State football preview: PIL goes for first win since 2017, Central Catholic eyes upset

Playoff football is finally here as five local teams will embark tonight into the 6A postseason, four in the state bracket and one in the Columbia Cup.

No. 6 Ida B. Wells is the highest ranked local squad and is hosting, meanwhile No. 10 Lincoln, No. 13 Grant and No. 15 Central Catholic hit the road. No. 19 Franklin is also hosting in the Columbia Cup.

The three PIL teams are all hoping to end a losing streak in the postseason that dates back to 2017, the last time one of the teams won a playoff game in the top bracket (Jefferson won a Columbia Cup game in 2022).

Down below, we take a quick look at each matchup to get you ready for tonight and for whichever matchup you decide to take in.

No. 11 Grants Pass (5-4, 2-2 SD2) at No. 6 Ida B. Wells (9-0, 8-0 PIL), 7 p.m.

Wells hasn’t won a playoff game since 2003, but this 2026 squad might be its best shot in the past 23 years after a 9-0 regular season.

The Guardians power-T offense gives every opponent fits between all the misdirections and potential runners in the deceptive scheme.

Junior Lucius Coon has the most yardage out of the group with 675 yards, good enough for 17th in 6A. Seniors Ethan Hoover (who’s out due to injury) and Olive Hamzaoui each have six TD runs, tied for 24th most in 6A.

Grants Pass is nearly the opposite, boasting a strong passing game that starts with QB Jordan Rossetta. He sits 11th in 6A in passing yards with 1,487 despite missing a few games. He also has 13 TD passes.

Brevik Hill and James Traylor are the top targets with 776 and 824 receiving yards, respectively. Logan Eldred is the lead RB with six rushing TDs on the season.

Wyatt Hanifin will be important for Wells to try and break things up as he has five sacks and 10 tackles for loss this season.

No. 10 Lincoln (7-2, 7-1 PIL) at No. 7 Jesuit (7-2, 5-0 Metro), 7 p.m.

This isn’t the Jesuit teams of old as Phil Rombach took over this year for long-time head coach Ken Potter.

The Crusaders can throw the ball a little bit behind QB Jack Wilson and his 1,588 passing yards and 22 TDs. His main target is Kyle Goodwin who has 625 yards and 11 TDs, the latter number ranking third in 6A.

Jesuit can still get it done on the ground too with RB Luke Ortner sitting fifth in 6A with 1,025 rushing yards and he has nine TDs.

Lincoln can run the ball too and eat up some clock in the single-wing offense. Junior Antayus Wilkins has thrived in that scheme this season with 1,406 rushing yards, good enough for third in 6A. He also has 15 TD runs while teammates Leonardo Correani and Greyson Murff have seven and six, respectively.

Speaking of Murff, he has the most nonoffensive TDs in 6A with three kickoff return TDs and a pick-six. He’s committed to Colorado State for track and field.

Devin Prendergast has seven sacks on the defensive line and Correani leads 6A in tackles with 101, giving the Cardinals some options to try and slow down Jesuit.

No. 15 Central Catholic (4-5, 3-1 Mt. Hood) at No. 2 West Linn (7-2, 4-1 Three Rivers), 7 p.m.

Central Catholic started the year 0-4 against one of, if not, the toughest nonleague schedule in the state, but finished 4-1 to earn a spot in the state bracket.

The Rams have been playing well recently, especially on defense where they lost to No. 3 Nelson 20-19 and held Grants Pass in check in a 16-10 win.

On offense, QB Kody Grant has come along with 1,424 passing yards and 13 TDs, meanwhile Armani Tonga and Summit Grant are a two-heading rushing attack with 509 and 507 yards, respectively. Tonga has 11 rushing scores this season.

West Linn was one of those nonleague opponents, winning the Week 1 matchup 45-20. And the Rams will have to find a way to stop dual threat QB Sloan Baker who has 2,464 passing yards, 25 passing TDs and 13 rushing TDs.

Cohen Bissell is the main RB with 966 rushing yards and nine TDs. And Josiah Molden is a threat on both sides of the ball as a ballhawking DB or a big-play wide receiver.

No. 13 Grant (7-2, 6-2 PIL) at No. 4 Tualatin (7-2, 3-2 Three Rivers), 7 p.m.

Grant will be a heavy underdog heading to Tualatin, but the skill players and depth the Generals have will make this closer than some may think.

Senior Conor Segel has had an impressive campaign on defense with 3 forced fumbles, 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 96.5 tackles. He’s also a strong receiving target on offense for QB Gage Creasy.

Overall, the defense has been strong for Grant as it only allowed 107 points this season, the second fewest in 6A.

Sure, they were against some weaker opponents, but having big guys on the line like Elijah Green and Toka’one He-Lotu Fakapulia, plus a D1-level linebacker in senior Deckard Hale will give the Generals some hope.

On offense, JaCory Jackson has emerged as a strong bell cow back, and big wideouts in Dontae Stidum and Jamarea Sanders give the Generals options there as well.

Tualatin has strong players too though, including Zane Carley on defense with his four forced fumbles, 10 sacks (the most in 6A) and 17 tackles for loss.

Iden Rule is one of the best backs in the state on offense with 16 rushing TDs and 991 yards. QB Lincoln Keeney has turned it up when needed as well, posting 1,736 passing yards and 16 TDs through the air.

No. 22 Mountainside (5-4 overall, 3-2 Metro) at No. 19 Franklin (6-3, 5-3 PIL)

This could be another good-ol-fashioned ground game, starting with the Lightning and their push in the trenches.

Finnegan McTaggart is second in the PIL in rushing yards with 1,022 and also scored 12 TDs. Junior LaQuante James provides a different look with 633 rushing yards, and so does Levi Rountree.

On defense, Thao Tash, Theo Watt and Jamari Cade have all made big plays throughout the season, and could do so again against Mountainside.

The Mavericks have RB Reece Ballew who has 906 rushing yards and nine TDs to lead the ground game. QB Mason Severson has been solid with 1,044 passing yards and nine TDs.

Franklin will need to look out for Cash Arbow who has two nonoffensive TDs this season and three interceptions.

The full bracket

No. 16 Sherwood at No. 1 Lake Oswego, 6 p.m.

No. 9 Willamette at No. 8 Sprague, 7 p.m.

No. 12 Lakeridge at No. 5 Sheldon, 7 p.m.

No. 13 Grant at No. 4 Tualatin, 7 p.m.

No. 14 North Medford at No. 3 Nelson, 7 p.m.

No. 11 Grants Pass at No. 6 Ida B. Wells, 7 p.m.

No. 10 Lincoln at No. 7 Jesuit, 7 p.m.

No. 15 Central Catholic at No. 2 West Linn, 7 p.m.

Columbia Cup

No. 24 Century at No. 17 Westview, 7 p.m.

No. 21 Glencoe at No. 20 South Salem, 7 p.m.

No. 22 Mountainside at No. 19 Franklin, 7 p.m.

No. 23 Tigard at No. 18 West Salem, 7 p.m.