5A Special District 1 POY Candidates DEFENSE

It will be interesting in Special District 1 with two 6A teams dropping down (Glencoe, Aloha) and 4A conference champion La Salle playing bigger and better competition. Glencoe will be an early conference title favorite, as they could do well in the 5A playoffs. Hillsboro is fresh off a quality 8-3 season with Forest Grove and Hood River both returning some all-league talent. Centennial and Putnam have struggled with the Kingsmen forfeiting multiple games last year.        Just like we did with 6A I will project out the player of the year candidates on offense and defense within each conference…        DEFENSE         1.[player_tooltip player_id='285879' first='Jacob' last='Thayer'] 25' LB La Salle    The returning 4A conference POY is probably the best overall player in the league. Thayer played lights out all last season helping the Falcons to five conference shutouts in a row, while outscoring their opponents 177-0. Look for the 6-1 225-pound 1st team all-state LB to make a nice jump up the rankings board when updated, finishing with 77 tackles and 5 tackles for loss.    2.[player_tooltip player_id='1103729' first='Camden' last='Roofener'] 25' DE Glencoe    Historically the Roofener name carries a lot of weight. Camden has good size at 6-3 200 pounds and could be an FCS recruit with continued growth and progression. He is a 3-sport athlete who excels as a wrestler and on the baseball field as well.   3.[player_tooltip player_id='754598' first='Carter' last='Bennett'] 25' DL Forest Grove    Bennett is the only athlete returning in Special District 1 to earn 5A all-state honors last season. He was a 1st team all-conference  lineman on both sides of the ball and will be key if Forest Grove is going to be a playoff team. With him and Fabela they have a shot, as long as they can stay healthy.    4.[player_tooltip player_id='527043' first='Brody' last='Sahlfeld'] 25' OL/DL Glencoe   Sahlfeld got hurt last year but probably has the highest ceiling of any athlete in the conference. The 6-4 255-pound prospect earned honorable mention all-conference honors on both sides of the football while projecting on offense.    5.[player_tooltip player_id='402392' first='Asante' last='Mims'] 26' DL Hillsboro   Mims started as a freshman and earned 2nd team all-conference honors last year as a season. The Spartans played well finishing 8-3 and losing in the state quarterfinals, with two of their three losses to #1 Wilsonville and #2 Mountain View. If they can match last year's performance as a team, Mims will likely be your POY.  As a sophomore he was impressive, finishing with 27 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles.    6.[player_tooltip player_id='1112462' first='Micah' last='Currier'] 26' DB Aloha    You can expect Currier to be in the mix for player of the year honors on both sides of the ball for the next few seasons. As a sophomore he led the Warriors in tackles and finished in the top 10 within the Metro with 51. Aloha will end their 2 ½ year losing streak this season with the very versatile youngster being a big reason why.    7.[player_tooltip player_id='1216522' first='JJ' last='Kuunifaa'] 25' LB La Salle   Kuunifaa was right there with his POY teammate Thayer last season, finishing the season with 79 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks. One of the top stat lines at the 4A level. He will project as an unquestioned 1st team all-league LB, receiving 2nd team honors last season.    8.[player_tooltip player_id='1104628' first='Kyle' last='Fabela'] 25' WR/DB Forest Grove   Separate from what he did on offense, Fabella was one of the state leaders in INTs at the 5A level. His size is deceptive with his overall athleticism speaking to his game. The 1st team all-league WR is equally dangerous on the defensive side of the ball and could even best last year's numbers.    9.[player_tooltip player_id='402410' first='Isaac' last='Reynoso'] 26' LB Glencoe   Potentially one of Oregon's breakout players of the year. I could see Reynoso being a 1st team all-conference guy and POY finalist this season. As most know he comes from a talented family, as the son of head coach Ian Reynoso, a former D1 talent for the Ducks.    10.[player_tooltip player_id='1103731' first='Zev' last='Reynolds'] 25' DE/OLB Glencoe      Reynolds was a 2nd team all-conference TE but projects more on D where he had an outstanding junior season. Look for the Crimson Tide to be in the mix come playoff time due to athletes like this.