Despite losing eight all-league performers from last season, Newberg High School football may very well be on the brink of its best season in head coach Jeremy Johnson’s tenure with the program.
It’s not hard to see why. Though the Tigers shed some talent, they return six all-leaguers from 2023 and a staggering number of linemen. Add in the fact that Newberg has improved in each season under Johnson, and the prospect of competing for a Pacific Conference championship seems feasible.
And with a preseason filled with perennial state playoff contenders — notably Lake Oswego, Nelson and Sunset — the Tigers are sending a message.
“We knew that our kids were ready to take a bigger bite and compete at a higher level,” Johnson said. “If we want to compete and win our league, we have to be tested early, and we’re going to get tested. We’re excited for it.”
Newberg finished 7-4 overall last year and 3-2 in league, sitting third in the Pacific Conference standings. The Tigers won their first postseason game since 2019, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Columbia Cup before eventually losing 35-16 against Clackamas.
“We had a really good season,” senior and former all-leaguer Cole Thomas said. “We competed really well and won a lot of games. Our schedule this year is looking a lot harder, but I feel like we can step up to the challenge and play against those high-level teams.”
To repeat last year’s success, it starts — as returning all-league linemen Ethan Hunt puts it — in the trenches.
Hunt is one of three returning all-league offensive linemen, along with senior center Brody Kitchen and junior Zadek Bowlby. The three will be expected to spearhead Newberg’s rushing attack. As they move, so will the Tigers.
“I think we’re still going to be a pretty big threat and most of our linemen have competed at the varsity level since sophomore year,” Kitchen said. “I feel like we’re pretty prepared.”
In the backfield, junior Chace Macken is expected to shoulder the load. Although the Tigers possess multiple options, including seniors Deaken Santrizos and Leo Keelan, Macken’s presence was sorely missed last season, playing in just two games before suffering a season-ending injury that also prevented him from wrestling in the winter.
“He was our leading rusher in our first game, and then he was competing well in our second game and got hurt,” Johnson said. “As a junior this year, we expect him to lead the charge.”
Orchestrating the offense will be junior Parker Sellner. Thomas and Sellner split time at quarterback last season, with Thomas starting the year under center and Sellner finishing it.
“It just works better with our offense and gives us more opportunities,” Thomas said. “(It) also allows Parker (Sellner) to show off his arm.”
“I’m really enjoying it so far,” Thomas continued. “It’s a lot less pressure. … I just feel relaxed and have fun now.”
Defensively, the Tigers maintain a decent amount of impact performers. Senior Austin Phillips and Hunt received league honors last season, while Kitchen is expected to become an integral asset. Keelan will likely make a case for an all-league slot this season, rising to the top of the depth chart from last year and being singled out as one Newberg’s best tacklers by Johnson.
“When he's here and he's around the guys, he's going to be the most coachable kid on the field. We got a lot of kids that are extremely coachable — (Keelan) certainly stands apart about trying his hardest, giving us everything he has,” Johnson said. “He cares a lot about the team, cares a lot about his teammates and last year he was by far and away one of our best defensive players.”
The pieces are in place — now it’s just time for Newberg to execute. And as they progress through their campaign, the Tigers will be sure to remember the lessons learned last season, avoiding the pitfalls they once stumbled into.
“When times got tough (last year), we struggled,” Keelan said. “I think looking into this year, we should learn from that and do better.”
“It’s going to be a harder schedule playing some (higher-level teams),” Hunt added. “Hopefully we just don’t get in our heads, like we did a couple games last year, and just play football.”
Newberg opens its season on the road against Sprague on Friday, Aug. 30.
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