As the sun set on Central Catholic's fourth 6A football championship since 2013 last weekend, a chance at history began to appear on the horizon for the Rams.
By successfully defending its 2019 state title with a 15-0 season, Central Catholic has a rare opportunity. No team has ever won outright titles in three consecutive postseasons in the big-school classification. Marshfield won three championships in a row from 1954 to 1956, but the first one was a co-title.
“Honestly, I feel like we can get another one,” Rams sophomore cornerback Timmy Mitchell said. “We have the people, we have the coaching staff. I think we have the potential to come back.”
Senior running back Ellis Bynum expects it.
“I have no doubts that they'll do the same thing next year,” Bynum said.
At a glance, prospects of a three-peat appear promising for Central Catholic.
Among those eligible to return are sophomore quarterback Cru Newman, junior tight end Riley Williams and Mitchell, top players at their positions in the state. The Rams also have a ready-made offensive line in junior left tackle Beau CressAllen, freshman left guard Zach Davis, sophomore center Matix Carpenter and junior right guard Joe Merlino, all starters this year.
It is the first time a 6A team has repeated since Central Catholic won titles in 2013 and 2014. The following season, the Rams went 8-3 and fell to Clackamas 23-13 in the second round of the playoffs.
“I had the same question in 2015,” Pyne said. “We had a lot of really good pieces in place that year, with La'Mar Winston, Brady Breeze, Ronnie Rust, Tobe Okafor, Owen White. But we were so inexperienced up front.
“We certainly have some stuff to build on. Where we'll have to really rebuild is the linebacker position and the secondary. We've got a lot of pieces to replace there. Does that inexperience on the back end of your defense equate to a lot of wins? I don't know. We'll see.”
Newman will be looking to build on a breakout sophomore season in which he threw for 2,679 yards and 37 touchdowns with four interceptions and ran for 562 yards and five scores.
“He's composed. He doesn't get rattled very much,” Pyne said. “As the season went on, he was more and more of a leader, and would demand more out of guys, in a positive way. I think the sky's the limit for that young man if he stays healthy and continues to grow a little bit. He's got a lot of pieces to the puzzle.”
Newman's poise and playmaking ability were on display in a 44-14 win over Tualatin in the state final. He passed for 243 yards and repeatedly escaped pressure, running for 104 yards on 11 carries.
“It's just my instincts. I don't like to go down,” Newman said. “I just try to keep plays alive and help the team get the victory. I just try to make a big play here and there, don't try to do too much, take what the defense gives me.”
The 6-foot-7 Williams, rated as the No. 3 junior tight end in the nation by 247sports, lived up to expectations this season by catching 36 passes for 889 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 24.7 yards per catch.
Pyne compared Williams' physical gifts to those of former Rams tight end and defensive end Brennan Scarlett, who has gone on to an NFL career.
“Brennan was kind of a thicker kid who had a little more through the middle,” Pyne said. “I think Riley runs better than Brennan did, and I think he's got better ball skills than Brennan had.”
Pyne said that Williams won the “genetic lottery.”
His mother, Monica Armstead (5-11), was a track athlete at Barlow and the University of Idaho. His father, Antwain (6-5), was a standout football and basketball player at Centennial in the late 1990s. His brother, Korbin, played receiver for Central Catholic and walked on at Oregon, where he played special teams.
Antwain's great uncle, Emery Barnes, made the University of Oregon hall of fame as a 6-6 defensive end and was selected with the 18th pick of the 1954 NFL draft by Green Bay. Antwain's uncle, Ronald Williams, played cornerback at Oregon in the 1970s.
“Riley's got a lot of tools,” Pyne said. “When he figures it out, like practice habits and weight-room habits, I can't imagine how good he'll be. He's got a chance to go down as maybe the greatest tight end this state's ever seen, since I don't know, maybe David Lewis (Grant), Russ Francis (Pleasant Hill). He's good.”
Mitchell (5-11, 170) is emerging as a major-college prospect at cornerback. He played in the Les Schwab Bowl as a freshman, returning a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown, and also had a fumble-return score in the state final.
“He's so gritty and talented and tough,” Pyne said of Mitchell, a standout wrestler for Jefferson. “He's not afraid. He'll go up and compete. He's got great closing speed, and really good instincts and anticipation on the ball. And he'll come up and cut you in half, too. He's tough.”
Mitchell will see a bigger role at receiver or running back next season as the Rams replenish their skill positions. They will lose receivers Jordan King, Stryder Todd-Fields and Zach Grisham and their top two running backs in Bynum and Jacob Hardeman.
Central Catholic also will feel the loss of linebacker Emar'rion Winston, who is headed to Oregon, and kicker Asher Wajskol, who made a state-finals record 49-yard field goal against Tualatin.
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
