By the time Lake Oswego football coach Steve Coury woke up Saturday morning – the day after winning his third state championship with the Lakers by beating Central Catholic in the 6A final– his phone had received 220 text messages of congratulations.
“A lot of ex-players, and I've been around so long, a lot of coaches that were so nice to write and congratulate,” said Coury, who is 295-97 in 34 seasons at Lake Oswego. “That's what 34 years will get you. I answered every one of them, and thanked them. It took me like a day-and-a-half.”
After winning titles in 2011 and 2018, Coury heard speculation that it would be an ideal way to end his coaching career. And he said this year is no different, especially considering his good friend, Jesuit coach Ken Potter, retired after the season and left Coury as the longest-tenured coach in 6A.
Is Coury considering retirement?
"I don't have any plans, at this point," he said. "When the time comes, I'll feel like it's the right time. I don't know when that might be."
Coaching football at Lake Oswego has become a way of life for Coury and his longtime assistant coaches, and he said, “I don't know what the hell I'd do, anyways.”
“It's six months with great friends that you spend together,” Coury said. “Then all of the sudden it's a huge part of your life. It's a tough thing to give up. It's a lot of work, and as you get older, you wear out a little easier. I haven't done that. I get up during the season really early. I don't sleep well because I know there's film down in my study that I can put on.”
Coury appears set up for more success in the coming seasons. Lake Oswego's turnout numbers are as high as ever, and the quality is there, too. This year, the JV team went undefeated and the freshman team won all but one game.
“The program is really in a good spot,” Coury said. “As always, you've got holes to fill. We've got 32 kids that are graduating, and really good football players. I look at the group coming, and I think there's a lot of potential. There are good guys coming back.”
The Lakers will have a big hole at running back next season after losing star LaMarcus Bell, committed to Utah, and Justin Craigwell.
“We just don't have a guy right now,” Coury said. “In my 34 years, I don't know that it's ever been the case. We've always kind of had one. We have enough athletes that we can move somebody in that spot if we have to. And we can throw the ball a little bit more.”
Coury expects the passing game to develop with junior Ryder Lemm ready to take over for Washington State-bound Hudson Kurland.
“I really like him. I think he's got a chance to be special,” Coury said of Lemm. “I think Ryder is going to be really good at what he's doing. And our wide receiver corps is going to be a really good group of kids.”
Jasiah Agnimel, a 6-foot-4 junior receiver, showed glimpses of his vast potential this season, and Coury said that junior receiver Cameron Elijah “has more talent than anybody.” Junior Cole Callahan is another outside weapon, if he doesn't end up switching to running back, according to Coury.
Junior Dylan Marquez is the only offensive line starter eligible to return, but Lakers line coach Chris Hubley has proven that he can mold a new group into a cohesive unit – like he did this year, with four new starters.
The defensive front has the potential to be dominant with juniors Josh Christensen (6-6, 245), Liam Carmichael and Aiden Soraghan and sophomore Max Matijacic all returning. Junior Cash Wilks is a force at linebacker.
Coury said that finding replacements for cornerbacks Jalen Bauman, Hudson Gasperson and Keylan Chand will be the biggest challenge.
Foxes emerge from gauntlet
Silverton's 24-14 win over No. 1 Summit in the 5A final not only gave the Foxes their second state title in five seasons, but it marked the end of their season-long gauntlet.
Second-seeded Silverton (12-1) played the most difficult schedule in 5A. The Foxes faced the other seven teams from the top eight of the OSAA 5A power rankings, going 6-1. They also defeated Coeur d'Alene, an Idaho semifinalist, and Grants Pass, a 6A quarterfinalist.
Their only loss was to No. 4 Lebanon, which beat them 34-28 on a last-second touchdown pass.
“It was a hell of a schedule,” coach Dan Lever said. “We did not stay healthy, and we still found a way, which was pretty remarkable.”
Initially, the Foxes had modest expectations after graduating 25 players from last year's semifinal team. As they progressed through offseason workouts, though, their determination was revealed.
“It's not that I didn't think we could do it, I just saw a lot of willpower to get there in the offseason that I haven't always seen,” Lever said. “We went through spring football, and I'm going, 'We're not bad.' Then we beat Coeur d-Alene in the first game, and it was like, 'I think we have something here.'”
The Foxes had key players in and out of the lineup due to injuries all season. Speedy sophomore running back Keysean Davis was off to a terrific start before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone in the third game.
“He was having a breakout year. It just ended pretty quickly,” Lever said.
The pieces are in place for Silverton to contend again in 2026. The Foxes lose only 12 seniors. Their offensive and defensive lines should return virtually intact. And among the skill players eligible to return are Davis and junior receiver/safety Lincoln Teeney, the Mid-Willamette Conference defensive player of the year.
“We're not going to rest on our laurels,” Lever said. “We know how hard it was to get this one.”
Movin' on up
Cascade Christian's third 3A title in four seasons was particularly impressive considering the Challengers did it with only four seniors and six juniors on their 34-man roster.
To stay on top next season, though, they must navigate a much higher degree of difficulty. They are moving up to 4A, where they will have by far the lowest enrollment in the classification.
“It's a different game, physically,” Cascade Christian coach Jon Gettman said. “That's the next step. It's more physical as they move up. It's definitely going to push us.”
Loaded with young talent, the Challengers should more than hold their own. They went 13-0 this season, outscoring their opponents 682-75.
“As far as the leadership and the group of kids we have coming back, absolutely, now's the time,” Gettman said. “We've got some momentum and a group of kids that can compete. We don't get to see the teams up north, so that will be a whole new world for us. It's going to be tough, for sure.”
The Medford school requested playing up in 4A to save on travel and make scheduling easier. The final recommendation of the OSAA classification and redistricting committee has the Challengers joining the Skyline Conference along with Hidden Valley, Klamath Union, Mazama, North Valley and Phoenix.
Cascade Christian's enrollment, around 300 nearly two decades ago, has been steady in the 200-215 range but is projected to push 250 in the coming years. The enrollment range for 4A next year is projected between 281-560.
Gettman admitted to being a bit wary of facing programs that have double Cascade Christian's turnout.
“Football is a numbers game. That's the biggest hesitation that we've had,” he said. “Hopefully, the school continues to grow.”
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
