LaSalle clinched the Conference Championship with their 21-16 win in the Estacada mud, while Cascade rolled to a 37-0 win over North Marion. Molalla cruised at Stayton, 47-13.

The conference dropped to 17–8 against non-conference opponents on Gladstone’s 20-14 loss to Cottage Grove. I was 3-1, missing the non-conference game, and am now 32-8 for the season.

Stayton Eagles (1-7, 0-4) @ #7 Cascade Cougars (6-2, 2-2). The “Brawl” brings out fans that aren’t seen any time else all season. The Eagles are playing out the string, and even the rivalry may not motivate a major effort. The Molalla game was never in doubt.

The Cougars could get QB Nick LaMonica back, but with the efforts Bryce Petersen has put forward the last two weeks, there is no urgency to LaMonica’s return. R.J. Williams has topped 1,000 yards rushing on the season, making the multi-threat Cascade passing game more effective in the process.

NC and his Eagles need a lift, but this won’t be it; Cascade rolls on to the showdown with Estacada probably a winner take all game for a trip to the GOL.

North Marion Huskies (5-3, 1-3) vs. #3 LaSalle Falcons (7-0, 5-0) at PGE Park. Last league game for the Falcons. The Huskies were humbled in their own mud by Cascade. The Falcons were probably the most adversely affected team by the Ranger mud, but still won. Regardless of the weather, the PGE Park turf will allow speed to show. The three keys differences are that the Falcons’ Chris Nagel is a faster back than the Huskies Marvin Medina, the LaSalle middle defense is more mobile than North Marion’s, and the Falcons have a more productive, and faster, passing game.

Any chance that the Falcons will let up with the title wrapped up seems remote. They have a tune-up game coming, then a week off in two weeks to rest. Look for this game and next week’s non-counter to be a combination of a test and tune session for the playoffs, and a celebration of Nagel’s senior season. Also, the Falcons want the unbeaten regular season record. Falcons fly high in this one.

Gladstone Gladiators (5-3, 3-1) @ Molalla Indians (2-6, 1-3). The Gladiators wrap up the second playoff berth, and a first round home game, with a win. That makes this a big opportunity, but with a home game against Stayton still to come, not a mandatory win. The Indians are another team similar to Cottage Grove, in that they are a predominately running team, and a big, physical team.

For that reason, a good Gladiator effort would be not only reassuring to their fans, but an indicator that the Gladiators have addressed their deficiencies against the power game.

Molalla has finally found their offense in the last few games. The explosion against the Eagles is largely a product of an over-taxed Stayton defense though, and not an indicator that the Indian offense is fully back to last year’s level.

The Molalla mud may be a factor if the weather is wet, but the forecast is for a dry week. Good news for the Gladiators. The ability of Gladstone’s QB Taylor Taft to throw on the Indian defense will be an important advantage in any weather. After consecutive losses, albeit to ranked opponents, look for the Gladiators to make a concerted effort to not allow doubt to creep in, and edge the Indians.

The Estacada Rangers (7-1, 3-2) have a bye before heading to Cascade next week, for what will be a must win game for both teams.

CC

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