Eagles to play at unbeaten Silverton in football playoffs

Silverton (9-0), one of 16 remaining unbeaten Oregon football teams, won the 5A Mid-Willamette Conference championship this season. The Silver Foxes have won all their games this fall by two touchdowns or more.

Eagle Coach Caleb Sperry said Silverton will be a challenge for his young, improving team. “They look tough; they look experienced, physical, play fast,” he said. “We’re gonna’ be prepared, and go in and compete hard, be organized, ready to rock and roll and take advantage of the opportunity.”

It was Hillsboro that took advantage of its opportunities against HRV in the final District 1 game for both teams last week. Three big, first-half plays staked the Spartans to a 21-0 lead at Hare Field. Hillsboro scored on plays of 74, 67, and 78 yards before halftime to build their three-touchdown lead. The Eagle defense held the Spartans to 14 yards of total offense on Hillsboro’s 21 other plays in the first half.

“I thought we actually did a lot of really, really good things,” Sperry said. “The few times we didn’t do exactly what we were supposed to do it sort of (led to) big plays for them.

Offensively, Hood River had three first downs in the first half. Hillsboro stopped the Eagles three times before intermission on fourth-and-short plays. Hillsboro’s linebackers, all-state wrestler Preston Echeverria and James Blackwell, combined for 12 first-half tackles, including three on the fourth-down plays.

Hood River avoided the shutout with an 11-play, 79-yard drive in the fourth quarter to pull within two scores. A Jerry Serrano 20-yard run on a reverse set the tone on the first play of the drive. Junior quarterback Davis Parr was sharp in the series, completing 5-of-6 passes, including a nine-yard TD throw to senior Grady Williams. He finished with seven catches on the cool evening at Hare Field. Senior Ethan Rivera led the Eagle ground game with 18 carries for 122 yards.

Defensively, sophomore lineman Jack Miller had an interception with five minutes remaining in the game giving the Eagles life near midfield. That drive stalled two minutes later when Hillsboro stopped Hood River on yet another fourth-down play.

Hood River and Silverton’s prior state football playoff history dates to 1991, when the Eagles lost, 29-14, in the Class 3A semifinals to the Silver Foxes.

State Playoff Football

Hood River Valley Eagles

2022 5A lost first round at Summit, 42-6

2021 5A won first round vs. South Albany, 19-7

2021 5A lost quarterfinals vs. Wilsonville, 42-14

2015 5A lost first round at Liberty, 49-7