West Linn Lions: A look at Oregon’s 6A semifinalists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The West Linn Lions are the No. 1-seed in the Oregon 6A playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And for good reason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn is 11-0 and outscored opponents 478-171 this season, an average of 43.5 points vs. 15.5 points per game, including wins over Sumner (Washington) 31-24, Camas (Washington) 41-0 and Lake Oswego 38-16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But who are they?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at the Lions ahead of their 6A semifinal game against the Central Catholic Rams (7 p.m. Friday at Sherwood High School).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn entered the season with a lot questions, but plenty of hype, after losing 11 first-team all-league performers to graduation from a season ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the Lions have hit the ground running, and have largely dominated their opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To some extent, junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='937233' first='Sloan' last='Baker'] has been a microcosm of that performance.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A first-year starter, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound signal-caller was the Three Rivers League offensive player of the year, throwing for 2,185 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and an additional 399 yards and 4 scores on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='769989' first='Viggo' last='Anderson'] has been special in spurts this season, accumulating 492 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'] has burst onto the scene as an offensive dynamo this fall - with 480 receiving yards and six scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is joined in the talented deep receiving corps by senior [player_tooltip player_id='914291' first='MJ' last='Kennybrew'] (442 yards, 5 touchdowns) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1121756' first='Ashden' last='Marquis'] (352 yards, 8 scores).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offensive machine works thanks to one of the state's best offensive lines, including junior center [player_tooltip player_id='2054690' first='Grady' last='Hall'], senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='769924' first='Kalani' last='Ioapo'], junior tackle Xander Mishkin and junior guard Isaiah McMurray.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, West Linn's strength is its secondary, while the undersized, but quick/aggressive front seven flies around to wreak havoc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Molden is one of the most talented defensive backs in state history, and has a collection of preseason All-American honors under his belt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot, 180-pound corner is as technically-sound as any player in the country and holds nearly double-digit offers, led by Arizona State, Arkansas, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, USC and others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Safety [player_tooltip player_id='937113' first='Shane' last='Peters'], a first-team all-league selection, is highly productive and has two defensive touchdowns on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennybrew and safety [player_tooltip player_id='2054698' first='Caden' last='Seymour'] were second-team selections.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The linebacker corps for West Linn is deep and loaded with good athletes, led by outside linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='769921' first='Silas' last='Reynolds'] and inside ‘backer [player_tooltip player_id='1234610' first='Cole' last='Dickson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'], a second-team all-league standout, will be “next man up” soon to lead the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's already a talented player at a young age , and his potential is immense - with back-to-back first-team all-league showings as part of the projection for his junior and senior years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='769922' first='Zach' last='VandenBrink'] rounds out the starters, and gives the Lions a 4-for-4 clip on linebackers being all-league selections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Given the stingy secondary, West Linn's four middle-row defenders are often free to cause chaos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn's defensive line isn't the biggest, but its pursuit to the football is among the tops in the state, which is reflected in three all-league selections.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seniors Avery Ducsik and [player_tooltip player_id='1529840' first='James' last='Johnstone'] were first-teamers, while [player_tooltip player_id='1660158' first='Mason' last='Perkins'] found himself on the second team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In all, the Lions placed 20 of its 22 starters on Three Rivers League all-conference first and second team, including all 11 defensive starters.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Biggest win: While wins over Sumner and Camas were impressive, West Linn's signature win is, undoubtedly, its 38-16 thrashing for Lake Oswego, who most expect to make the state championship game for a rematch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That result has many projecting the Lions as a significant favorite the rest of the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loss to consider: None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn hasn't lost, and the Lions have largely looked untouchable this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week's 42-28 win over Jesuit wasn't particularly close, but it was noteworthy that the Crusaders were able to hang around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Did the Crusaders possibly expose something in the West Linn defense?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's doubtful, but with no loss to point to it might be the only sign that West Linn has any weakness at all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Status: State title favorite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a three-score win this season over Lake Oswego, the favorite in the other semifinal game, West Linn is viewed as heavy favorite to win the state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unbeatable? No. But the Lions look like a pretty dominant force these days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->