Prep football playoffs begin Friday with Thurston vying for a fourth straight title game
There hasn’t been a Class 5A football championship game played without Thurston as a participant since 2017, a string of three-straight appearances in the title game for the Colts.
The path to a fourth straight begins this week.
Fourth-seeded Thurston (7-2) hosts No. 13 West Albany (5-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in the opening round of the playoffs, as the 5A Special District 2 champion Colts are in the postseason for the sixth straight season not counting the 2020 season that was postponed due to the pandemic.
The last time Thurston failed to make it out of the first round of the playoffs was 2017. Since then, the Colts won state titles in 2018 and 2019 and lost in the championship game to Silverton last season, which ended their 11-game postseason winning streak.
Thurston is on a roll again, as it takes a seven-game winning streak into Friday’s contest.
The Colts opened the season with back-to-back losses to No. 2 Wilsonville (38-35) and at No. 1 Summit (48-10) but have since won six games on the field and one by forfeit by an average score of 41-9.
Thurston could face Summit again in two weeks if both teams make the semifinals.
“We’re an improved football team, but I think everyone is at this point,” coach Justin Starck said. “We’re playing good defense right now and showing some signs offensively, especially in the run game, and we’ve got receivers making big plays and the quarterback’s doing a good job, so, just excited overall.”
The Colts’ defense hasn’t allowed a score since beating No. 9 Eagle Point 24-14 on Oct. 6. That was followed by the forfeit win against South Eugene and consecutive shutouts of Willamette (54-0) and Churchill (44-0) to end the regular season.
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Thurston is led by linebacker Van Halstead, the league’s defensive player of the year, who has 75 tackles, 16 for a loss of yards, including four sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception.
The Colts had five other players named first-team all-league in defensive backs Darien Witham and Lombel Doreen, linebacker Romynn Schaefer, and defensive linemen Justin Dilac and Corren Hester.
On offense, Thurston is led by first-team all-league playmakers in tight end Luke Newell (13 catches, 331 yards, five touchdowns), wide receiver Walker Bonar (38, 462, seven) and Witham at running back (426 yards and six TDs).
Running back Will Dau also has 455 yards rushing and five TDs, and quarterback Noah Blair has completed 90-of-124 passes for 1,199 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions.
The weather could play a role in Friday’s game as the Colts’ natural grass field has taken a beating from the recent rain.
“Wouldn’t even say grass anymore; we’re a mud field,” Starck said Tuesday. “So, wondering how our kids will handle the mud and how West Albany will handle the mud. It should be interesting.
“Our defense is suited for it. They’re pretty physical and fly around. To be honest with you, offensively, I’d like a little faster track. Mud’s an equalizer, it kind of makes everybody the same speed and we’ve got a few kids who are real playmakers with the ball in their hands and it’s gonna slow them down too. It’s not ideal, but you can’t have it all.”
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.
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Prep football playoff schedule
Friday's games
Class 6A
No. 15 Barlow at No. 2 Sheldon, 7 p.m.
Class 5A
No. 13 West Albany at No. 4 Thurston, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Springfield at No. 7 Silverton, 7 p.m.
No. 15 North Eugene at No. 2 Wilsonville, 7 p.m.
Class 4A
No. 14 Gladstone at No. 3 Marist, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Junction City at No. 5 Estacada, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Marshfield at No. 8 Scappoose, 7 p.m.
Saturday's games
Class 3A
No. 9 Siuslaw at No. 8 Vale, noon
Class 2A
No. 13 Monroe at No. 4 Heppner, noon
No. 15 Knappa at No. 2 Lowell, 1 p.m.
Class 1A (6-man)
No. 7 Prairie City at No. 2 Triangle Lake, 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Prep football playoffs begin Friday, Thurston Colts go for fourth title
