West Linn-Lake Oswego: Position-by-position advantages (defense)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The No. 1 Lake Oswego Lakers and No. 2 West Linn Lions face off this week in the season's most-anticipated matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams are loaded with high-end talent, elite coaching staffs and come equipped with unbeaten records.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, where do these teams have an advantage over the other?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frankly, those edges are minimal, but there are a few.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive side of the ball may be the most difficult to sort through, as each team has a blend of bonafide superstars and emerging talents that could develop into major prospects in their own right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the position-by-position breakdown of who has the edge among each position group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/west-linn-lake-oswego-position-by-position-advantages-offense/"><strong>West Linn-Lake Oswego offense advantages</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive line: West Linn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn's 3-4 front isn't the biggest group, but they are incredibly quick and athletic, providing plenty of disruption in the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1529840' first='James' last='Johnstone'] defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1660158' first='Mason' last='Perkins'] are the group's headliners, but&nbsp; Grady Coyle and Avery Ducsik are also key talents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego was tasked with replacing Oliver Macy and Lusiano Lopez in the offseason, and that's a difficult task.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Those guys were really special," Lake Oswego coach Steve Coury said. "Lusiano was a great player.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1246545' first='Josh' last='Christensen'] is an impactful edge-rusher, while [player_tooltip player_id='1525160' first='Jackson' last='Graetz'] is among the state's best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams are stout up front, but the Lions' ultra-athletic front is among the state's most disruptive groups.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebacker: Lake Oswego</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams have excellent linebacker play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn inside ‘backers [player_tooltip player_id='769922' first='Zach' last='VandenBrink'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1234610' first='Cole' last='Dickson'] are two of the best in the state, while edge [player_tooltip player_id='769921' first='Silas' last='Reynolds'] and sure-tackler [player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'] provide plenty of pop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reynolds is an elite athlete, while Homes, a sophomore, is emerging as a potential dominant force down the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego counters with senior [player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'], arguably the best linebacker in the Northwest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future Washington Husky is a tone-setter and has a chance to be the Defensive Player of the Year in Oregon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1059015' first='Justin' last='Craigwell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='402422' first='Rowen' last='Lewis'] are back from last year, and the experience shows, as both are playing at an all-conference level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='937338' first='Cash' last='Wilks'], Ethan Uecker, Harrison Rabb and Eamon Mooney provide depth, but that undersells their impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego is absolutely loaded with quality tacklers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive back: Push</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's absolutely wild that this position is a “push,” because West Linn starts with elite coaching as well as preseason All-American [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'], who could go down as the best defensive back the state has seen in the past decade-plus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='914291' first='MJ' last='Kennybrew'], Kenny Ritchie, [player_tooltip player_id='1121755' first='Tyson' last='Donnerberg'], Caden Seymour, [player_tooltip player_id='1609758' first='Jake' last='Hamper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='937113' first='Shane' last='Peters'], an all-state return man, all provide quality coverage and depth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego is the only team in the state with the firepower to hang with West Linn's stellar group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1234612' first='Jalen' last='Bauman'], another all-state return man, is a returning all-state defensive back who looks the part of a first-team'er this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1169947' first='Hudson' last='Gasperson'], a San Diego commit, is also a returning all-state performer who has taken it up another notch this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That duo is flat-out special.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->