Staff report
Columbia Gorge News
THE GORGE — Thirteen returning varsity players — including four, fourth-year starters — have the Dufur High School Rangers back in the state championship conversation for OSAA Class 1A 8-man football.
Seniors Kyle Wilson, Gavin Anderson, Daylen Hammitt, and Ever Corbett are part of a strong nucleus for Coach Jack Henderson, whose 10 state championships are the most all-time in the history of Oregon high school football. The last title came in 2018 and was the end of a four-year championship run for the Rangers.
Wilson, a tight-end/linebacker, Anderson, quarterback/defensive end, and linemen Hammitt and Corbett were freshmen when Dufur failed to make the playoffs for only the third time in the past 33 seasons. The Rangers rebounded to make the 1A quarterfinals the past two years and are poised for a longer run this fall.
Two transfers will help: junior Bryson Cates was The Dalles’ top running back last season (having played for Dufur as a freshman); and sophomore Ryker Thompson was a freshman starter at South Wasco County in 2025. They join junior all-around athlete Chase Peterson and eight other returning varsity players.
The Rangers open their season Sept. 5 at home vs. DeSales (WA.). The Irish were 14-0 in 2025 en route to the WIAA 1B state championship — the first for the Walla Walla school in that classification. Dufur was ranked No. 2 behind defending state champion Adrain in the first OSAA coaches’ poll released this past week. Adrain has won the past two OSAA 8-man titles.
Dufur will be joined in the OSAA 8-man Special District 3 by Sherman County, and Lyle/Wishram. Sherman is returning to 8-man play after a season playing 6-man. South Wasco County will play in 1A 6-man Special District 1.
The young, Sherman County Huskies were a markedly improved team by the end of last season, when they finished 9-3 and lost in the 6-man state semifinals to eventual champion Harper Charter. Sherman gave Harper its two toughest tests in 2025 — also losing to the Hornets in the regular season.
Coach Paul Bish and longtime assistant coaches Gary Lewis and Steve Bird (former head coaches themselves) molded a roster made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores into a multiple playoff win team.
Sherman opens its 2026 season Sept. 3 against Union at the Dufur Classic. Union moved up to Class 2A this fall but is playing 8-man football.
Football is a numbers game and Lyle/Wishram benefited from larger than normal enrollment classes the past couple of years which led to back-to-back playoff appearances for Coach Dave Devoe’s team. Lyle/Wishram has a 10-player roster of mostly freshmen on its 2026 squad.
Three seniors, quarterback Mason Ramsay, Eli Cooper and Easton Schmoker, are playing their fourth season of varsity football. The Cougars, who had their Aug. 28 season opener against Perrydale canceled, are scheduled to play Sept. 4 in the Dufur Classic against Camas Valley.
South Wasco County is two years removed from a 6-man, state semifinal playoff run under Coach Michael Carter. South Wasco was 3-6 last season but two of those victories came via forfeits.
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