It's already been a breakthrough football season for Century, which has clinched at least a share of its first conference title since the program started in 1997.
Friday, though, the Jaguars have an opportunity to make it even more special. With a win at five-time reigning Pacific Conference champion Sherwood in the regular-season finale, they can avoid sharing the title and claim it for themselves. Century (6-2, 3-0) enters the game with a one-game lead over Sherwood (4-4, 2-1) and Glencoe (3-5, 2-1).
“It would be the cherry on top, an exclamation point, to what an amazing season we've had if we were to take down Sherwood and win it outright,” Jaguars coach Danny Kernan said.
It won't be easy against a Sherwood, which is 12-0 all-time against Century. The Bowmen are coming off a 28-18 home loss to Glencoe that ended a 29-game conference winning streak.
“They're going to come out hungry,” Kernan said. “They want to make their own stamp on their season, so we've got to find a way to counter it.”
After finishing 4-2 in the COVID-shortened season of 2020, Century went a combined 12-34 in the next five seasons. But the seeds for success were planted last year when the Jaguars started six sophomores on defense and finished 3-6 overall, 1-4 in the Pacific.
“Our expectations this year were to try to place top two in the league, in hopes of having our last game be a shot at the league title,” Kernan said. “We knew we had a playoff team, it was just a matter of can we execute enough to make the playoffs.”
Since losing to Forest Grove 21-14 and South Salem 27-22 in nonleague games, the Jaguars have won five in a row. Their biggest win came at Glencoe on Oct. 15, when they came from behind in the final minute to beat the Crimson Tide 24-19.
Trailing 19-12, junior Ryder Owens took a screen pass the distance to make it 19-18 with about one minute left. Century failed on a two-point conversion, but recovered the ensuring onside kick, and senior quarterback Danny Maldonado threw a touchdown pass to senior Cam Jorgensen with 24 seconds left for the win.
“The emotions during and after that game were something I've never experienced before,” said Kernan, the team's coach since 2019. “Just the thought afterwards, now we do have a shot. Trying to take down Sherwood to be league champ, it's a position that, honestly, I just thought we were maybe a year away from. But it's nice we get the opportunity this year.”
Kernan said a key factor for Century is that the team did not lose any players to nearby schools this year. In the past, that has been costly for the Jaguars.
“If everybody stays where they're supposed to go, and puts in the work, the results can be special,” Kernan said. “This year is proof of that. All the kids stayed.”
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Owens has rushed for 515 yards (12.3 per carry) and six touchdowns and caught 23 passes for 407 yards and six scores. Primarily a slot receiver last year, he has become a running threat from the wing position this season.
“You get the ball in his hands, he finds a way to make guys miss and find the end zone,” Kernan said.
Maldonado has passed for 1,025 yards and 15 touchdowns, with nine going to Jorgensen (22 catches, 482 yards).
Senior lineman Peyton Rasmussen (5-10, 230) has been a two-way force. Juniors Seamus Holmes and Julian Morales have been outstanding at linebacker, and Jorgensen leads the secondary at cornerback.
Sherwood can extend its conference title streak with a win. The Bowmen would share the title with Century and potentially Glencoe, which could join a first-place tie with a home win over Newberg (2-6, 1-2) on Friday.
Sherwood features senior receiver Michael Brandt, who has 59 catches for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Kai Boatsman has completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 1,748 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Other top match-ups in Week 9:
Friday
Lincoln (7-1, 7-0 Portland Interscholastic League) at 6A No. 9 Wells (8-0, 7-0), 7 p.m.: The most anticipated game in the PIL this season has finally arrived. Wells, 8-0 for the first time in 23 years, goes for its third league title in four seasons against the Cardinals, who haven't won the PIL since sharing the title with Roosevelt and Grant in 2018.
6A No. 10 Lakeridge (5-3, 2-2 Three Rivers League) at 6A No. 1 Lake Oswego (8-0, 4-0), 7 p.m.: The Battle for the Lake rivalry game has yielded some surprising results over the years. The Pacers don't need any extra incentive to take down the reigning state champion Lakers.
6A No. 5 Willamette (6-2, 3-0 SD2) at 6A co-No. 6 Sheldon (6-2, 2-1), 7 p.m.: The Wolverines and Irish were setting up for a winner-take-all game in Special District 2, but Sheldon fell to North Medford last week. That means the best Sheldon can do is claim a co-title with a victory.
5A No. 9 Aloha (7-1, 4-0 SD3) at 5A No. 6 Wilsonville (6-2, 4-0), 7 p.m.: Aloha went 0-27 in 6A from 2021 to 2023, but improved to 5-4 and 4-5 in 5A the last two seasons. Now the Warriors can win a district title if they can take down perennial state power Wilsonville.
Sandy (5-3, 3-0 5A SD1) at Gresham (3-5, 2-1), 7 p.m.: Sandy needs a victory to take the district title outright. If the Gophers win, they would force a three-way tie at the top with Sandy and Hood River Valley.
Pleasant Hill (6-2, 4-0 SD3) at 3A No. 3 Klamath Union (8-0, 4-0), 7 p.m.: The Billies and Pelicans square off for the district title. With a win, Klamath Union can complete the first perfect regular season in its history, which goes back to 1912.
Clatskanie (5-3, 4-1 2A SD1) at Knappa (5-3, 5-0), 7 p.m.: Last year, Clatskanie defeated Knappa 21-14 in a game that ultimately decided the district title. Knappa needs a win to take the district outright and avoid sharing the title with the Tigers.
1A-8 No. 4 North Douglas (7-1, 4-0 SD2) at 1A-8 No. 6 Perrydale (7-1, 4-0), 7 p.m.: For the second year in a row, the teams meet in the regular-season finale to decide the district title. Last year, North Douglas won 42-36.
jerryu@osaa.org
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