Week 2 of OSAA football in the Eugene‑Springfield area brings a fresh chance for several local programs to rebound or build on early success. The most compelling storyline centers on North Eugene, which returns to the field after a lopsided loss to South Albany.
North Eugene seeks a reset
Senior quarterback‑safety D’Mariyae Ireland showed promise this season, but the Highlanders fell 28‑7 on Friday. Coach Rick Raish described the early bye week as a “blessing in disguise,” giving his team time to practice, clean up fundamentals, and review film.
“We’ve been practicing, cleaning everything up, and then doing a lot of film work and classroom work and just taking advantage of the time,” Raish said. He added that the team’s “tiny little mistakes” – messy snaps and repeated off‑side calls – are “totally fixable.”
Caldera presents a test
Caldera enters the matchup with a 1‑1 record and a reputation for resilience. Running back Waylon Clarke, a junior who earned bronze medals in the 200‑ and 400‑meter events at the OSAA outdoor track championships, leads the Wolfpack’s offense. Raish noted that Caldera “didn’t quit” in its recent loss to 6A Sprague and praised the team’s fighting spirit.
“They fought the whole way, and they’ve got a couple of kids that really love to hit, so it should be a fun game. I’m excited about it,” Raish said.
Other local matchups
Willamette (0‑2) travels to Sherwood seeking its first win after a 33‑12 loss at Silverton compounded an opening defeat to Lake Oswego. Sheldon (1‑1) hosts Summit after a strong defensive showing in a 31‑14 victory over West Salem.
Pleasant Hill (1‑0) returns home to face North Marion after a 49‑0 demolition of Amity. Elmira (0‑1) hosts Kennedy following a 49‑0 opening loss, while Triangle Lake (0‑1) visits Crow, which posted a shutout in its debut.
Away highlights
Springfield (1‑0) heads to Corvallis, where both teams sit unbeaten. Coach Frank Geske highlighted senior quarterback Brayden Wickersheim and three‑year starters Jackson Rich and Adam Hernandez as key weapons. A win would keep the Millers undefeated heading into league play and set up a local showdown with Thurston next week.
Marist Catholic (1‑0) travels to Crescent Valley after a 35‑0 victory over Stayton, while Junction City (1‑0) visits Scappoose following a 21‑0 shutout of Seaside. Other road games include Cottage Grove at Mazama, Creswell at Harrisburg, Siuslaw‑Mapleton at Newport, Oakridge at Vernonia, Mohawk at Glendale, and South Eugene at Lebanon JV.
Looking ahead
Week 2 offers each program a chance to correct early mistakes or cement momentum. For North Eugene, the focus is on eliminating snap errors and staying disciplined on the line of scrimmage. If the Highlanders can execute Raish’s adjustments, they may turn a rough start into a competitive season.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
