Four times since 2019, Lakeridge has come within one game of making the big-school football semifinals for the first time since 1994, only to lose to one of the state's perennial powers.
The last two seasons, those quarterfinal losses came against Central Catholic: 42-6 in 2023 and 40-17 in 2024.
So as the No. 7 Pacers (2-1) prepare to play No. 3 Central Catholic (2-1) in a 6A nonleague game Friday at Hillsboro Stadium, they see an opportunity to show that they belong among the state's elite teams this season.
“I feel like we're definitely in consideration to be in that top four or five, the West Linn, Lake Oswego, Central Catholic talk,” Lakeridge coach Spencer Phillips said. “We're going to find out this week where we're at right now. It's a measuring stick.”
Since stumbling out of the gate with a 26-21 loss at No. 6 Nelson, the Pacers have begun to find their footing. They handled No. 8 Mountainside 33-14 and turned back explosive Sandy 58-36.
“We didn't play our best that first week,” Phillips said. “Each week, we've continued to play better football.”
Against Nelson, Lakeridge scored on only three of its eight red-zone opportunities. The Pacers have been more efficient in converting those chances in the last two games.
“We've just been clicking on all cylinders,” Phillips said. “We're finishing drives. Guys are getting more confident.”
Lakeridge is doing much of its damage on the ground. Through three games, the Pacers have gained 65.9 percent of their yards on rushes, well up from 39.4 percent in 2024. They are averaging 213.0 rushing yards per game, led by Washington-bound senior Ansu Sanoe (279 yards, two touchdowns) and junior Colby Owen (232 yards, five touchdowns).
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Sanoe injured his shoulder against Nelson, aggravated the injury against Mountainside and sat out the Sandy game. He is expected to play Friday, a key factor considering he also is integral on defense at safety.
“He's feeling good now. Hopefully it doesn't bug him the rest of the year,” Phillips said.
Senior Drew Weiler, the returning starter at quarterback, has completed 20 of 25 passes for 331 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. He benefits from playing with an experienced receiving corps in seniors Marcus Post, Turner Tropio and Jaden Tragesser, all starters in 2024.
Post returned to action against Sandy after sitting out four weeks with a knee injury and made an immediate impact, catching five passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns. His return at safety also bolstered the defense.
“He's the leader of our defense,.” Phillips said. “Getting him back was really big for us.”
The Pacers have one of the state's top defensive players in 6-3, 260-pound senior linebacker Noah Tishendorf, who has committed to West Virginia. He has six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
“He's an absolute wrecking ball,” Phillips said. “He really changes the game. We move him around everywhere now. If you know where he is, it's an issue, but if you don't know where he's going to line up, it's a bigger issue.”
Lakeridge faces its biggest physical challenge of the season against Central Catholic. The Rams overpowered the Pacers in last year's quarterfinal, rushing for 220 of their 370 yards. They ran for 147 yards in the second half.
Central Catholic's run defense has been stellar, led by senior linebackers Hudson Coe, Donnie Vercher and Tyson Davis and senior lineman Matt Watson. The last two games, the Rams contained Lake Oswego senior LaMarcus Bell (87 yards, 15 carries) and Jesuit junior Luke Ortner (107 yards, 28 carries), two of the state's top running backs.
The Rams bounced back from a 21-0 loss to No. ** Lake Oswego to win 35-6 at No. ** Jesuit last week. Senior quarterback Robbie Long completed 18 of 23 passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 99 yards on six carries, including a 62-yard score.
A look at other top match-ups in Week 4:
Friday
Sheldon (1-2, 1-1 SD1) at 6A No. 4 Willamette (3-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.: The balance of power in Eugene has shifted since coach Josh Line left Sheldon following the 2023 season and landed at Willamette. Now Line faces his old team for the first time.
Westview (3-0) vs. Glencoe (3-0) at Hare Field, 7 p.m.: Glencoe senior Daniel Heninger is having another big season, rushing for 755 yards and nine touchdowns. Westview senior Charlie Barton passed for 361 yards and four touchdowns in beating Reynolds 56-28 last week.
Camas, Wash. (2-1) at 6A No. 2 West Linn (3-0), 7 p.m.: West Linn coach Jon Eagle goes up against the Papermakers, who he coached to 127 wins and two state titles in 13 seasons (2008-20). The Lions beat reigning Washington big-school champion Sumner 31-24 last week, and now play last year's state runner-up in Camas.
4A No. 2 Henley (1-1) at 3A No. 2 Cascade Christian (3-0), 7 p.m.: A rematch from last year, when Henley escaped with a 37-36 home win in a battle between 2023 state champions. Both teams returned their quarterbacks, Henley senior Joe Janney and Cascade Christian senior Deryk Farmer, who each accounted for five touchdowns in their one meeting..
3A co-No. 8 Gervais (3-0, 1-0 SD1) at Valley Catholic (3-0, 0-0), 7 p.m.: Two of the hottest teams early in the season collide in a Special District 1 game. Gervais, a 2A semifinalist last year, has outscored its opponents 144-21. Valley Catholic, 2-7 last season, is 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
Seton Catholic, Wash. (2-1) at 3A No. 1 Banks (3-0), 7 p.m.: Seton Catholic of Vancouver was Washington's 1A runner-up last season. Banks extended its regular-season winning streak to 36 last week by thumping North Marion 65-0.
2A No. 3 Oakland (2-1) at 2A No. 4 Lost River (2-1), 7 p.m.: Last week, Lost River rebounded from a 43-8 loss to No. 1 Heppner by dispatching then-No. 5 Gold Beach 54-24. The Raiders meet the Oakers, whose only loss was 28-22 to No. 2 St. Paul.
1A-8 No. 2 Dufur (4-0, 1-0 SD3) at 1A-8 No. 4 Lyle/Wishram/Klickitat/Glenwood (3-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.: The teams met for a nonleague game in Week 0, with host Dufur prevailing 50-34. The Cougars get a chance for redemption on their home turf.
Grace, Idaho (5-0) at 1A-8 No. 1 Adrian (3-0), 7 p.m.: Reigning state champion Adrian hasn't been tested yet, winning by an average margin of 38.7 points. That could change against Grace, ranked No. 2 in Idaho Class 2A.
jerryu@osaa.org
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