Lake Oswego Lakers: A look at Oregon’s 6A semifinalists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lake Oswego Lakers take on the Nelson Hawks at 7 p.m. Friday at Hillsboro Stadium in a semifinal showdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But while Lake Oswego is the No. 3-seed and Nelson comes it at No. 2, most view the Lakers as the favorite in the match-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at Lake Oswego.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakers went 10-1 overall and 4-1 in league play - with a lone loss coming against No. 1 West Linn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego outscored opponents 433-138 this season, averaging 39.3 points per game while allowing just 12.5.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But that doesn't tell the whole story.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/west-linn-lions-a-look-at-oregons-6a-semifinalists/">West Linn Lions: A look at Oregon's 6A semifinalists</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/central-catholic-rams-a-look-at-oregons-6a-semifinalists/">Central Catholic Rams: A look at Oregon's 6A semifinalists</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego's offense is led by senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='402409' first='Hudson' last='Kurland'], a Washington State Cougars commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-4 athletic signal-caller has immense potential and was a first-team all-league selection (1,039 passing yards, 11 touchdowns).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But he has also battled some accuracy issues at times, completing 53 percent of his passes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Kurland is on, Lake Oswego's offense is extremely potent, but they can be one dimensional at times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakers boast the state's best 1-2 punch at running back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior LaMarcus Bell was a MaxPreps All-American as a junior and had a stellar senior campaign (first-team all-league), rushing for 966 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging just a shade under 10 yards per carry.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1059015' first='Justin' last='Craigwell'] was also a first-team all-league selection and has more-than-admirably worked in with Bell, rushing for 596 yards and 8 scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego's receiving corps is defined by its depth, as multiple players have big-play potential, led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='936920' first='Jasiah' last='Agnimel'], senior Sawyer Best and two-way all-state tight end/linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego's offensive line was forced to replace first-team all-league performers Noah Uecker,, Jagar Shean, Jaden Moore and second-team all-leaguer Amin Alshaati.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The new crew has done so amicably, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1232749' first='Adam' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1525160' first='Jackson' last='Graetz'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Soloman Kroeker and Tripton Ciupryk were also all-league selections, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='1359160' first='Dylan' last='Marquez'] earned an honorable mention nod.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego's defense is among the top groups in the entire state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive line is led by junior breakout star [player_tooltip player_id='1246545' first='Josh' last='Christensen'], a first-team all-league selection and the TRL Defensive Lineman of the Year, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='2054695' first='Liam' last='Carmichael'] and Jacob Alar are also standouts.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore Max Matijacic, an honorable mention selection, is a key player to watch who has significant upside.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakers' linebacking corps is perhaps the best in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'], a Washington Huskies commit, is truly a special two-way talent, while junior inside ‘backer [player_tooltip player_id='937338' first='Cash' last='Wilks'] joined him on the first-team all-league team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1059015' first='Justin' last='Craigwell'], maybe the state's most under-appreciated player, was an all-league inside linebacker to go along with his first-team running back nod.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Craigwell has been a true star this fall and deserves so much more recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside linebackers Harrison Rabb and [player_tooltip player_id='1110919' first='Liam' last='Tobin'], as well as inside ‘backer [player_tooltip player_id='402422' first='Rowen' last='Lewis'], also earned honorable mention recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The secondary is another special group, led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1234612' first='Jalen' last='Bauman'], the son of former Oregon Ducks star Rashad Bauman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was joined on the first-team all-league squad by junior safety [player_tooltip player_id='855093' first='Summit' last='Cvitash'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1169947' first='Hudson' last='Gasperson'], a San Diego commit, locked up a second-team spot, while Sawyer Best was honorable mention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In all, Lake Oswego's 22 starters claimed 17 first and second team all-league spots - with another 9 on honorable mention - highlighting the insane depth of the program.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Biggest win(s): Central Catholic, Lakeridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it's all clicking for Lake Oswego, the Lakers are extremely dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense is absolutely dominant and the ground game can physically overwhelm opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's how it all played out in a 21-0 win over Central Catholic in mid-September.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Against top-10 team (and rival) Lakeridge, Lake Oswego based them 35-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Biggest loss: West Linn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The run game wasn't quite up to speed and the game quickly unraveled in a 38-16 loss to West Linn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That contest is the biggest reason West Linn is seen as a heavy favorite to win state, but very few people expect a rematch - if it happens - to be another blowout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Oswego has appeared to turn a corner since that contest and another West Linn-Lake O could result in a much closer battle.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Status: Top contender</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Linn is widely believed to be the favorite to win state, but Lake Oswego is seen as the top contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They'll have to get by a very well-coached, talented Nelson team first, but a rematch is what most experts project for the title game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->