Sprague’s Noah Mellen runs the ball as the Olympians take on McKay during a Greater Valley Conference game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.
Greater Valley Conference
Game of the week
No. 6 South Salem at West Albany, 7:15 p.m.
Conference championship implications: South Salem (8-0, 7-0) clinched at least a share of the conference championship with last week’s 56-12 win against McNary and extended its conference winning streak to 16 games in the process. A win in this game not only extends that streak, but also clinches a second consecutive outright championship.
A big target: South Salem senior receiver Joseph Carey has become a target that defenses have had to account for. He has caught 28 passes for 661 yards and 14 touchdowns this season and demands attention whenever he is on the field.
Sprague at McNary, 7:15 p.m.
On the air: Radio on KBZY 1490 AM.
Can McNary stop the run? The postseason is loaded with teams that can run the football and defending run-heavy Sprague (6-2, 6-1) will be a good challenge for the Celtics. The Celtics (4-4, 4-3) allowed South Salem 179 yards rushing in last week’s 56-12 loss. Sprague is averaging over 180 yards rushing per game behind senior running back Anthony Nunn.
West Salem at McKay, 7:15 p.m.
Chance for an upset: West Salem (5-3, 5-2) has its season going in the right direction with three straight wins, but McKay (1-7, 1-6) made a reputation of upsetting state playoff-bound conference teams the past two seasons. McKay has struggled to score points in the past couple weeks, but if they can play good pass defense and control the clock on the ground behind junior fullback Matthew Jarding (515 yards, eight touchdowns) they would have a shot.
No. 6 Summit at North Salem, 7 p.m.
A passing challenge: North Salem (3-5) has been challenged by teams that have been heavy on the passing game this season. Summit (7-1) clinched the Intermountain Conference championship and relies heavily on the passing game. Summit quarterback John Bledsoe is 120 for 194 passing for 1,763 yards with 21 touchdowns against two interceptions this season.
Mid-Willamette Conference
Game of the week
Woodburn at No. 9 Central, 7 p.m.
Telling statistics: Central (5-3, 4-2) is No. 12 in the OSAA power rankings; Woodburn (0-8, 0-6) is No. 32 of 32 teams in Class 5A. Central junior running back Alvin Berroa rushed for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns on 197 carries and quarterback Peter Mendazona has passed for 1,328 yards and 16 touchdowns; Woodburn has allowed 426 yards, most among Class 5A teams.
Dallas at Silverton, 7 p.m.
On the air: Radio on KYKN 1430 AM.
Changes in direction: A month ago this game looked a lot less important than it does now. Dallas (3-5, 3-3) has won two straight, including a dominating 35-7 win last week against Lebanon. Silverton (4-4, 3-3) defeated Woodburn 56-14 last week to end a three-game losing streak. Now these teams are fighting for their playoff lives, and a win in this game between two of the four teams tied for fourth place in the conference likely will be enough for a state playoff berth.
State playoff indications for final week of football
Class 4A play-in
Game of the week
Klamath Union at No. 3 Cascade, 7 p.m.
Playing in the hard way: The Cougars (7-1) narrowly missed out on an automatic state playoff berth as they were beat out in the power rankings by Banks. So now Cascade has to play its way into the state playoffs. Klamath Union (3-5) has scored 76 points, fourth least Class 4A. Cascade’s Cameron Molan caught two touchdown passes from John Schirmer and ran for another in last week’s 50-7 win against North Marion.
North Marion at No. 8 Phoenix, 7 p.m.
A postseason challenge: The Huskies (3-5) made their way into the play-in round based on their power ranking and now have to make a long trek to play a tough Phoenix (6-2) team led by senior running back Justin Knight (1,092 yards, 16 touchdowns).
Gladstone at Stayton, 7 p.m.
Time for a rebound: The Eagles (6-2) lost two straight to two of the top teams in the state in Cascade and Philomath and now are playing for their playoff lives. Stayton plays one of the most porous defenses in Gladstone (3-5) and its high-flying offense behind senior quarterback (82 of 163 passing for 1,521 yards and 13 touchdowns) has the potential to light up the scoreboard.
Regis’s Adair Pelayo and the Rams fall to Kennedy 14-6 in a Tri-River Conference game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Mount Angel.
West Valley League
Game of the week
Dayton at Amity, 7 p.m.
Rivalry: This game doesn’t have big stakes, but there’s nothing better that Amity (3-5, 2-3) would like more than to derail the late-season trajectory of Dayton (6-1, 4-1). Amity running back Nike Mudong has rushed for 478 yards and five touchdowns and quarterback Lane Nelson has passed for 617 yards and seven touchdowns. If Amity does well on defense, the Warriors could upset their rival.
Santiam Christian at Horizon Christian, 7 p.m.
League title implications: Santiam Christian (7-1, 5-0) has wrapped up at least a share of the league championship, but a surprisingly dangerous Horizon Christian (4-4, 3-2) team is the only thing that stands between the Eagles and the outright league title. Santiam Christian’s ground game has been solid behind running back Jeremy Neufeldt, who rushed for three touchdowns against Sheridan last week.
Sheridan at Willamina, 7 p.m.
Another rivalry: The only thing this rivalry game will determine is will Sheridan (1-6, 0-5) or Willamina (0-8, 0-5) place last in the league.
PacWest Conference
Game of the week
Chemawa at Scio, 7 p.m.
No doubts: Since the second week of the conference season the only thing that has been in question in most of the games of Scio (8-0, 5-0) is how quickly can they put 45 points up against their opponent and get to a rolling clock.
Colton at Jefferson, 7 p.m.
Still has a shot: The winner of this game places fourth in the conference. Colton (4-4, 2-3) still has a shot of reaching the state playoffs if the Vikings defeat Jefferson (2-6, 2-3) and finish the season high enough in the OSAA’s power rankings, and Colton is currently No. 14.
Gervais vs. Blanchet Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Where: McCulloch Stadium.
On a roll: Blanchet (7-1, 4-1) has won five straight and risen to No. 2 in the OSAA’s power rankings, which puts the team in an enviable position going into the 3A state playoffs.
Salem Academy at King’s Way Christian, 7 p.m.
Late nonleague game: Salem Academy (6-2) has completed its PacWest Conference season with a 4-2 record and clinched its second consecutive state playoff berth, but in the interim travels to Vancouver, Washington, to play Kings Way (5-2).
Tri-River Conference
Game of the week
Regis at Santiam, 7 p.m.
Back in the hunt: A couple weeks ago it looked like Regis (5-3, 2-1) was out of the confernece title picture, but a 35-18 upset of Central Linn last week puts the team back in contention for the title. A win up the road in Mill City against Santiam (4-4, 1-2) and the Rams win a share of the title for the second straight year.
St. Paul at Central Linn, 7 p.m.
Different roads: Central Linn (7-1, 2-1) is heading to the state playoffs after this game; St. Paul (3-4, 0-3) is not.
Class 1A
Game of the week
Arlington/Condon at No. 5 Perrydale, 5 p.m.
Outright league title: Perrydale (7-0, 5-0 1A Special District 4) clinched at least a share of its first league championship since 2008 with a 52-20 win last week against Sherman, but a win against Arlington/Condon (4-2, 3-2 1A Special District 4) the outright league title.
Falls City at North Douglas, 7 p.m.
League playoff: 1A Special District 3 has a one-game league playoff system. Falls City (3-5) plays North Douglas (6-2) in a matchup of teams that were second in their respective halves of the conference. This is a rematch of the fourth week of the season when North Douglas defeated Falls City 52-14.