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    • Class 6A football power rankings: Final regular season rankings
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    Class 6A football power rankings: Final regular season rankings

    Online Niel Posted on

    We’re into week nine, the final week of the regular football season.

    And with the regular season over, we have the final power rankings for Class 6A football.

    On Friday night, when the final games are concluded, the OSAA computer standings will freeze and the football brackets will be displayed. The games will be win or go home, and the state’s top teams will have to put up a better front.

    Here’s a look at the state’s top teams:

    Oregon High School Football: Lake Oswego Lakers vs. West Linn Lions

    Lake Oswego players celebrate in the end zone during the Three Rivers League football game between Lake Oswego and West Linn Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at West Linn High School.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    1. Lake Oswego Lakers (8-0, 4-0 Three Rivers League)

    The Lakers didn’t let the momentum of a 21-17 win over West Linn affect last Friday’s game against Oregon City. Lake Oswego kept the ball rolling with a 42-13 win over the Pioneers last week. LaMarcus Bell continues to stand out as one of the state’s top running backs with 12 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon City. He’s averaging over 10 yards per carry on the season and has the Lakers running one of the state’s top offenses.

    Friday’s game with Lakeridge could clinch the Three Rivers League for Lake Oswego in what could be one of the biggest editions of the “Battle for the Lake” rivalry game.

    Oregon High School Football: Central Catholic Rams vs. Nelson Hawks

    The Central Catholic Rams and the Nelson Hawks compete in a football game within the Mt. Hood Conference on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Hillsboro Stadium.Grant Pauli for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    2. Central Catholic Rams (8-0, 6-0 Mt. Hood Conference)

    The Rams are coming off a win against Reynolds on Friday, snapping a 22-0 streak that spanned last season. The last time the defending Class 6A state champions lost a game was in the 2022 state semifinals against West Linn.

    So far, the Charlie Landgraf era of Central Catholic football seems to be looking a lot like business as usual.

    Oregon High School Football: West Linn Lions vs Tualatin Timberwolves

    West Linn’s Hudson Hardy (1) celebrates a touchdown during the Three Rivers League football game between West Linn and Tualatin on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at Tualatin High School.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    3. West Linn Lions (7-1, 3-1 Three Rivers League)

    A 56-26 win over Tualatin last Friday is a great way to respond to a four-point loss to Lake Oswego on Oct. 18. West Linn’s offense really got things going, scoring over 50 points for the first time since a 55-0 win over Tigard on Oct. 4.

    If the Lions can continue that offense against Oregon City this week, West Linn will be one of the most dangerous teams in the postseason.

    Tualatin Timberwolves vs. Lakeridge Pacers Football

    Lakeridge’s Marcus Post stretches to get past the end zone line during the Three Rivers League football game between Lakeridge and Tualatin, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Lakeridge High School.Ali Gradischer for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    4. Lakeridge Pacers (7-1, 3-1 Three Rivers League)

    Lakeridge is on a good run heading into another huge game. The Pacers defeated Tigard 35-0 last Friday, showcasing the team’s offensive and defensive prowess ahead of a rivalry game against Lake Oswego on Friday.

    In a district with great defenses, the Pacers’ defensive team really stands out at times. Lakeridge’s defense is allowing 8.6 points per game, which is the fewest in TRL and the second fewest in all of Class 6A.

    5. Sheldon Irish (8-0, 7-0 Special District 1)

    The Irish remain the state’s most explosive team and continue to look like contenders in coach Tyler Martell’s first year at the helm. Sheldon leads Class 6A in points scored (54.2 per game) and points allowed (7.8) and has scored more than 60 points in four of the last five games.

    Friday’s showdown with Sprague will essentially decide Special District 1.

    Oregon High School Football: Mountainside Mavericks vs. Jesuit Crusaders

    Jesuit’s Grant Valley (5) wraps up a Mountainside ball during the Metro League football game between Jesuit and Mountainside, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Jesuit High School.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    6. Mountainside Mavericks (6-2, 4-0 Metro League)

    The Mavericks, with running back Jordan Hicks back and healthy, are one win over Beaverton from winning the Metro League for the first time in school history. A great feat for a school only a few years old. Mountainside is averaging 52.8 points per game over its last four contests and is on one of the best rolls in Class 6A.

    Additional note: The Mavericks’ close 27-20 loss to Lakeridge on Sept. 20 looks more and more impressive as the weeks go by.

    Oregon High School Football: Sherwood Bowmen vs Tigard Tigers

    Sherwood players prepare to run down the field during the game between Sherwood and Tigard on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Tigard High School.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    7. Sherwood Bowmen (6-2, 3-0 Pacific Conference)

    The Archers have looked really strong since opening the season 1-2 with losses to West Linn and Tualatin. Sherwood was paced by running back Wilson Medina, who had one of his best performances of the 2024 season. In Sherwood’s 35-6 win over Liberty on Friday, Medina had 17 carries for 206 yards and four touchdowns .

    Oregon High School Football: West Linn Lions vs Tualatin Timberwolves

    The Tualatin captains take the field during the Three Rivers League football game between West Linn and Tualatin, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at Tualatin High School.Tim Healy for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    8. Tualatin Timberwolves (5-3, 1-3 Three Rivers League)

    It was a tough run through the TRL for the Timberwolves, who lost by double digits to Lake Oswego (45-31), Lakeridge (33-22) and West Linn (56-26). Star wide receiver Zhaiel Smith was injured and slowed a Tualatin offense that relies on the rushing game. According to coach Dom Ferraro, Smith will be back in time for the postseason, so Tualatin’s offense will play with a little more speed in a few weeks.

    9. Sprague Olympians (8-0, 7-0 Special District 1)

    It remains difficult to gauge how good Sprague really is. Heading into week nine, the Olympians have played just two games against opponents with winning records. But going undefeated at this point in the season isn’t easy, so Sprague’s success this year shows they should be taken seriously.

    Of course, Friday’s game against Sheldon will truly be the biggest test of the year.

    Oregon High School Football: Central Catholic Rams vs. Nelson Hawks

    The Central Catholic Rams and the Nelson Hawks compete in a football game within the Mt. Hood Conference on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Hillsboro Stadium.Grant Pauli for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    10. Nelson Hawks (6-2, 5-1 Mt. Hood Conference)

    Following back-to-back wins over Gresham and Barlow, the Hawks are on a roll for a big game. The Hawks are No. 11 in the OSAA PC rankings entering week nine, playing Clackamas (No. 8). A win would likely secure a Class 6A open championship berth for the Hawks, while a loss could knock Nelson out of the top 12 (especially since the bracket will have to be restructured to accommodate the winner of the Portland Interscholastic League).

    Oregon High School Football: Wells Guardians vs. McDaniel Mountain Lions

    The Wells Guardians and the McDaniel Mountain Lions compete in a Portland Interscholastic League football game on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at McDaniel High School.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive

    Honorable mention

    After falling to Central Catholic 54-28 on Sept. 26, The Clackamas Cavaliers (6-2, 5-1 Mt. Hood Conference) they were just on a roll. A close win over Barlow was followed by two wins over David Douglas and Gresham. A matchup in Nelson on Friday became very important for the state rankings.

    After opening the season with two losses, the Wells Guardians (6-2, 5-0 Portland Interscholastic League) were on the roll in league play. Wells has already secured his PIL and will play in the Open Championship this autumn.

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    — Nik Streng covers Oregon high school sports. Contact him at [email protected] or @NikStreng

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