Sheldon senior quarterback Kelsen Sperry has passed for 18 touchdowns with one interception this year.(Photo by Noreen Anderson)
Perhaps the biggest wild card in 6A football this season is No. 4 Sheldon.
The undefeated Irish (8-0, 7-0 Special District 1) are outscoring their opponents by 46.4 points per game – winning every game by running clock – but have yet to face a team currently ranked in the top 10 of the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll.
“I haven't watched any of those teams,” first-year Sheldon coach Tyler Martell said. “I think we can play with anybody, but it's hard to tell.”
Starting this week, though, the Irish will get a better idea of where they stand. On Friday, they will play for the district title when they visit No. 6 Sprague (8-0, 7-0) in the regular season finale.
“Our stars have played one game of four-quarter football,” Martell said. “Our guys are just excited about the opportunity to go and play an 8-0 team on the road. It's what you sign up for, to play games like that.”
Sheldon and Sprague have appeared to be on a collision course all season. Judging by comparative scores, the Irish seem to have the edge, especially when considering how both teams fared against Grants Pass (5-3, 4-3) in the last two weeks.
On Oct. 18, Sprague fell behind Grants Pass 28-7 before rallying to win 41-40. Last week, Sheldon made quick work of the Cavemen, rolling 63-6.
Sheldon's offense has been in high gear for the past month. The Irish are averaging 61.6 points in the last five games, operating with high efficiency behind senior quarterback Kelsen Sperry.
Martell said that the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Sperry, the JV quarterback last year, has made “incredible progress” this season. He has flourished under the guidance of ex-Irish head coach Marty Johnson and former Sheldon star quarterback Jordan Johnson.
Sperry has completed 74 of 105 passes for 1,128 yards and 18 touchdowns with one interception, doing his damage primarily in the first half of games.
“He just doesn't force anything,” Martell said. “He makes the right decision and has gotten the ball where it needs to be. We have enough playmakers where he doesn't feel like he has to do too much. He's a smart kid, and he's taken that coaching and it's translated.”
Sperry has a cast of talented targets. Senior tight end Brody Thomas has a team-high five touchdown catches and senior receivers Kerek Kato and Rocco Graziano have four each.
“Last year we didn't throw it around as well,” Martell said. “Our receivers were inexperienced, and now those guys have all grown into themselves.”
Senior running back Mana Tuioti (5-11, 225), committed to Boise State as a linebacker, has rushed for 534 yards and 15 touchdowns. Tuioti, whose brother Teitum plays linebacker at Oregon, sets the tone for the Irish on both sides of the ball.
“Mana's impressive in that he's our best player, but he also practices harder than anybody,” Martell said of Tuioti, who leads the team in tackles and has two interceptions. “Teitum was the same way, just practiced hard and has a good time playing football.
“He's just unbelievably savvy. He's able to make plays and understands scenarios even if we haven't had the time to get through those scenarios in practice. He's just a football mind.”
Sheldon's defensive line has been dominant with seniors Luke Saraceno (seven sacks) and Brody Borrevik at tackle and Thomas at end. The Irish have 24 sacks and are holding opponents to 150 yards per game, 30 rushing.
“Those guys have all caused a ton of chaos,” Martell said. “You mix the defensive line with linebackers like Mana, and teams have a hard time running on us.”
Sprague, idle last week after defeating Grants Pass, has a dynamic offense that features senior quarterback Dukatti Weatherspoon (6-4, 210) and senior running Kenya Johnson (6-1, 200).
Weatherspoon has completed 71.5 percent of his passes for 1,739 yards and 17 touchdowns with six interceptions. Johnson has rushed for a conference-leading 1,207 yards and 15 touchdowns and has caught six scoring passes.
“The quarterback is big and has a big arm,” Martell said. “He has the capability of throwing the ball all over the field. The running back, when they've needed a play, they've given him the ball and he's made a whole bunch of plays. He's going to be a handful.”
Sheldon has an X-factor in Graziano, who has committed to Oregon as a kicker. He has made all 54 of his extra-point attempts this season and recently made a 53-yard field goal in practice with room to spare.
The Irish won at Sprague 50-13 last year.
Other top match-ups in Week 9:
Thursday
6A No. 9 Sherwood (6-2, 3-0 Pacific Conference) at Newberg (4-4, 3-0), 7 p.m.: Since losing to Newberg in the COVID-shortened season in the spring of 2021 – when the Tigers went 4-0 in the Pacific – Sherwood has won 21 consecutive conference games. Now the teams square off for the Pacific title.
