'] and Mason Silbaugh will both be utilized a lot at the quarterback position this season. “Liam played last year. He came in at game three and as a sophomore started the rest of the year for us.” Coury also mentioned that there's high expectations with a guy like Davis who's had experience of playing on varsity as a sophomore.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Mason Silbaugh","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Lake Oswego","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Mason Silbaugh is a 6'3, 195-pound senior quarterback for the Lakers. Despite the fact that Silbaugh hasn't played a snap on varsity yet, he will make a difference for the Lakers. He's a sizable and strong quarterback who is extremely talented. Silbaugh will be heavily utilized this season, as the Lakers are deep at the quarterback position with Silbaugh and Davis in the mix. “Mason's had a really good off-season. He has performed well in this fall camp so I think between Mason and Liam, I think one of those guys is going to serve us at some point,” said Coury. ","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["285849"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='285849' first='Oliver' last='Macy'] is a 6-3, 205-pound junior tight end and defensive lineman for the Lakers. ”He did a good job as the year went on he got better and better. He's had a great offseason too, he got better and stronger,” said Coury. “I think that he will have an impact defensively. We've moved him to tight end, so I think that he will help us playing the tight end position too. I look for a lot of big things with him. It's time for him to step up and be one of those players that you feel in a game.” [player_tooltip player_id='285849' first='Oliver' last='Macy'] will be a difference maker for Lake Oswego this season. He is a monster on the defensive end, and is now being converted into a tight end so that he can additionally provide some offense for the Lakers. Macy's strength, size, and speed makes him stand out.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1091595' first='Matt' last='Layne']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Lake Oswego","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1091595' first='Matt' last='Layne'] is a senior wide receiver and DB who is 5'9, 170 pounds. Lane was praised by coach Coury and he regarded him as one of his best receivers. “Layne had a great year last year, he's again, one of those kids that's spent time in the offseason, He's gotten faster, and I expect a lot of great things out of him,” said Coury. A couple things that make [player_tooltip player_id='1091595' first='Matt' last='Layne'] different are his speed and athleticism. You should expect [player_tooltip player_id='1091595' first='Matt' last='Layne'] to put up numbers this year for Lake Oswego.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64f264f513ac2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego's squad this year contains a unique combination of experienced and inexperienced players who are hungry to win. With a seasoned veteran coach in Steve Coury and his coaching staff in addition to the high standard of excellence that is held within the football program at Lake Oswego, the Lakers are destined to make the playoffs this year and to compete in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's what coach Steve Coury had to say about the consistent greatness of Lake Oswego football. “There's not a good coach that doesn't have good players. That's part of it, the community we live in we've got consistent good players, but I'm really proud of the coaching staff that I have. I've got a lot of guys that have been with me pretty close to the 32 years that I've been there. Our groups are very well coached,” said Coury. Lakers head coach Steve Coury has high expectations for his squad this year. “The expectation is just to keep getting better. The goal is always the same. By game 10 to be playing as good as we've played. Our league being what it is, it's gonna be battles every week. There isn't a team once we get into league (play) in that schedule that you can sit back and just play average. You've gotta play very good every week,” said Coury. The Lake Oswego Lakers will kick off their regular season with a non-league match-up on the road against Barlow at 7 P.M., on Friday, September 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->