Oregon 'Way Too Early' 5A Top 10

A few times per year we take an early look at which teams project as the state's best for the coming season. I see this being a five team race with one of the most competitive semifinal brackets in recent memory at the 5A level. Any one of the programs in the top 5 could win the title next year in my opinion.         1.Silverton    The reigning state champs bring back an impressive group of underclassmen led by top 10 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2105987' first='Mark' last='Bailey'] on both sides of the line. Everyone is aware of the last names when talking on POY [player_tooltip player_id='937036' first='Lincoln' last='Teeney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1593709' first='Kellen' last='Kuenzi'] who will lead the 27's.   Separate from Bailey the Foxes will feature two other all league returners in OL [player_tooltip player_id='2106007' first='Cal' last='Kofstad'] and LB [player_tooltip player_id='2067926' first='Ryder' last='VanDeweghe'], to go with 6-7 monster [player_tooltip player_id='2079649' first='Cade' last='Ellis'] at tackle as well.    2.Wilsonville    There is a legit chance that both QB [player_tooltip player_id='1359052' first='Trevor' last='Glos'] and all everything athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1474331' first='Ben' last='Wiepert'] are your Oregon 5A POY's on both sides of the football next year. Glos put up ridiculous numbers (40 TDs, 70% Com Pct) this past season with Wiepert projecting as a major D1 recruit.    6-7 [player_tooltip player_id='2088972' first='Luke' last='Brainard'] is another one of the region's fastest rising prospects catching 8 TDs last year, with [player_tooltip player_id='2088951' first='Daniel' last='Lazaro'] returning after a 1st team all conference campaign on the D line.    3.Mountain View    It's a coinflip if we are talking on who wins the IMC title game between Mountain View and Summit. They could end up playing each other in the state championship as well, making the season that much more interesting.    6-4 235 pound TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='1684534' first='Jettson' last='Gillam'] was my fastest rising recruit on the 2027 rankings board when last updated, sitting at #8. Baseball standout [player_tooltip player_id='1591745' first='Ryder' last='Carpenter'] is the real deal at RB going for 20+ TDs as a junior. He could go for this 30 this year.   Add in OLB [player_tooltip player_id='2090563' first='Robbie' last='Capers'] who is a tear coming off the edge and underclass line standouts [player_tooltip player_id='2090565' first='Brady' last='Nichols'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2131617' first='Finn' last='Mellor'], and you have a real shot to control the game up front.    4.Summit    [player_tooltip player_id='1358896' first='Andrew' last='Guthrie'] was named the conference POY as a junior helping his team to the state title game. Summit continues to be one of the fastest rising programs in the state, but they do graduate a bunch of talented seniors that will be hard to make up for.   The Storm are very similar to Silverton and Mountain View up front with elite lineman in [player_tooltip player_id='1593163' first='Ben' last='Goalen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1609771' first='Peter' last='Stanley'] returning. Goalen has some of the best film in Oregon and Stanley is ranked the #3 prospect for the state in his class, already being offered by Cal. 6-4 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1358902' first='CJ' last='Scott'] will need to have a big year offensively.    5.Sandy     Sandy has been super impressive at the 6A level typically ranking among the top 15 teams in the state. The Pio's return a legit core group of 27's at the skill positions with [player_tooltip player_id='1566153' first='Mason' last='Frederickson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1709202' first='James' last='Richards'], and [player_tooltip player_id='937297' first='Gracyn' last='Fitch'] all putting up big numbers the last two seasons. Each will be listed as overwhelming POY favorites in their new conference.    [player_tooltip player_id='2054807' first='Colton' last='Lucas'] was maybe the biggest surprise in Oregon last season, racking up lineman of the year honors in the Mt Hood conference as a sophomore. He's undersized for the position but garnered mad respect from all within the league. 6-4 TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='1671467' first='Cameron' last='Caruso'] is a big variable, and he will need to be dominate if the Pioneers want to make a run in the playoffs.    6.Dallas     Year in and year out the Dragons battle and are typically one of the most competitive teams in Oregon at the 5A level. They havent really been able to win in the playoffs but they have dudes every year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1878396' first='Aidan' last='Galusha'] was the conference POY on the D line as a junior and has the potential of being a 1st team all state RB as well. He is a freak athlete and could make a big jump up the rankings board when updated. Dallas loses a plethora of talented seniors with 6-5 incoming junior lineman Betram Latta being a guy who will need to be a difference maker.    7.Thurston    I think [player_tooltip player_id='1257695' first='Emmit' last='Distefano'] is really good. The Colts 1st team all league QB (23 TD's/5 INTs) returns and will have some of the top young skill guys in Oregon to throw to, with 6-5 TE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='2106040' first='Leofatu' last='Filipe'] ranking as a top 10 recruit for the 2028 class.    WR Bodie Bonar is underrated as of right now scoring 11 TDs as a sophomore with fellow 28' [player_tooltip player_id='1609774' first='Bentlee' last='Davenport'] projecting as a double-digit TD athlete next season. Defensively don't sleep on speedster [player_tooltip player_id='2106043' first='Quinn' last='Piquette'] who had an all conference year in the secondary.   The biggest question for the Colts will come up front and how they would handle teams in the top 4 with legit lines.    8.West Albany    The Bulldogs are typically one of the better teams in the conference and state at the 5A level. They've gone (24-10) over the last three seasons, but don't have much experience at the skill positions returning.   The key for West next year will be to lean on a solid D, led by LB's [player_tooltip player_id='1119889' first='Pena' last='Moors'] and 2028 standout [player_tooltip player_id='1609803' first='Justice' last='Edmiston']. They will need to play lights out.    9.Canby   It's really unfortunate 6-6 standout [player_tooltip player_id='1095838' first='Jack' last='Brauckmiller'] isn't playing football as he would have offers from some of the top programs across the country. That said I think Jimmy Joyce is one of the best play callers in the state, and he will have all conference QB [player_tooltip player_id='1939267' first='Brody' last='Joyce'] (no relation) returning to lead at QB.    Injuries have riddled the Cougars program over the last few seasons with the team going (7-11). I like 6-6 DE [player_tooltip player_id='2088956' first='Luke' last='Winningham'] and Oregon stat leader [player_tooltip player_id='2088959' first='Cooper' last='Cousin'] to go off again at WR after catching 48 balls for 1,198 yards and 13 TDs.    10.Central    This is definitely a sleeper for next season with Central not being a traditional power at the 5A level by any means. They bring back a few of the nation's top baseball prospects who also excel on the football field in [player_tooltip player_id='1358900' first='JT' last='Girod'] (U of Oregon) and [player_tooltip player_id='1593708' first='Joe' last='Mendazona'] (TCU).   Slot WR [player_tooltip player_id='1593187' first='Ryan' last='Perkins'] has killed it the last two years as well and he will need to put up some crazy numbers if they want to compete. They went (4-5) last season losing to the big four (Silverton, Dallas, West Albany, Lebanon) by an average score of 42-15.