A year ago, Scappoose's football team was feeling good about its first two games, racking up 104 points in wins over Pendleton and Baker.
Then the Indians ran into a buzzsaw against Cascade, losing 36-0 at home in a 4A nonleague game, their first shutout defeat in the regular season since 2013.
“They really took it to us,” Scappoose coach Sean McNabb said. “They played way more physical than us. They took the air out of us pretty early in the game.”
Scappoose (2-0), No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll, is back in the same position this season. The Indians again scored 104 points in beating Pendleton and Baker, and now must go on the road to face No. 1 Cascade (2-0) on Friday at 7 p.m.
“We talked about laying an egg against them at home,” McNabb said. “That was no fun. We're excited about the challenge. We've got a chance to go over there and get even with them.”
Scappoose, which lost to champion Marist Catholic 41-7 in the semifinals last year, is building around a talented young cast that features quarterback Will Kessi. The 6-foot-4, 184-pound junior has been efficient in replacing Max Nowlin as the team's starter, completing 17 of 29 passes for 334 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions.
“He throws the ball nice, and he's a run threat, too,” McNabb said. “So we can tweak our offense a little bit more to build in some things for him, to be able to pull the ball down and run. That puts a lot of pressure on the defense when you can do that.”
Kessi has thrown touchdown passes to five receivers, including two each to senior Nolan Lennox and junior Dexter Olson. Junior Elijah Greenan Biggs (6-0, 201) has rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 9.2 yards per carry behind a line that returned three starters in junior center Matthew Neilson, junior guard Shaun Washburn and senior guard Mason Campbell.
To have a chance against Cascade, the Indians must be able to sustain drives.
“We have to grind it out a little bit,” McNabb said. “We can't go three-and-out. We've got to be able to move the chains, keep the ball out of their hands, because they are explosive.”
Scappoose's defense must contend with a Cascade offense that rolled over Baker 36-6 and Redmond 39-7 without throwing a pass. The Indians gave up more than 400 yards in beating Pendleton 56-29 in the opener, but showed improvement in thumping Baker 48-0 last week.
“Defensively, we're not a real physical team yet,” McNabb said. “We've got a lot of new guys in the lineup on that side of the football. That first week against Pendleton, we missed a lot of tackles. We worked on that, and I think we're better now.”
Cascade has one of the state's top running backs in senior Bryce Kuenzi, who rushed for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024 before his season ended with a knee injury in the team's sixth game. Kuenzi has rushed for 241 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries through two games.
“He's still kind of finding his groove,” McNabb said. “He's a hell of a running back. He's one of the better running backs in the state.”
Cougars senior Matt Hinkle, a running back and defensive lineman, has been a driving force. He not only has rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, but he has eight tackles for loss, including two sacks.
McNabb is eager to see how his team handles the physical challenge of Cascade, a semifinalist last year.
“We'll see what we're made of,” McNabb said. “It's going to show us where we are right now in terms of where we stack up in the state. They're going to exploit us a little bit at times. We'll see how tough we are and how we battle back.”
A look at Friday's other top match-ups in Week 2:
6A No. 3 Central Catholic (1-0) at 6A No. 1 Lake Oswego (2-0), 7 p.m.: A rematch of last year's 6A Open semifinal, when Lake Oswego won 33-24 to end the Rams' winning streak at 24. Lakers senior LaMarcus Bell returned from a tender hamstring last week to rush for 149 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-7 win over Sheldon.
6A No. 2 West Linn (1-0) at 6A co-No. 7 Sherwood (1-0), 7 p.m.: Idle last week, West Linn returns to action against the Bowmen, who had to battle to turn back stubborn Roosevelt 31-18 in their opener. The Lions beat Sherwood twice last season, 35-0 in a nonleague game and 49-14 in the 6A Open quarterfinals.
Grants Pass (1-0, 1-0 SD1) at 6A No. 5 Willamette (1-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.: Highly touted Willamette impressed in its return to 6A last week by winning at South Medford 34-7. The Wolverines now must contend with Grants Pass junior quarterback Jordan Rossetta, who helped lead the Cavemen past North Medford 21-18 in their opener.
5A No. 2 Summit (2-0) at 5A No. 1 Wilsonville (1-0), 7 p.m.: Since Summit defeated Wilsonville 35-28 in the 5A final in 2022, the two-time reigning state champion Wildcats have won the last three meetings between the teams, including 34-2 in the 2023 semifinals and 34-7 in Week 2 of last season.
4A No. 5 Marist Catholic (0-2) at 4A No. 4 Henley (0-0), 7 p.m.: The teams collided in the last two state finals, with Henley winning 42-28 in 2023 and the Spartans getting payback 30-6 last year. Marist Catholic is looking to bounce back after losing to Churchill 34-7 and Tillamook 35-21.
Warrenton (1-0) at 3A co-No. 6 Dayton (1-0), 7 p.m.: The teams have traded nonleague home wins the last two years, Dayton rolling 41-18 in 2023 and Warrenton holding the Pirates to a season-low point total in a 36-8 victory in 2024. Warrenton blanked Amity 22-0 in its opener.
Illinois Valley (1-0) at 2A No. 6 Gold Beach (2-0), 7 p.m.: Gold Beach, which finished 2-7 in 2024, has beaten Weston-McEwen 32-14 and St. Mary's 30-22 to start the season. Last year at Illinois Valley, the Panthers gave up a season-high in points in losing 59-36.
2A No. 3 Lost River (1-0) at 2A No. 1 Heppner (2-0), 7 p.m.: Heppner is coming off a 30-26 win over reigning state champion St. Paul that avenged last year's semifinal loss. The Mustangs can't afford a hangover against Lost River, which will be looking for its own payback for losing to the Mustangs 16-12 in the 2024 quarterfinals.
1A-8 No. 6 Elgin (2-0) at 1A-8 No. 2 Union (2-0), 7 p.m.: Elgin, which gave up 56.8 points last season, won its first two games after entering the season on a 13-game losing streak. The Huskies have a tall order against Union, which beat them 76-0 last season.
1A-8 No. 5 Crosspoint Christian (0-1) vs. No. 3 Dufur (2-0) at Summit HS, 7:15 p.m.: Crosspoint Christian will try to rebound from a 44-0 loss to No. 1 Adrian against the Rangers. Last year, the Warriors won at Dufur 42-30 in the season opener.
1A-6 No. 3 Eddyville Charter (1-0) at 1A-6 No. 5 Elkton (1-0), 4 p.m.: Eddyville made a statement with a 39-6 win over reigning state champion Powers, a team that defeated the Eagles 51-6 last year. Elkton, 2-7 in 2024, cruised past Alsea 57-13 last week
jerryu@osaa.org
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