LAKE OSWEGO – For all the success Lake Oswego football has enjoyed in its 34 seasons under coach Steve Coury, the Lakers never have won back-to-back state championships.
Three games into this season, though, that possibility seems to be increasing.
No.1 Lake Oswego more than lived up to its ranking Friday night by systematically dismantling No. 4 Central Catholic 42-6 in a rematch of last year's 6A championship game. The host Lakers (3-0) bolted to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and forced a running clock on the first play of the fourth quarter in the nonleague game.
Lake Oswego finished with a 340-161 edge in total yards against the Rams, who opened their season last week with a 45-20 loss at No. 2 West Linn.
“We're definitely confident, but we're not cocky,” Lakers senior receiver and defensive back Jasiah Agnimel said. “Coach Coury talks to us about that line between cockiness and confident. We definitely walk that line, but we know how to not take it too far.”
The performance comes after Lake Oswego opened the season with a 34-7 road win over then-No. 6 Willamette and a 27-20 home victory against reigning Arizona state champion Casteel.
“Overall, I feel like everyone's just doing their job,” Oregon-bound senior defensive end Josh Christensen said. “Overall, we have a really great defense. Great team overall. Our passing game, running game, I feel like everything's really sound.”
Senior quarterback Ryder Lemm completed 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 49 yards and one score on 12 carries. He continues to show a steady hand in his first season as a starter.
“The thing that Coury always says, 'Tradition never graduates,'” Lemm said. “So we take what they did last year and we do the same thing, apply it to everything we do.”
Senior Cole Callahan rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Agnimel had five catches for 62 yards and returned an interception 23 yards for a score. Senior Cameron Elijah had four catches for 43 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown. Sophomore Jacob Lugo ran for a score.
'I just though we played really well,” said Coury, who recorded career win No. 298. “The kids performed and made plays when we had to. The quarterback did a lot of good things. When he runs, like he did last week, it really is a whole added dimension to the offense. The running back is playing really well, the receivers are catching the ball. And defensively, we're playing well to this point.”
Lemm is finding his groove at quarterback.
“Couldn't ask for a better start,” Lemm said. “Our O-line is rolling, everyone's rolling. I've got the easy part. I just give it to the guys, they do the job.”
Lemm spent last season as the backup to Hudson Kurland, now on the team at Iowa State.
“He was a great mentor,” Lemm said. “He was positive in everything he did. Being behind him, I wouldn't want it any other way. A lot of people these days transfer out, but this is where I want to be, and he was the best person to be behind.”
Agnimel, a key contributor last season, sensed Lemm was ready for the spotlight this season.
“We talked about it last year,” Agnimel said. “We already knew we were going to do our thing. We played 7-on together all offseason, got together as a team, and Ryder's just killing it.”
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Callahan built on last week's 140-yard game against Casteel with another strong outing. He has rushed for 355 yards through three games.
“He's a really good running back,” Coury said. “He's physical for such a little guy.”
Callahan and Lemm capped Lake Oswego's first two possessions with touchdown runs. Agnimel made it 21-0 by jumping a route for an interception and coasting 23 yards into the end zone.
“We said all week, 'Just punch them in their mouth,'” Agnimel said. “The moment they came on to the field, no matter what, we were going to take a shot at them. We did that.”
On his interception, Agnimel said: “I saw that look a thousand times in practice. We get it done in practice, and it shows in the game, and it shows on the scoreboard.”
Lake Oswego's front seven, loaded with experience, continues to overwhelm opponents. The 6-6, 255-pound Christensen leads the group along with junior Max Matijacic (6-2, 250) and senior Aidan Soraghan (6-2, 210).
“We've all played before. It's the returning D-line,” Christensen said. “All great players, all want to win, playing really hard. … All the new players, they're just ready. Definitely a lot of chemistry. All of us love each other.”
Central Catholic senior quarterback Kody Grant completed 14 of 23 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. His scoring pass was an 11-yard strike to senior Jamear Shambry with 20 seconds left in the first half, cutting the lead to 28-6.
jerryu@osaa.org
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