The fabric of Oregon City's football program was strained in the spring when three starters transferred away.
“They would've been big impact players for us,” coach Aaron Skinner said.
Through two games, the Pioneers not only haven't frayed, but they have pulled together and excelled. In beating South Medford 42-13 and Clackamas 27-7 in nonleague games, they have cracked this week's OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll at No. 9.
“It could split the team or it could unify the group, and it did the latter,” Skinner said. “I've been really impressed with this group from a maturity standpoint.”
Friday night, Oregon City will see how it stacks up against one of the state's top teams when it plays host to No. 6 Nelson (1-1) in a 6A nonleague game. The Hawks, state semifinalists last year, bounced back from a 49-48 overtime loss at Grants Pass to thump Jesuit 38-0 last week.
“They've got a lot of athletes on their team,” Skinner said. “They're going to be a handful for us.”
Last year's Oregon City team, which finished 4-6, emphasized the passing game. The graduation of quarterback Kaeden Emerson and the transfers of two top receivers – Cavan Rogers to Wilsonville and Alarion Scott to Centennial – forced the Pioneers to rethink their offensive strategy.
They committed to a running game, and the results have followed. They have rushed for 537 yards and nine touchdowns through two games, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. In all of last season, they rushed for 845 yards and seven scores.
“It's a completely different team and roster and how we're approaching things offensively,” Skinner said.
Senior Kasen Saffer, who shared carries with two seniors last season, is thriving as the featured back. The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Saffer has rushed for 267 yards and five touchdowns.
“He's a big, physical kid, and he's deceptively athletic,” Skinner said. “He has really quick feet, his instincts are great, and he has great vision. You would think a back of his stature would be a downhill, one-cut, north-and-south guy, but he has the ability to make guys miss in phone booths.”
Junior Mason Parmeter gives the team a new dimension at quarterback with his running ability, rushing for 104 yards so far. Senior receiver Colin Smith, No. 5 on the state's all-time list in the 100 meters (10.36 seconds), is especially dangerous on screens and fly sweeps.
“We're getting him the ball in a bunch of different ways,” Skinner said of Smith.
Senior guard Ace Dobson, the only returning starter on the offensive line, leads a unit that includes senior center Gavin Ball, junior guard Jack Johnson and senior tackles Wyatt Boeckel and Ian Wilson.
The Pioneers have been able to impose their will with the running game so far. Whether they can have any measure of that success against the state's better teams – their Three Rivers League schedule includes No. 1 Lake Oswego, No. 2 West Linn, No. 3 Tualatin and No. 10 Lakeridge – will determine their fate.
“With the competition in our league, we're going to have to be more balanced and find ways to keep teams honest,” Skinner said.
Oregon City's defense lost a key piece when senior lineman Brody Stromme transferred to Tigard, but Saffer and senior Jarrett Skinner (led TRL in tackles in 2025) are providing strong play at linebacker, Dobson is getting a good push up front and senior Brogan York is a force at safety.
They must be on top of their game against an explosive Nelson offense that features senior quarterback Braylon Gaines (572 passing yards, eight touchdown passes), Oregon-bound senior receiver Malachi Garlington and junior running back Jalen Crichton.
A look at other top match-ups in Week 2:
Friday
6A No. 4 Central Catholic (0-1) at 6A No. 1 Lake Oswego (2-0), 7 p.m.: The teams met twice last season, with Lake Oswego prevailing 21-0 in a nonleague game and 35-6 in the state final. Central Catholic will try to clean up its play after committing 20 penalties in last week's 45-20 loss at West Linn.
5A No. 1 Silverton (1-1) at 6A No. 5 Grants Pass (2-0), 7 p.m.: The reigning 5A champion Foxes rebounded from a 37-7 loss to Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) by routing Willamette 33-12 at home last week. Veteran-laden Grants Pass, which has beaten 6A No. 6 Nelson, poses a formidable obstacle.
4A No. 2 Cascade (1-0) at 5A No. 10 Sandy, 7 p.m.: Cascade was overtaken at the top of this week's 4A coaches poll by Cascade Christian despite debuting with a 49-0 win at Crescent Valley. Sandy's Micaiah Turin passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-21 opening win over Barlow.
5A No. 7 Canby (2-0) at 5A No. 9 Ridgeview (2-0), 7 p.m.: Canby, behind quarterback Brody Joyce, has opened 2-0 for the first time since 2009. Ridgeview is looking to go to 3-0 for the second year in a row before starting Intermountain Conference play Sept. 25 at Caldera.
4A No. 10 Junction City (1-0) at 4A No. 7 Scappoose (1-1), 7 p.m.: The Indians will try to shake off last week's 35-7 loss to No. 1 Cascade Christian against the Tigers, who smothered Seaside 21-0 in their first game. The teams haven't met since Scappoose beat Junction City 54-14 in the 2001 state semifinals.
Ontario (2-0) at 3A No. 3 Burns (1-1), 7 p.m.: Ontario has surpassed its win total from last season, when it finished 1-8. The Tigers have a chance to make a statement against the Highlanders, who throttled them 42-0 at Ontario in last year's opener.
3A co-No. 7 Scio (1-0) at 3A No. 4 Santiam Christian (1-1), 7 p.m.: Scio ran over Warrenton 25-7 last week as Arley LeBard and Colton Medeiros combined for 257 rushing yards. Santiam Christian, which lost at No. 2 Kennedy 19-14 last week, has beaten the Loggers the last four seasons.
Knappa (0-1) at 2A No. 7 Myrtle Point (1-0), 7 p.m.: Knappa outlasted Myrtle Point 33-32 in the 2025 opener, but the Bobcats got payback by eliminating the Loggers 12-6 in the first round of the state playoffs. Knappa fell to No. 8 Oakland 14-13 in its opener at home.
1A-8 No. 3 Dufur (0-1) at 1A-8 No. 4 Crosspoint Christian (1-1), 6 p.m.: Crosspoint Christian dominated Dufur 44-8 in last year's state semifinal, avenging a 20-12 nonleague defeat. Both teams lost to Washington foes last week, the Rangers 46-20 to reigning 1B champion DeSales and the Warriors 50-14 to Liberty Christian.
Saturday
2A No. 2 Lost River (1-0) at 2A No. 5 St. Paul (1-1), 2 p.m.: Reigning state champion Lost River, which buried Bonanza 48-0 in its first game, takes on the Buckaroos before hosting No. 1 Heppner in a rematch of last year's state final. St. Paul lost at Heppner 60-6 last week.
1A-6 No. 3 Ione/Arlington (2-0) vs. 1A-6 No. 7 Griswold (1-0) at Weston-McEwen HS, 1 p.m.: Ione/Arlington, which won a combined two games the last two seasons, is 2-0 behind junior AJ O'Rourke Smith, who has rushed for 529 yards and nine touchdowns. Griswold sophomore Lyle Peck had 205 rushing yards in last week's 47-12 win over Days Creek.
jerryu@osaa.org
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