Friday
6A No. 5 Lakeridge (7-1, 3-1 Three Rivers League) at 6A No. 1 Lake Oswego (8-0, 4-0), 7 p.m.: Lake Oswego can claim the outright Three Rivers title by defeating the rival Pacers in the Battle for the Lake. If Lakeridge wins, though, the Pacers will share the title with Lake Oswego and possibly No. 3 West Linn, which plays at Oregon City on Friday.
Clackamas (6-2, 5-1 Mt. Hood Conference) at 6A No. 10 Nelson (6-2, 5-1), 7 p.m.: The rivalry game not only is for bragging rights in Happy Valley, but it could determine who gets an at-large berth in the 12-team 6A Open playoff bracket. Heading into the game, Clackamas is No. 8 and Nelson is No. 11 in the OSAA 6A power rankings.
Glencoe (6-2, 6-0 5A SD1) at 5A No. 10 Hood River Valley (7-1, 5-1), 7 p.m.: Glencoe, which dropped down from 6A this season, needs to polish off Hood River Valley to complete a perfect run through Special District 1. But the Eagles can split the district title with the Crimson Tide with a victory.
5A No. 9 Thurston (7-1, 6-1 Midwestern League) at 5A No. 8 Willamette (7-1, 6-1), 7 p.m.: The teams, tied for second place behind No. 4 Churchill, have secured their spots in the 5A playoff bracket. Willamette, which has made a dramatic turnaround from 0-9 last season, is looking to take down the perennial league power Colts.
Molalla (4-4, 3-0 4A SD2) at Estacada (4-4, 3-0), 7 p.m.: After struggling in nonleague play, the Indians and Rangers have found their footing and will face off for the district title. Molalla, which handled Estacada 36-14 last year, hasn't won a league title since 2015.
4A No. 1 Marist Catholic (7-1, 4-0 Oregon West Conference) at 4A No. 5 Philomath (7-1, 3-1), 7 p.m.: Marist Catholic moved to the top of the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll this week after drubbing then-No. 1 Cascade 47-0 last week. The Spartans can win the Oregon West title outright with a victory, but the Warriors still have a chance at a share of the title.
4A No. 7 Mazama (5-3, 4-0 SD4) at 4A No. 2 Henley (7-1, 4-0), 7 p.m.: Emotions will be high as the South Side Series rivalry game will determine the league title. Last year, Henley beat Mazama 42-14 to end the Vikings' 27-game league winning streak on the way to its first state championship in 41 years.
3A No. 5 Santiam Christian (7-1, 6-0 SD2) at 3A No. 7 Taft (7-1, 6-0), 7 p.m.: It's been a magical season for Taft, which went 4-5 last season, and now the Tigers play perennial power Santiam Christian for the district title. Taft hasn't won a league title since 2003.
2A No. 2 Gervais (7-0, 2-0 SD2) at 2A No. 7 Colton (6-2, 2-0), 7 p.m.: The Gervais defense has five shutouts and has allowed 34 points all season, with 27 coming against Salem Academy. Now, in the district title game, the Cougars have to stop a Colton team that is averaging 54.0 points in its last five games.
2A No. 6 Lowell (6-2, 4-1 SD5) at 2A No. 9 Lost River (6-2, 4-1), 7 p.m.: If first-place Culver takes care of business against Glide, then this game will settle the No. 2 automatic state playoff berth for Special District 5. It matches last year's state champions, Lowell in 2A and Lost River in 1A-8.
2A No. 10 Enterprise (5-2, 4-1 SD6) at 2A No. 3 Heppner (8-0, 5-0), 7 p.m.: Heppner, playing its final year for legendary coach Greg Grant, can wrap up a perfect regular-season and a district title with a win. But Enterprise, coming off back-to-back losses to Culver and Stanfield, can earn a share of the district title by beating the Mustangs.
Saturday
1A-6 No. 4 Eddyville Charter (8-0, 5-0 SD2 North) vs. 1A-6 No. 2 Powers (8-0, 6-0 SD2 South) at Creswell, 6 p.m.: The top teams from the North and South divisions meet for a showdown. Eddyville is coming off a 13-12 nonleague win over reigning state champion Echo. The teams haven't played since the 2022 quarterfinals, when Powers rolled 59-6.
