Football heads for the real playoffs Friday

Thomas Tyner and the Aloha Warriors are a longshot to repeat as Class 6A champions.

Photo by Cliff Pfenning, oregonsports.com

The elimination round of the state playoffs began for most of the state last week, but they weren't counted as actual playoff games historically.

Actual playoff games begin this week, with teams seeded No. 1 through 8 at all six classifications.

They're seeded through No. 8 in two brackets for classes 1 through 5 and in four brackets at Class 6A.

Of the four teams seeded No. 1 in the six classifications, five will be looking for their first title: Lake Oswego and West Linn at Class 6A, La Salle at 4A, Santiam Christian at 3A and Crane at 1A.

Two are defending champions: Sherwood at 5A and Scio at 2A, which is a two-time defending champion.

Dayton, making its 26th playoff appearance, will be looking for its seventh state title, the last coming in 2002.

Jesuit and Marist will both be looking for title No. 6. Both have lengthy playoff streaks - Jesuit 19 straight seasons, Marist 15 straight.

Gold Beach is making its eighth-straight playoff appearance, but hasn't won a title since 1963.

Camas Valley has won four titles, but none since 1990. The Hornets lost in the Class 1A title game last season.

This year's playoffs will not include the state's two most successful programs: Vale and North Medford. Vale, with 67 playoff wins, suffered through a 1-8 season in Class 3A, and North Medford, with 66 playoff wins - most before South Medford was created in 1986, lost at David Douglas in the 6A play-in round Friday.