Week Three 4A Top-10 and Breakdown

Instant classics abound, players break onto the scene, a new challenger emerges from the darkness, and clarity begins to show itself. Is this the deepest–not the best, but the deepest–4A has been in a long time? There is a strong argument to be made for that being the case. Here is where we stand headed into week three:   10) Tillamook (5)   The Tillamook skill players are a unit good enough to win a state title, the line, however, is a liability. [player_tooltip player_id='738760' first='Tanner' last='Hoskins'] ran around, not out of desire but necessity, maybe not as much against Banks as he did against Marshfield, but he had to play off schedule still at a rate that is undesirable for a contending team. The good news for Tillamook is that running back Andrew White looks like the kind of back that can work through the muck and break—more like run through–tackles where needed. There is a similar feel, in a schematic sense, to 2019 Hidden Valley. Great QB and skill players that can explode on any given play, and a punishing running back that can keep the defense somewhat honest allowing the skill players to be great. But, the line has to show improvement or there is a ceiling below the semifinals for Tillamook; The Cheesemakers don't have a monopoly on skill position talent.   9) Baker (9)    Two losses to two good teams to start the season. Once Baker drops one they shouldn't, they'll drop in the rankings. Until then, the upside with this squad is still ginormous. Count them out at your own peril.   8) Ashland (n/a)   Oh hello, Grizzlies. [player_tooltip player_id='285886' first='JoJo' last='Harrower'] suddenly looks like one of the classification's best quarterbacks, and [player_tooltip player_id='152353' first='Caden' last='Negra'] and [player_tooltip player_id='893366' first='Crosby' last='Lehnerz'] look like an X and Z receiver combo that might be the classifications best. The Grizzlies might give up 30+ points regularly in league play–starting this week against Henley–but the offense might be able to outscore enough teams to make that a side note. Ashland and Tillamook are teams built in remarkably similar ways on both sides of the ball, the only difference is Ashland's line looks like it could hold its own when matchup against the top tier. A contentious game against Henley this week–nonetheless a win–would put Ashland solidly in the contenders column.   7) Cascade (7)   No breaking news here: Marshfield is a tough out. The line of scrimmage was a battle throughout–as expected–and Cascade slowly won out, in the end making it look worse than it was. Cougars host Henley in week four, which will be their “contenders or not” matchup.   6) Estacada (8)   Strong candidate for the best 0-2 start in state history. The Rangers look very good through two weeks, and given a full season to hit full stride…there's no reason Estacada couldn't be back in the semifinals with a chance to repeat. Can't commend the coaching job of Andy Mott enough.   5) Pendleton (6)   Pendleton looked the same as last week, the opponent was just better. No big drop off, no big improvement for the Buckaroos. Line looks physically imposing, skill guys are fast and long, and the team overall has a toughness to it that shows on film in a way few others can compare to.   4) Henley (4)   [player_tooltip player_id='738727' first='Logan' last='Whitlock'] is the best non-quarterback in small school football, period. What an exceptional athlete and runner of the football he has turned out to be for Henley. The Hornets played balanced and showed a level of passing efficiency becoming a championship team against Crater. Henley is dangerous.   3) Marist (3)   Is anyone going to fault or mark down the Spartans for losing in the most emotionally charged, high profile matchup the state has to offer in the entire regular season? Nobody should or could with any degree of seriousness. Marist is a top-tier team and a true contender with probably the best quarterback in the classification, a dropped pass in overtime doesn't change that.   2) Scappoose (2)   A little close for comfort, but the job got done. Scappoose showed a depth problem that could be an achilles heel in a month or two, but for the moment they're still at the top. In a potential state championship matchup with Mazama, this Estacada game could be looked at in retrospect as where Scappoose truly won or lost a title. Scheming around a lack of depth, or developing depth, might be the biggest challenge for Scappoose moving forward.   Others: Seaside (n/a),  La Grande (n/a)   1 ) Mazama (1)   Not time to panic yet, but definitely time to start planning for a world where Mazama isn't at the top of things. Ashland and Henley are going to present similar if not the exact same problems to the Vikings as Eagle Point did, and both of those squads are significantly better than the 5A Eagles. Mazama's defensive improvement, specifically in space, is going to be a big thing to keep an eye on moving forward.

Instant classics abound, players break onto the scene, a new challenger emerges from the darkness, and clarity begins to show itself. Is this the deepest–not the best, but the deepest–4A has been in a long time? There is a strong argument to be made for that being the case. Here is where we stand headed into week three: