Projected 6A Top 5 Program Lakeridge HS

&nbsp; We talked last year about the addition of head coach Spencer Phillips and what that meant for the program. Playing in the Three Rivers League, essentially the SEC of Oregon HS football, there are no weeks off. The Pacers showed up big in 2021 finishing the season 8-4 with three of their losses coming by a total of 7 points, to fellow state powers Tualatin (24-21) and West Linn twice (28-27 &amp; 10-7 in OT). This is the year I forsee Lakeridge taking that ever so allusive step they have yet to make, beating the likes of LO and competing for a conference and state title. Everyone knows that West Linn is loaded for years to come, but so are the Pacers with one of the best incoming freshman classes anywhere in the West. Lakeridge loses a solid defensive cast lead by the likes of Montana St bound LB [player_tooltip player_id="28864" first="Zac" last="Waible"], conference POY [player_tooltip player_id="28862" first="Nui" last="Tovey"], and the do it all kid [player_tooltip player_id="143911" first="Jake" last="Reichle"]. That said as they return a host of talent and some of the top recruits state wide. 4* WR/TE [player_tooltip player_id="152356" first="Joey" last="Olsen"] is listed as one of the top wide outs in the nation for his class with offers from the likes of Oregon, USC, Oregon St, Penn St, Utah, and Tennessee. The last two seasons as a freshman and sophomore he averaged 21.5 yards per catch, totaling 1,074 yards and 11 TDs. He has the potential to blow up on the statistical front these next two seasons, especially with D1 projected QB [player_tooltip player_id="110242" first="Ryan" last="Oliver"] and a host of other weapons around him. Speaking on Oliver I can’t say enough good things. I currently have him listed as the state’s #8 overall recruit and someone who will have a handful of division 1 offers. In 16 games the last two seasons he has hit on 63% of his passes with 29 TDs/7 INTs. Look for him to go off as a senior with coach Phillips saying, "He is our leader and one of the best players in the state. I’ve coached a lot of QB’s and his ability to process and play the game is one of the best I’ve ever been around." To put that into perspective Phillips won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles as the assistant QB coach. Add in [player_tooltip player_id="110204" first="Baylor" last="Corbin"], <strong>Jayce Swygard</strong>, and [player_tooltip player_id="271425" first="Lucas" last="Burkeen"] and you have a litany of talented targets with experience to throw to. Corbin will be a three year all conference guy and is ranked one of the state’s top WR’s for 2023, making 47 catches for 573 yards and 2 TDs the last two years. He will be called upon to lead in the secondary where he had a breakout year last season and may project collegiately. His 37 total tackles, 6 pass deflections, and 2 INTs from last season put him in the conversation among the most versatile kids in Oregon. Swygard is one of the fastest rising players in the state and someone you will see make a huge jump on the rankings board when updated shortly. Phillips praised his continued progress saying, "He’s had an unbelievable off season, putting on almost 15 pounds. He’s an all-league basketball player and will be a difference maker. Behind [player_tooltip player_id="152356" first="Joey" last="Olsen"] he’s our best skill player." If you are going to win a title having a line is a must. With numbers substantially down across the state this is something that many programs don’t have. This will be another area where the Pacers are able to separate themselves with a bunch of talented kids returning. One HUGE addition, literally, comes via 6-7 240-pound transfer [player_tooltip player_id="270063" first="Tristan" last="Davis"] from Wilsonville. The standout 3* DE has offers from Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada and will be a difference maker up front. Offensively they are in good shape. Something most other teams can’t say as well. 2x all conference and 1st team all-league linemen [player_tooltip player_id="147246" first="Camden" last="Ferguson"] is back to lead the group on both sides of the football. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="278386" first="Chris" last="Azari"] returns after a breakout all conference sophomore season, and will combo nicely with what will be a three-year starter in senior <strong>Will Stelk</strong> C/DT. Maybe the key to the Pacers season will come via a pair of junior LBs who rank as two of the best in the NW for their class. [player_tooltip player_id="152332" first="Ethan" last="Biondine"] will be a conference player of the year favorite in the state’s toughest league. He started as a freshman and is an unquestioned division 1 kid. He put up one of the most ridiculous stat lines state wide last season, with 88 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks.  Look for him to be one of the state’s top RB’s as well. In limited time last year he averaged 6.7 yards per carry with 3 TDs. Biondine’s counterpart [player_tooltip player_id="209682" first="Tashi" last="Crofut"] is a dude. He earned 2nd team all-conference honors at LB as a sophomore, making 38 total tackles, with 5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. His stock is rising quickly. Talking on all the returning talent we can’t forget what the future looks like as it’s extremely bright. With the likes of Oregon all time great coach Steve Coury, recently departed former NFL QB Chris Miller and new West Linn head coach Jon Eagle, the TRL has some of the best to ever coach across the region. Coach Phillips, and his humble yet focused approach, has attracted many throughout the community who have been hopeful to get over the hump and beat the likes of cross-town rival Lake Oswego. It’s yet to be done as they got smacked last year 42-21 by the Lakers. All that stated as I think their time is now. The incoming freshman (2026) athletes are legit to say the least. 6-2 215 LB [player_tooltip player_id="284119" first="Ansu" last="sanoe"] has the potential of being one of the top players in America for his class. Expect him to be an all-conference athlete this season. Add to this, brothers [player_tooltip player_id="284120" first="Drew" last="Weiler"] QB and 6-5 DE/OL <strong>Joe Weiler</strong>, along with all everything athlete <strong>Marcus Post</strong> and the Pacers are in good shape. Most freshman don’t play varsity ball. All four of these kids are the exception to the rule. In closing I can’t reiterate enough how clutch the hire of Coach Spencer Phillips was. Elvis Akpla did an outstanding job before him, but what’s happening right now brings up comparisons to some of the great Lakeridge teams from the late 80’s and early 90’s.