Central Catholic quarterback Cru Newman passed for 26 touchdowns and ran for 11 scores last season. (Photo by Jim Nagae)

In 6A football, many signs point to Central Catholic heading into the 2023 season.

The Rams, four-time 6A champions since 2013, bring back starters at 18 positions from a semifinal team, including a fourth-year letterman at quarterback in Cru Newman. They also added potential impact newcomers.

But if that's not enough, they will have plenty of motivation after their repeat title bid was squashed with a humbling 49-17 loss to eventual champion West Linn.

“You get lambasted like we did in the semifinals, it should give you a little bit of fuel, I would hope,” Central Catholic coach Steve Pyne said.

Pyne, who is 181-53 with four state championships in 20 seasons at the southeast Portland school, knows a title team when he sees one. And this year's squad resembles his past champions.

“I feel like we've got the pieces, but we've got to grow and stay focused,” he said. “If we can do that, we've got a chance.”

Much of it starts with the multitalented Newman. The 6-foot, 180-pound senior split time at quarterback as a freshman and took over the job as a sophomore, leading Central Catholic to an unbeaten season. In 2022, he passed for 2,333 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for 837 yards and 11 scores.

Newman continued to produce last year despite losing a cast of elite weapons from 2021.

“I thought he elevated his game last year, and elevated everyone else around him,” Pyne said. “He let the game come to him. … He's got the skill set to be a college-level quarterback, in my opinion.”

Newman's top target is junior receiver Zhaiel Smith. The 5-10, 180-pound Smith broke out as a sophomore, catching 35 passes for 759 yards and 12 touchdowns. Rated as the state's No. 2 junior prospect by 247Sports, Smith has an offer from Arizona State.

“For his slot ability, he's probably one of the better receivers we've had,” Pyne said of Smith, who also excels at cornerback. “Defensively, that might be his better position at the next level.”

The Rams are so deep on the offensive line, of their four returning starters, only junior Zac Stascausky (6-5, 260) is penciled in as a starter this season. They plan to capitalize on their bounty of linemen by rotating them in groups, much like they did with the 2013 and 2014 title teams.

“That's going to be the philosophy, a hockey line change,” Pyne said. “We just want to keep guys healthy and competitive.”

With the top running backs from last year – senior Cade Gehlen and junior Tyler Newbury – prioritizing defense, the Rams are looking for sophomores Tyson Davis and Killian Sombe (transfer from Westview) to carry much of the load.

The X-factor on offense is explosive and versatile senior Timmy Mitchell, who can strike from anywhere at any time. He's also a threat in the return game.

“He's going to be like our D'Anthony Thomas,” Pyne said, referring to the former Oregon star. “We're going to target him six or seven times a game, and two or three of those are going to be explosive plays.”

Senior lineman Matix Carpenter leads an experienced defense. The fourth-year starter sets the tone for the Rams with his intensity and field smarts.

“He doesn't stop, period, end of story,” Pyne said. “He's put together really well, and his motor is incredible. High football IQ.”

Carpenter is joined up front by junior defensive linemen Kainoa Hayes and Zach Davis, returning starters. Mitchell and Gehlen lead the secondary.

The Rams added two Portland Interscholastic League all-league picks in junior linebacker/tight end Dexter Foster (Roosevelt) and junior receiver/defensive back D'Marieon Gates (Jefferson). Foster (6-4, 200) has committed to Oregon State as a linebacker.

Central Catholic opens the season Sept. 2 at home against Bellevue, the runner-up in Washington's second-highest classification last season. The Rams won at Bellevue 24-23 on a field goal with three seconds left last year.

“I'm sure they're going to come down here with a vengeance,” Pyne said.

Central Catholic has won four consecutive titles in the Mt. Hood Conference. The Rams will take a 22-game MHC winning streak into their conference opener Sept. 14 at Sandy.