Fast starts to the football season have become a pattern for Dallas, which won its first seven games in 2024 and first six games in 2025, making the 5A quarterfinals both times.
So as encouraging as their play has been so far this season – winning their first four games by an average margin of 38.5 points – the Dragons have been there, done that, and their eyes are fixed ahead.
“It's still early,” coach Andy Jackson said. “We've got a lot of room to improve. Our toughest tests are ahead of us. We know we've got to get better.”
No. 7 Dallas (4-0, 2-0) will get a better of idea of where it stands at 7 p.m. Friday when it visits No. 5 West Albany (4-1, 2-0) with first place in the Mid-Willamette Conference on the line. The Dragons know all too well about the dangers of the Bulldogs, who in 2024 handed them their first loss and beat them again in the quarterfinals.
“It's a huge challenge,” Jackson said. “In my whole tenure at Dallas – since I've been an assistant, 14 years total – West Albany every year is always a massive game.”
Likewise, West Albany coach Brian Mehl has much respect for the Dragons, who spoiled the Bulldogs' homecoming last year by beating them 25-14.
“They're a real high-performing team,” Mehl said. “They're a physical group on both sides of the ball. They have a couple individual players that are special, and they use those guys well.”
Dallas is averaging 46.3 points and 384.0 yards per game, including 273.3 rushing. The Dragons feature senior running back Aidan Galusha and dual-threat senior quarterback Tommy Hess.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Galusha, who runs the 100 meters in 10.99 seconds, has rushed for 403 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also is a force at middle linebacker with a team-high 41 tackles.
“He's a different breed. We're fortunate to have him,” Jackson said. “He's a really strong runner, super explosive. He'll be playing on Saturdays, big-time ball.”
The 5-10, 170-pound Hess, a second-year starter, has completed 37 of 49 passes for 410 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for 179 yards and three scores. He is the youngest of four Hess brothers to play for Dallas (Luke, Owen, Eli) and the third to start at quarterback.
“Tommy Hess is as good as it gets for high school football,” Jackson said. “He's a fantastic decision-maker. He's a very fast runner, and he throws a great football. We try to give him the ability to make decisions out there.”
West Albany's defense must stay on its toes.
“They're kind of a tricky outfit in defending their offense and what they're doing,” Mehl said. “Their quarterback is a real experienced kid, so he can handle all the variations of the things they do.”
Known for years for its double-wing offense, Dallas has opened things up in recent seasons with a hybrid of the wing-T and Air Raid. Jackson credits offensive coordinator Triston Ringhouse with making the offense more balanced.
“We have an identity, and that's to play physical, smash-mouth football, so we're not losing that, but we've developed a good system that's got a good passing game,” Jackson said.
Dallas is winning the trenches on both sides of the ball, led by senior Asher Olliff (5-8, 200), a 5A first-team selection at center last season.
The Dallas defense is allowing 7.8 points per game. The Dragons have recorded 45 negative plays, nine turnovers and 23 sacks. Galusha, junior Bertram Latta and senior Jace Mosley each have four sacks.
Jackson said his team plays with an edge.
“They all take a ton of pride in being from Dallas,” he said. “I think we have a chip on our shoulder as a program, being such a small 5A school. Our kids have that mindset that they just want to go out there and prove people wrong. They want to do it with Dallas on their chest.”
West Albany has won four in a row since a 13-10 loss at No. 6 Mountain View. The Bulldogs have a potent rushing attack led by senior running back Godfrey Conn (495 yards, four touchdowns) and senior quarterback Beau Harvey (403 yards, seven touchdowns). Sophomore Rai Moors and junior Justice Edmiston also are dangerous in the backfield.
“All three of our backs would start at a lot of high schools in Oregon,” Mehl said. “They're unique in their own way. They have different running styles.”
Mehl said his team has been “pretty consistent” through five games.
“We're tracking in the right direction,” he said. “Certainly I don't believe we're even close to playing our best level of football yet. I think that's still ahead of us.”
Other top match-ups in Week 5:
Friday
6A No. 4 West Linn (3-1) at 6A No. 4 Tualatin (4-0), 7 p.m.: The Lions will try to rebound from last week's 36-35 home loss to No. 2 Nelson in taking on Tualatin in the Three Rivers League opener for both teams. West Linn plays host to No. 1 Lake Oswego next week.
6A No. 8 Sheldon (3-1, 0-0 SD2) at 6A No. 5 Grants Pass (4-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.: Sheldon has won three in a row and cracked the top 10 in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll. After blitzing North Medford 33-13 last week, Grants Pass has a chance to seize the inside track in Special District 2.
Lincoln (3-1, 3-0 Portland Interscholastic League) at Roosevelt (3-1, 2-1), 7 p.m.: Roosevelt won at Lincoln 18-14 last year in a game that ultimately decided the PIL title. Lincoln has been impressive this season, its only loss 43-42 at Lakeridge.
5A No. 2 Summit (2-2, 2-0 Intermountain Conference) at 5A No. 3 Ridgeview (4-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.: Ridgeview also opened 4-0 last year before losing 35-14 at Summit. Both teams posted shutouts last week, Ridgeview 35-0 over Caldera and Summit 42-0 over Redmond.
Forest Grove (3-1) at Aloha (3-1), 7 p.m.: The Special District 3 opener for both teams. Forest Grove leads 5A in scoring (47.8 points per game) behind senior quarterback Adler Case, who has passed for 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns. Aloha suffered its first loss last week, falling at Glencoe 35-28.
4A No. 2 Cascade Christian (4-0, 1-0 SD4) at 4A No. 6 Henley (4-0, 2-0), 7 p.m.: Reigning 3A champion Cascade Christian has cruised through its first four games in its move to 4A. Traditional state power Henley, which lost at Cascade Christian 43-16 last year, will take its crack at the Challengers in a Special District 4 game.
3A No. 8 Douglas (4-1) at 4A No. 9 Siuslaw/Mapleton (4-1), 7 p.m.: Siuslaw won at Douglas 46-42 last year, scoring a touchdown with 16 seconds left in a game that decided the Special District 4 title. Siuslaw meets No. 6 Sutherlin in a district game next week.
2A No. 4 St. Paul (4-1, 2-0 SD2) at 2A No. 8 Colton (4-0, 2-0), 7 p.m.: The winner takes sole possession of first place in Special District 2. Colton, which recorded forfeit wins the last two weeks, has not played since Sept. 11. St. Paul defeated Colton 57-20 at home last year.
2A No. 2 Culver (4-0) at 2A No. 6 Lost River (2-2), 7 p.m.: Lost River defeated Culver 36-12 last year to claim the Special District title and went on to win the state championship. Culver, which has outscored its foes 217-0, takes a step up in competition against the Raiders.
1A-8 No. 7 Camas Valley (4-0) at 1A-8 co-No. 5 Perrydale (3-1), 7 p.m.: High-scoring Camas Valley (53.5 points per game) already has surpassed its win total from 2025, when it finished 3-6. The Hornets will try to keep it going on the road against the Pirates, last year's Special District 2 champions.
1A-8 No. 2 Dufur (3-1, 2-0 SD3) at 1A-8 No. 3 Imbler (4-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.: A game that could go a long way in deciding the title for Special District 3. Explosive Imbler (56.5 points per game), two years removed from going 1-7, can avenge a 35-30 loss at Dufur last year.
jerryu@osaa.org
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