Survive and Advance: Eastern Oregon high schools close in on state titles
By Joe Hathaway on Friday, November 10th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON — Fall sports is winding down in Oregon and only a handful of local high school teams are still alive in the effort to capture a state championship.
It’s championship weekend for high school boys soccer and an eastern Oregon team is one of two teams still standing statewide. No. 3 McLoughlin out of Milton-Freewater will take on No.1 Westside Christian for the 3A/2A/1A state championship,
The Pioneers are seeking their fourth boys soccer championship and first since 2007.
The boys soccer state championship kicks off Saturday, November 11 at 3:30pm at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.
This weekend will also have a series of what should be thrilling quarterfinal games in football.
In 3A, No. 7 Vale travels nearly 400 miles west to take on No. 2 Cascade Christian at Crater High School in Central Point on Saturday at 1:00pm.
If the Vikings prevail, they’ll face the winner of Yamhill-Carlton/Dayton in the semifinals on November 18th.
In 2A, top-ranked Weston-McEwen/Griswold plays host to No. 9 Illinois Valley at Hermiston High. That game is set for 1:00pm on Saturday.
The Mustangs of Heppner are also battling in the 2A quarterfinals. They’ll face No. 4 Regis in Salem on Saturday at 1:00pm.
If Weston-McEwen/Griswold and Heppner both advance, they’ll square off against each other in the 2A semifinal on November 18th.
In 1A 8-man ball, a slew of local teams have a shot of raising a trophy this year.
No. 2 Crane is at home in Harney County and will take on No. 7 Enterprise on Friday, November 10 at 4:00pm.
The Antelopes of No. 6 Adrian will gallop nearly 500 miles to the Coast Range to take on No. 3 Myrtle Point on Saturday at 2:00pm.
The winners of both games above will meet in the semifinals.
In another 8-man quarterfinal showdown, No. 4 Imbler is at home against No. 5 St. Paul on Saturday at 1:00pm. If the Panthers prevail, they’ll face the winner of No.1 Lost River (the defending state champs) and No. 8 Perrydale in the other semifinal.
Finally, a plethora of local teams are also on campaigns to win the state title in 1A 6-man football.
No. 1 Prairie City/Burnt River looks to advance when the Panthers take on No.8 North Lake on Friday at 6:00pm at home.
No. 4 Joseph is also at home, with the Eagles hoping to soar over No. 5 Eddyville on Friday at 7:00pm.
The winners of the two games above face each other in the semifinals.
On the other side of the 6-man bracket, No.5 South Wasco County heads over to Douglas County to take on No. 3 Elkton on Friday at 1:00pm.
Finally, No. 10 Echo also heads west to play at No. 2 Powers.
The winners of these games will also face each other in the semifinals.
