Cascade's football team knew it was going to be next to impossible to top last season, when the Cougars capped a perfect season by thumping Henley 52-0 in the 4A championship game.
They graduated five first-team all-state selections, including the offensive player of the year in running back Bryce Kuenzi and the defensive player of the year in lineman Matt Hinkle.
Yet, through five games this season, Cascade (5-0, 3-0 Special District 2) has been just as dominant, if not more so. The top-ranked Cougars are averaging a 4A-high 56.0 points per game while giving up 5.6. Coach Shane Hedrick believes this year's team is simply carrying the baton forward.
“Our kids have learned from previous years,” Hedrick said. “That's the one thing that's a plus for us now. There's a lot of football smarts in our team, and that's paying off in a big way.”
The Cougars play their biggest game of the season Friday when they play host to No. 4 Estacada (4-1, 2-0) with first place in Special District 2 at stake.
Last year, Cascade won 46-6 at Estacada to claim the district title in the regular season finale. The Rangers, quarterfinalists last year, have won four in a row since opening with a 32-28 loss at 3A No. 1 Vale (5-0).
“We've got a really good Estacada team coming to town,” Hedrick said. “It will be a four-quarter game, for sure. You're not going to go out there and trick them by smokescreen. They're going to be fundamentally sound. They won't get beat before the ball is snapped.”
The Cougars no longer have the threat of Kuenzi – dubbed by Hedrick as the best high school running back he has coached – but their ensemble of skill players is more than making up for it. Nine players scored in Week 4 against Molalla and eight players scored last week against Philomath.
“We don't have that marquee player this year, but we've got some dudes that are pretty good,” Hedrick said. “There's not one guy that you can say, 'Stop him, and you kind of stop the Cougars.'”
Cascade senior running back Wyatt Kerrigan has rushed for 661 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 12.0 yards per carry. The backfield also features junior quarterback Madden Hughes (602 passing yards, eight touchdown passes), sophomore Weston Shewell (five touchdown runs) and senior Travis Conklin (three touchdown runs). Kerrigan, Hughes and Conklin are transfers from Stayton.
The Cougars' most electric player is senior Josiah Hawkins, a 4A first-team pick at receiver and defensive back last season. Aside from four rushing touchdowns, he has returned a kickoff, punt and interception for scores.
“Really, really big-time game-changer,” Hedrick said of Hawkins, who moved from cornerback to free safety this season. “He's one of the best players in the state. Very seldom is he off his feet. He has the ability to stay on his feet when he's cutting.”
Cascade's defense, led by senior all-state defensive end Jamison Walsh, must deal with an Estacada ground attack that averages 328 rushing yards per game. The Rangers' leading rushers are junior Ashton Randall (578 yards, eight touchdowns) and senior Thomas Classen (425 yards, five touchdowns).
Estacada junior quarterback Dane Carpenter has passed for 357 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 210 yards and four scores. Junior Hank Wheeler has two touchdown catches.
Other top match-ups in Week 6:
Thursday
6A Co-No. 10 Wells (5-0, 4-0 Portland Interscholastic League) at Franklin (4-1, 3-1), 7 p.m.: Wells, 5-0 for the first time since 2003, is holding opponents to a 6A -low 8.4 points per game. The Guardians need a win to keep pace with Lincoln for first place in the PIL.
North Marion (4-1) at 3A No. 5 Harrisburg (5-0), 7 p.m.: The Huskies and Eagles, who lead their respective district, collide in a nonleague game. Harrisburg has allowed 32 points through five games under first-year coach Josh Wilcox.
Friday
6A No. 1 Lake Oswego (5-0, 1-0 Three Rivers League) at 6A No. 3 West Linn (4-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.: The most highly anticipated regular-season game in the state. Reigning 6A champion Lake Oswego hasn't lost since falling at home to West Linn 38-16 last season. The Lions beat the Lakers 44-30 in the 2024 state final.
Mountainside (2-3, 0-1 6A Metro League) at 6A No. 9 Jesuit (3-2, 1-0), 7 p.m.: The game has decided the Metro title the last four years, with Jesuit winning in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and Mountainside prevailing in 2024. The Mavericks desperately need a win after falling at home to Westview 10-7 last week.
5A No. 3 West Albany (5-1, 3-0 Mid-Willamette Conference) at 5A No. 1 Silverton (4-1, 2-0), 7 p.m.: One of 5A's best rivalry games. The Bulldogs, coming off an impressive 41-21 home win over No. 8 Dallas, take on the reigning state champion Foxes, who have won four in a row since an opening loss to Coeur d'Alene (Idaho). The winner takes the inside track in the conference.
3A No. 4 Kennedy (4-1, 2-0 SD2) at 3A No. 6 Scio (4-1, 1-1), 7 p.m.: A key two-game stretch for Kennedy, which goes on the road to face the Loggers and district co-leader Harrisburg in back-to-back weeks. The Trojans outlasted Scio 39-26 in a nonleague game last year.
2A No. 2 Culver (5-0, 1-0 SD5) at 2A No. 9 La Pine (4-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.: Culver gave up its first points of the season last week in a 40-14 win at reigning state champion Lost River. La Pine has made giant strides after going 0-9 last season.
Grant Union (4-1, 1-0 SD6) at 2A No. 1 Heppner (5-0, 0-0), 7 p.m.: The Mustangs open district play against Grant Union, which has lost only to No. 2 Culver. The Prospectors haven't beaten Heppner since 2017.
1A-6 No. 2 Elkton (5-0, 2-0 SD3) at 1A-6 No. 8 Crow (3-1, 1-1), 7 p.m.: Last year, Elkton beat Crow 34-0 on its way to the district title, but the Cougars got payback by stunning the Elks 45-39 in the state semifinals. Crow, which lost at No. 5 North Lake 25-12 on Sept. 18, is coming off a bye.
jerryu@osaa.org
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