With the first contest date of the football season less than 30 days away, let’s take a quick look and breakdown the Colton High School football schedule for this year. League play will look a bit different this year due to the departures of Culver, Blanchet Catholic and Willamina, while Salem Academy joins after a year spent in Class 3A.
All games will have a 7 p.m. kickoff unless noted otherwise.
Week 1, Friday, Aug. 30:
vs Myrtle Point (Special District 4)
The Bobcats had a stellar campaign as part of the 1A classification last year, finishing 8-2 overall and 4-1 in league. They entered the 8-man state playoffs as the 3-seed, ultimately losing to runner-up Crane 28-22 in the state semifinals.
Myrtle Point produced an explosive offense, totaling 50 or more points eight times, including two 70-point plus performances. The team averaged an absurd 55.75 points per game during the regular season while allowing 27 points.
The Bobcats are returning to Class 2A for the first time since 2017, where they finished 0-9 overall. The matchup will be the first between the two teams in at least over a decade.
Week 2, Friday, Sept. 6:
@ Heppner (Special District 6)
Heppner has long been a perennial championship contender and the jewel in eastern Oregon high school football. That wasn’t any different last season, as the Mustangs finished 8-3 overall and 4-1 in league, ultimately losing to Regis 27-20 in the 2A state quarterfinals.
The Vikings lost at home 50-12 in a Week 3 matchup against Heppner last year, the first of what became a four-game losing streak. The Mustangs were consistent across the board, scoring 40-plus points six times and allowing just under 15 points per game during the regular season.
Week 3, Thursday, Sept. 12:
@ Culver (Special District 5)
The Bulldogs went 3-6 overall and 2-4 in league last season, plagued by a five-game losing streak after starting 2-1. Culver had little issue scoring the ball, averaging 40 points per game, but struggled immensely on defense, giving up 37 points per game.
The teams met in the final game of the year, with Culver securing a 50-14 road victory. The Bulldogs have won three of the last five meetings dating back to 2019.
Week 4, Friday, Sept. 20, 6 p.m. kickoff:
vs Illinois Valley (Special District 4)
The Cougars mustered a respectable campaign in 2023, finishing 7-4 overall and 5-2 in league. Illinois Valley upset Gaston in its first-round 2A state playoff game before eventually losing to Weston-McEwen/Grisold 59-18 in the state quarterfinals.
During the regular season, the team averaged 33.5 points per game while allowing just under 26 points. Last season was the most wins in a year for the Cougars since 2010. The matchup will be the first between the two teams in at least over a decade.
Week 5, Friday, Sept. 27:
@ Reedsport (Special District 4)
Reedsport improved last year upon its 2022 winless campaign, but it wasn’t a complete turnaround. The team finished 3-6 overall and 2-5 in league. Reedsport was kept scoreless four times and held to 12 points or less six times. All of the team’s losses were by double digits, with the closest game being a 19-point loss against Glide.
The matchup will be the first between the two teams in at least over a decade.
Week 6, Friday, Oct. 4:
vs Santiam (Special District 2)
The Wolverines had nothing go right in 2023, finishing 0-8 overall and at the bottom of the league standings, forfeiting their last game of the year against Regis.
Santiam averaged just under 18 points per game while giving up a ridiculous 49 points. The Vikings clinched a 36-28 road victory against the Wolverines in Week 7.
Week 7, Friday, Oct. 12:
BYE
Week 8, Friday, Oct. 18:
@ Salem Academy (Special District 2)
The Crusaders got off to a bumpy start in 2023, losing four of their first five games. The team eventually finished 5-4 overall and 4-3 in league, failing to qualify for the 3A state playoffs despite finishing the season on a four-game win streak.
A return to 2A might be just what Salem Academy needs. The team was a run-of-the-mill squad, scoring around 25 points per game while allowing just under 24 points. The teams last met in 2021, with Salem Academy holding onto a 14-8 home win.
Week 9, Friday, Oct. 25:
@ Regis (Special District 2)
The Rams have lost just three games the last two seasons and went unbeaten in the regular season last year, ultimately having its season cut short in the state semifinals against runner-up Weston-McEwen/Grisold.
Regis posted a ridiculous 46.25 points per game and allowed just under 16 points per game. The program hasn’t had a losing season since 2019. Colton suffered a 63-22 road loss against the Rams in Week 4.
Week 10, Friday, Nov. 1:
vs Gervais (Special District 2)
The Cougars orchestrated a historic season in 2023, finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2000 and winning a state playoff game for the first time in over 70 years. Gervais had its storybook season end in a 32-18 loss in the 2A state quarterfinals against Oakland, finishing 9-2 overall and 5-1 in league.
Gervais produced one of the highest-scoring offenses in the state, boasting 48 points per game during the regular season while allowing just under 20 points. They cleared 40-plus points six times and 50-plus on four occasions, including a 72-0 victory against Oakridge.
Colton fell to Gervais at home 69-28 in Week 8. The Vikings have won three of the last five meetings against the Cougars dating back to the 2019 season.
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