Vibes are high for rebuilding David Douglas football in first year under Tyler Maes

HAZELWOOD – Rebuilding a program takes plenty of love and care, which is why Tyler Maes was brought in as the new David Douglas High School head football coach.

The former Scots quarterback has been an assistant there before and is back home looking to take a big step in year one.

With a solid core of returning players from a team that went 2-7 last year playing in 5A Special District 1, the pieces and belief are there for the Scots to start turning the program back into a winner.

“It’s been a lot of fun, kind of surreal to think about having conversations with Dan Wood who was the head coach here for 26 years and my head coach,” Maes said. “Being back, it’s really cool to be in a leadership position. I think it helps the kids see that this place can be something special and I think it’s helping some buy in right now.”

Maes is the third different coach in four years for the Scots, replacing a two-year run from Jay Williams where they went 3-15 overall.

The first-year head coach went straight to work when he was hired in the spring though, getting players out for spring and summer ball in order to start building momentum for the fall.

“I’ve had three different coaches in my four years here and I think coach Maes, I’d say he’s the most organized coach,” David Douglas senior Elias Nault said. “Coach Maes, I think he’s a great leader overall and we’re going to do well.”

“I’ve known Maes since my freshman year, but I never really got to be coached by him,” Scots senior Malakai Fong said. “I’ve built a great relationship with him.”

Fong will be the center of the offense at the running back spot, listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds last year as a junior where he earned second-team All-SD1 at RB.

He’s far from alone though as senior quarterback ZaShawn Perez is also back, alongside All-SD1 first-team utility player Jaxon Ketel, a junior.

Add in Nault on the offensive line and there’s plenty of experience back for the offense to start lighting up the scoreboard in 2026.

“We’re learning a new offense, coach Maes brought his own stuff that’s way different than last year,” Fong said. “We’re all learning it, but it’s looking really great.”

“I think it’s really important that we have all of our guys returning, the team chemistry is being boosted,” Nault said. “I think the familiarity really helps everyone out.”

Defense was tougher for the Scots in 2025 where they allowed 34.2 points per game, 308 total in nine games.

However, the entire defensive backfield is back, giving Maes plenty of experience to work with as he introduces a new defensive scheme.

“Our back seven is all returning from last year … that’s a huge plus to have guys that have been under the lights, taken snaps, taken hits and been together,” Maes said. “My defensive coordinator Matt Frye is coming over from Barlow. We feel really good there, we’re rotating in a bunch of guys on the D-line, but I feel good about where we’re at.”

David Douglas dropped down to Class 5A following the 2023 season in order to help the program rebuild and eventually get back into 6A.

The only way up is winning, and the current group is buying into that goal of winning more games and putting the Scots back where they belong.

“The vibes are high, the hopes are high and I think our install of the new offense is going really well,” Nault said. “The defense is also coming along really well and I think this season we’re all excited, we’re all ready and we’re gonna win a lot of games.”

While the Scots may be in 5A, their new league feels quite a bit like the Mt. Hood Conference as they’ll play Centennial, Gresham, Hood River Valley and Sandy for the Special District 1 title.

Not only that, but one of the five nonleague matchups for David Douglas is Reynolds, giving them plenty of East County flavor.

“I like the league we’re in, it reminds me of the league I played in,” Maes said. “It feels like the schedule we should be playing whether we’re 5A or 6A. These are the teams we’re accustomed to playing. I’m just excited for those traditional East County matchups and games. I think it’s a good level of competition for us where we’re at and where we’re trying to get to.”

David Douglas opens the season on the road at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 against St. Helens before taking on McNary, Reynolds and Putnam in the nonleague slate. The season ends with another nonleague matchup against La Salle Prep.

The first league game will be 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at Gresham, marking the potential road back to the playoffs for the Scots, who haven’t made the postseason since 2021 at 6A.

“Playoffs of course, we all want to make the playoffs, but we gotta start game-by-game, one game at a time and go from there,” Fong said of the goals for 2026. “Keep staying consistent, showing up every day and giving my hardest.”

2026 David Douglas schedule

Jamboree: Aug. 28 at Franklin, 6:30 p.m.

Week 1: Sept. 4 at St. Helens, 7 p.m.

Week 2: Sept. 11 vs. McNary, 7 p.m.

Week 3: Sept. 18 at Reynolds, 7 p.m. (Mt. Hood Community College)

Week 4: Sept. 25 vs. Putnam, 7 p.m.

Week 5: Oct. 2 at Gresham, 7 p.m.

Week 6: Oct. 8 vs. Centennial, 7 p.m.

Week 7: Oct. 16 at Sandy, 7 p.m.

Week 8: Oct. 23 vs. Hood River Valley, 7 p.m.

Week 9: Oct. 30 at La Salle Prep, 7 p.m.