Dallas, 7-0 for the first time since 2000, is holding its opponents to a 5A-low 7.9 points per game. (Photo courtesy Dallas HS)

For years, the Dallas football team was known for its running game, wearing out defenses with a double-wing offense.

When it came to big games, though, the Dragons' often were undone by their inability to pass.

“We said, 'We've got to find ways to be more diverse offensively,'” coach Andy Jackson said.

Offensive coordinator Triston Ringhouse began tinkering with formations a couple seasons ago, defying opponents to load the box. The Dragons have become more adept at throwing the ball, which in turn has opened up their running game even more.

As a result, No. 4 Dallas has started 7-0 for the first time since 2000. The Dragons (7-0, 3-0 5A Mid-Willamette Conference), who haven't won a league title in 28 years, can take over first place Friday with a win at No. 7 West Albany (5-2, 3-0).

Jackson said that Ringhouse is “absolutely crushing it” with the Dallas offense.

“He's looking at our offense and trying to evolve it, but also staying true to its roots,” Jackson said. “We've been building the offense for a while. He's married the power running game with a lot of formations.”

Senior quarterback Eli Hess has found success in the air, completing 54 of 87 passes for 1,082 yards and 11 touchdowns with one interception. Graysen Gardner, a 6-foot-2 senior receiver, has five touchdown catches.

Hess' passing has complemented a rushing attack that averages 248.7 yards per game. The Dragons are getting a big season from 5-foot-10, 145-pound senior running back Sean Ward, who has rushed for 699 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per carry.

“He's just super elusive,” Jackson said of Ward. “He's not a big guy, but he's very shifty and very smooth. When he gets green grass, he can outrun everybody.”

The Dallas defense has more than held up its end, allowing a 5A-low 55 points this season. What the Dragons lack in size they more than make up for in speed, ferocity and football IQ.

“The thing that really separates our defense is we have really smart kids,” Jackson said.

Senior middle linebacker Justin Hofenbredl leads the team in tackles and junior outside linebacker Hunter Rivers has a team-high seven sacks. Senior nose guard Jordan Braziel (5-8, 250) has been dominant. The secondary is full of ball hawks in Gardner, Ward, junior Chase Eriksen and senior Jack Strange.

Since a 10-7 win at Glencoe in the season opener, Dallas is winning by an average margin of 38.0 points per game.

“I believe we've matured a lot as the season has gone on,” Jackson said. “I feel like we've handled situations better. Our offense has been extremely good at finding ways to score at the end of the half and making the most of the opportunities we've been given.”

West Albany will be Dallas' first opponent currently ranked in the top 10 of the OSAAtoday 5A coaches poll. Last year, the Bulldogs won 42-15 at Dallas.

West Albany, which has lost only to No. 1 Silverton and No. 6 Bend, is coming off a 48-18 home win over Lebanon (5-2, 2-1) that ended the Warriors' five-game winning streak. In that game, senior quarterback Kaden Martirano threw four touchdown passes, three to senior Austin Simmons.

“I see a very physical ballclub,” Jackson said of the Bulldogs. “They're really good up front on both sides of the ball. They've got a new quarterback that's doing a really good job throwing the ball around. They've got a lot of play-makers. They're a huge task for us.”

Jackson, who set a Portland Interscholastic League record by rushing for 1,700 yards as a senior at Madison in 2004, is in his seventh season as the Dallas coach since taking over for his father, Tracy, who coached the previous six seasons.

Tracy Jackson, the coach at 6A Barlow the last three seasons, has joined the Dallas staff as a consultant.

“It's been our family goal to have all of us together,” Andy said. “It's really special. He's a great voice to have. He's got tons of experience.”

Other top match-ups in Week 8:

Friday

Westview (3-4, 2-1 6A Metro League) at 6A No. 8 Mountainside (5-2, 3-0), 7 p.m.: Mountainside took a giant step toward its first league title last week by winning at 10-time reigning league champion Jesuit 58-35. Now the Mavericks can wrap up at least a share of that title by beating the Wildcats, who beat Sunset and Beaverton in their last two games.

6A No. 3 West Linn (6-1, 2-1 Three Rivers League) at 6A co-No. 5 Tualatin (5-2, 1-2), 7 p.m.: At the start of the year, the Lions and Timberwolves were the favorites in the tough Three Rivers, but No. 1 Lake Oswego has beaten both to take the pole position. Both teams are coming off losses, the Lions falling 21-17 at home to Lake Oswego and the Timberwolves dropping a 33-22 decision at No. 4 Lakeridge.

Grants Pass (5-2, 4-2 6A SD1) at 6A co-No. 5 Sheldon (7-0, 6-0), 7 p.m.: Sheldon needs a win to set up a showdown with No. 7 Sprague for the district title next week. Dangerous Grants Pass led Sprague 28-7 last week before the Olympians rallied to win 41-40.

5A No. 9 Summit (4-3, 3-0 Intermountain Conference) at 5A No. 3 Mountain View (7-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.: The winner clinches at least a share of the Intermountain title. Reigning conference champion Mountain View has outscored its three conference foes 127-3, but Summit has yielded only 29 points during a four-game winning streak.

4A No. 1 Cascade (7-0, 3-0 Oregon West Conference) at 4A No. 3 Marist Catholic (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.: Cascade, which flexed last week with a 60-19 win at then-No. 2 Philomath, appears to be the 4A favorite. But that could all change against the Spartans, who have a dynamic passing game with quarterback Nick Hudson. Marist Catholic visits Philomath next week.

4A No. 6 Crook County (7-0, 2-0 SD5) at La Grande (5-2, 2-0), 7 p.m.: It's been a special season for Crook County, which has rebounded from going 4-6 in 2023 to reach the doorstep of its first league title since winning the state championship in 1984. The Cowboys can take over first place and clinch a share of the district title by beating the Tigers, who have won four in a row.

3A No. 7 Cascade Christian (4-3, 3-0 SD5) at 3A No. 6 North Valley (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.: Cascade Christian had its 26-game winning streak snapped by No. 1 Vale in the season opener, but the Challengers still have won 22 consecutive league games. That will be put to the test in the first-place showdown against North Valley, which has lost only to No. 3 Siuslaw/Mapleton.

2A No. 5 Gervais (6-0) at Gaston (6-1), 7 p.m.: An intriguing nonleague game between two first-place teams. Gervais has outscored its opponents 344-34, recording four shutouts. Gaston defeated Nestucca 22-14 last week to move into a first-place tie with the Bobcats in Special District 1. Gervais blanked Nestucca 46-0 in the season opener.

1A-8 No. 4 North Douglas (7-0, 6-0 SD1) at 1A-8 No. 3 Crosspoint Christian (7-0, 6-0), 7 p.m.: No team has come close to stopping North Douglas junior Hunter Vaughn, who has rushed for 1,540 yards and scored 39 touchdowns. But Crosspoint Christian might have the firepower to keep pace in the first-place clash.

1A-6 No. 3 South Wasco County (6-2, 4-0 SD1) vs. 1A-6 No. 2 Harper Charter (7-0, 6-0) at Echo HS, 3 p.m.: The division champions collide to decide the district title on a neutral field. Harper Charter won at South Wasco County 45-6 on Sept. 13, but the Redsides have lots of momentum from last week, when they knocked off previously undefeated Prairie City/Burnt River 32-28 on a 27-yard touchdown pass with one second left.