Mazama Football ranked #1; Henley #10
/
Mazama drives against Banks in an impromptu match-up at Cottage Grove High School on March 20, 2021. Following the game the 12 member 4A classification committee ranked Mazama #1 in the Oregon 4A. (Image, Brian Gailey)
Following their 42-0 victory over North Valley at home on Saturday, the committee has ranked Henley in the ten-spot. This places them outside the top teams but in the hunt for a top eight spot. (Image: Rocky French)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - It has been anything but a typical year for high school athletics. Shortened seasons and postponed season starts, and canceled games; all due to the pandemic. The official OSAA State Championships have also fallen victim to the pandemic; as they were cut from the fall, winter, and spring seasons. However, a group of 4A Athletic Directors and Coaches want to change that. Together they have created the 4A Classification initiative, in an attempt to find and reward the best teams in 4A football.
The goal of the initiative is to provide a ranking system of the top eight 4A football programs to ultimately determine the top-ranking teams to play in a ‘Championship Game.’
According to Steve Walker, OSAA Sports Information Officer the OSAA board is not involved with the classification initiative. “It is a well-organized plan generated by the cohesiveness there seems to be among schools at the 4A class,” said Walker.
A twelve-member committee has compiled a ranking system for the 4A football programs following week three of the season. Rankings will also be formulated by the committee following week 4 and week 5.
The committee is made up of two representatives from each of the 4A leagues representing 34 schools (Cowapa, Tri-Valley, Oregon West, Sky Em, Skyline, and Greater Oregon). Each representative will vote for their top eight schools and cannot vote for schools from their own league.
“The committee was the best way to create a Championship event for Football and the other sports,” said Mazama High School Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Vic Lease. “There is a committee for each sport as the 4A Classification moves forward.
Lease added, “Each league is represented with two voting members. Kind of like how the old BCS system was set up for D1 football. For the other sports, there will be an eight-team bracket.”
As the twelve person committee ranks the teams, points are calculated for each position (#1 = 8 points, #2 = 7 points, #3 = 6 points, #4 = 5 points, #5 = 4 points, #6 = 3 points, #7 = 2 points, #8 = 1 point). The points are then summed and the teams are then ranked by the totals.
The point totals from the results will not be compounded week-to-week. For example, the third week will not be included in the fourth week, as the fourth week will not be included in the fifth.
The twelve-member committee meets weekly prior to the rankings. They will also meet for discussion during the final week of April 3 prior to the final vote.
The top teams from the final poll will determine who will play for a State Championship. The first- and second-ranked teams will play for a title. The third- and fourth-ranked teams will play for the third and fourth place trophies.
Teams ranked but not in the top four will have a few choices available. They can:
Play another school in the 4A classification ranking,
Play a school in their region, or,
not play at all.
The rankings each week will show the schools that received votes from the ranking committee. This will allow for schools, after the fifth week and not in the top four, to contact another school close in the ranking for a final contest during the “Culminating Week.”
Week 3 Rankings
Week 3 Rankings, Top 8 by point total: Mazama (79 pts), Marist (71 pts), Gladstone (60 pts), Marshfield (59 pts), Cascade (39 pts), Banks (36 pts), Estacada (24 pts), and Seaside (22 pts). Also receiving votes: La Grande (19 pts), Henley (11 pts), Crook County (2 pts).
The committee has selected the following schools as the Oregon 4A Classification Rankings for week 3: 1. Mazama, 2. Marist, 3. Gladstone, 4. Marshfield, 5. Cascade, 6. Banks, 7. Estacada, and 8. Seaside. Also receiving votes are: La Grande, Henley, and Crook County.
“It feels good to be recognized as one of the best teams in the state during this shorten season,” said Coach Lease. “I feel that there could be two others teams that could be ranked number one. We have two contests left lets hope we are still in the top two in two weeks.”
“We are thankful to the committee for their hard work and dedication,” said Henley Football coach, Alex Stork after receiving votes in Week 3 rankings. “We hope we can continue to progress and put ourselves in a position to be one of the top teams a few weeks from now. Our guys are honored to be considered a top team but also know we can improve.”
“They [Mazama Varsity football] are honored to be recognized but know it only means something to be ranked number one when it’s all over,” added Coach Lease.
In addition to football, the committee is working on solutions for cross country, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and sports in seasons 3 and 4 (winter & spring sports).
Week 4 Preview
On Thursday, Mazama (4A, 3-0) will travel to Thurston (5A, 3-0) for their most challenging game in the forty-year history of the program, when they face the back-to-back 5A State Champs.
The Colts are on a 16-game winning streak, dating back to October 26, 2018, when their last loss came at the hands of Churchill 20-28. In the 2018/19 season, Thurston defeated Willsonville 30-27 to become the 5A State Champions. The following season Thurston defeated Crater in the Championship game 14-10.
Mazama's last loss came at the hands of Tillamook when they lost at home in the first round of the 2019/20 playoffs, 14-19.
Henley was scheduled to face cross-town rival Klamath Union on Friday. But that game has been canceled due to health and safety protocols by the Pelicans.
No word yet on if Henley will have a replacement game scheduled. Also, there is no yet enough information on if/how that will affect the Canal Bowl scheduled between Mazama and Klamath Union on April 2.
[Follow Klamath Sports Network for updates].
Editors Note:
A request for comment from the committee’s chair, Greg Mulkey, Marshfield High School was unavailable at press time.