West Linn Lions are No. 1, and they leave no doubt

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where's the apology form? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll sign it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I promise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll even check the box - this time - that says, "doesn't know ball." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I picked the 4-3 Lakeridge Pacers to win the 6A state title and gave the Lake Oswego Lakers a 3-point win in my predictions this week in the much-anticipated match-up between them and the West Linn Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Instead, West Linn throttled Lake Oswego 38-16, dismantling the Lakers as completely as the Lions tore apart any argument that they aren't the best team in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming into Jon Eagle's final season, West Linn had to replace 11 first-team all-league performers and was breaking in a new quarterback, junior [player_tooltip player_id='937233' first='Sloan' last='Baker'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But West Linn doesn't rebuild. They just reload.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baker has been nothing short of brilliant this season, putting together an all-state-caliber season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Friday, he was equally impressive against Lake Oswego, a top-three defense in the state, going 11-of-17 for 181 yards and three scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='769989' first='Viggo' last='Anderson'], an under-appreciated star, carried the ball 26 times for 135 yards, while West Linn's collection of playmakers do what they always do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Find a way to produce in big spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'], a preseason All-American defensive back, entered the season tasked with taking on a bigger role in two areas, according to Eagle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offense and leadership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Molden delivered an offensive masterpiece, hauling in five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown with another score on the ground. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's the best prospect in Oregon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heck, he might be the best defensive back the state has produced in the past two decades - with apologizes to his older brother, Elijah, who would start opposite him in the "modern era Oregon all-state team." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Under-rated junior playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='1121756' first='Ashden' last='Marquis'] added his own flair to the contest, contributing three receptions for 83 yards and a score, as well as a catch that brought the offense down to the 1-yard-line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn's defensive front - far from the biggest in the state - looked absolutely dominant against Lake Oswego, holding All-American running back LaMarcus Bell to 60 yards on 14 carries. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions run a 3-4 front and rotate four guys up front - seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1529840' first='James' last='Johnstone']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/james-johnstone/"></a> and defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1660158' first='Mason' last='Perkins'], as well as Grady Coyle and Avery Ducsik.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>None of those guys get a ton of recruiting love, but they are an absolute nightmare for opposing offensive lines because they are so tenacious and so quick to the football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From there, the linebacker quartet is nightmare fuel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Inside backers Zach VadenBrink and [player_tooltip player_id='1234610' first='Cole' last='Dickson'] are a dynamic duo and outside backers [player_tooltip player_id='769921' first='Silas' last='Reynolds'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1609761' first='Tyler' last='Holmes'] are so athletic they create match-up problems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scrolling up and down the roster, West Linn has a handful of college football prospects, but it's not a group loaded with bluechip recruits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Instead, they are loaded with rock-solid, disciplined, well-coached athletes from top to bottom - and seemingly every kid has been identified to play his exact role on the offense or defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a sport that increasingly seems to reward star power and transfer additions, West Linn is comprised primarily of homegrown talents that have been developed for years in their own system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, when it becomes "next man up," it's also "business as usual" for a group of kids that win in seemingly every sport starting with t-ball and "little tykes" basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn's success is not an accident or coincidence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the byproduct of being in a talent-rich area and embracing the youth programs and supporting them with a good system and better coaching.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following their win over Lake Oswego on Friday night, the Lions will finally move to the state's No. 1 spot in every poll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's well-deserved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn does it the right way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And they've been doing it for years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->