The Celts are stepping into a new league this season with six teams hungry for success.
Many speculate Wilsonville, the state 5A champion in 2024, will lead the pack.
Here’s what Special District 2 coaches predict for the season ahead, in response to questions from Keizertimes. Included is their overall record from the 2024 season:
Ken Ramirez, McKay (1-8)
Q: What team is expected to lead the league?
A: Even with Wilsonville losing their quarterback, they’re still the team to beat. They’re very well-coached, disciplined, and consistently competitive.
Q:What team is expected to have a better season than last year?
A: I’d say either McNary or McKay. We’re aiming to improve on last season’s single win, and McNary is hungry for their first win in nearly three years.
Q: What team could be a surprise this year?
A: With this being a brand-new league, anything can happen. There’s a lot of unknowns, and someone is bound to exceed expectations.
Q: What are three keys to your team’s success this season?
A: Commitment over everything, accountability, and development at the younger levels.
Daniel Shuff, Hillsboro (7-3)
Q: What team is expected to lead the league?
A: 5A 2x Defending State Champs, Wilsonville will most likely be at the front of the pack this year. Even when they come off having great teams, they always find a way to reload their roster and put themselves in position to compete for another title.
Q:What team is expected to have a better season than last year?
A: I’m not super familiar with the two Salem schools, but I can imagine McKay will have a better season than last year. They had such a late coaching change last season, it’s hard to get a program up and going when a new head coach comes in at the start of the summer. Them having a whole off season to grow will definitely help them out.
Q: What team could be a surprise this year?
A: Aloha! They were young last year and had a lot of talent. They’ve put work in this off season. Look for them to compete for one of those top spots in the league.
Q: What are three keys to your team’s success this season?
A: Stay healthy. We got a lot of guys coming back this year and others stepping up, but if one of those key pieces goes down, this is going to be a tough league week in a week out to compete if you’re shorthanded. Start games strong. Execute early to build confidence. So, we’ve got to prepare and compete during the week in practice to be successful in games. Our most experienced group is our offensive and defensive line. We’re going to rely on them to set the tone for every game and win the battle in the trenches
Adam Guenther, Wilsonville (11-2)
Q: What team is expected to lead the league?
A: I believe any of our teams can be successful if you overlook them. I’m hoping we will be fighting for the league title come the end of October. I believe Canby and Aloha will also be in the thick of it with Hillsboro being the dark horse.
Q:What team is expected to have a better season than last year?
A: I think Canby will have a better season and will be in the hunt…as well as Aloha and Hillsboro.
Q: What team could be a surprise this year?
A: I believe Aloha and Hillsboro have the potential to surprise people.
Q: What are three keys to your team’s success this season?
A: We have a talented but inexperienced team. What will determine our success is how this group gets together, remains coachable and learns every practice taking value in every rep.
Jimmy Joyce, Canby (3-6)
Q: What team is expected to lead the league?
A: I would say Wilsonville. As two-time defending state champs they have to be atop.
Q: What team is expected to have a better season than last year?
A: This is hard to say as the only two teams that are the same for us are Wilsonville and McKay.
Q: What team could be a surprise this year?
A: I think Aloha has a lot of young talent and could be a big surprise around the state.
Q: What are three keys to your team’s success this season?
A: We are super young so how we all come together will be critical. We only return two offensive linemen so our success will be predicated on how fast they mature. Staying healthy. Last year we caught the injury bug so staying healthy will be critical.
Camden McFarland, Forest Grove (5-4)
Q: What team is expected to lead the league?
A: Wilsonville is the clear leader in our new league. Returning state champions and they continue to reload with exceptional players each year.
Q: What team is expected to have a better season than last year?
A: I don’t know much about the Salem schools so it is hard for me to talk about them. From last year Aloha was definitely making strides to improve and they played everyone tough. I expect them to be one of the better teams in the league this year.
Q: What team could be a surprise this year?
A: Again, not much I can say about the Salem schools. Aloha will be much improved and Canby dealt with a lot of injuries last year that derailed their season. They have a really good collection of players and expect them to challenge Wilsonville for the league title.
Q: What are three keys to your team’s success this season?
A: We have an experienced crew of receivers, running backs and secondary players. We expect them to be the strength of our team for success. Our offensive and defensive line will be the deciding factors in our overall success. We will have some young guys getting a lot of varsity experience this year. They are bigger and better athletes than our senior crew last year so we expect them to learn quickly and develop into solid players. Finally, we have a junior QB starting at varsity for the first time but he is very talented and if he is able to do what we’ve seen since last year, he will lead our team into a successful campaign.
James Mitcham, Aloha (5-4)
Q: What team is expected to lead the league?
A: Wilsonville will be a tough team to beat this upcoming season. Other teams that could potentially be at the top; Canby, Forest Grove, and Hillsboro.
Q: What team is expected to have a better season than last year?
A: We are in a new conference this season. I can only assume all participants will likely improve from where they stood last year.
Q: What team could be a surprise this year?
A: I think Forest Grove could be our conference surprise. They are well coached, hardworking and bought into one another.
Q: What are three keys to your team’s success this season?
A: Maintaining positive energy, remaining bought into one another, and being prepared for the grind of the season.
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News tip? Contact reporter Riley Ellis: [email protected].
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