In all, 21 Lane County high school football teams are digging in for the 2025 season. And the season starts with a battle between a pair of perennial county powers.
Classes don’t start for most high school students in Eugene and Springfield until Sept. 4, but the football season waits for no one.
College football calls it “Week 0,” the unofficial opening weekend of the season when a select few teams play a game before a majority of them kick off their season in “Week 1.”
High school football just calls it a challenge.
“It’s a lot to get installed in a short period of time,” Marist Catholic head football coach Zach Loboy said.
But don’t think the Spartans, who kick off their season against the Churchill Lancers for the fourth straight season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, aren’t excited to defend their 4A state title, no matter what day it is. The Spartans and their coach are ready for game action.
“Ihaven’t seen another-colored jersey for a really long time,” Loboy said.
The Spartans and Lancers have quite the rivalry going.
“Should be a good one — the last two years, we’ve beaten them by a total of four points,” said Loboy, who led Marist to its sixth state title in school history and a 12-0-1 record last season, his first as head coach after serving several seasons as an assistant.
The Spartans routed the Lancers 38-7 in 2022, but only squeaked past them the past two seasons in a couple of thrillers: 36-35 in 2023 and 33-30 last year.
This one is back on the Lancers’ turf, though, and the defending Midwestern League champions have a bunch of all-league players returning and will be tough to beat.
Zach Loboy, head coach of the Marist Catholic Spartans, talks to his team during practice in Eugene, Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. The Spartans are defending state champions. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Four other Lane County teams also play their first games of the season at 7 p.m. Friday:
Springfield hosts Mountain View at Silke Field;
Oakridge hosts Sheridan;
North Eugene heads to Corvallis to face Crescent Valley;
Thurston heads to Bend to face Caldera.
Most of the rest of the county’s high school squads are hosting or on the road for jamborees Friday, including the Sheldon Irish, who will scrimmage on the road against McMinnville at 6 p.m.
“Our guys are tired of going up against themselves at this point,” Irish head coach Tyler Martell said. “And we have so many new guys, it’ll be good for them to feel what a Friday night feels like speedwise.”
Here’s a look at all 21 teams in the county, whose schedules can be found here by conference and classification. Some of the listings do not include top players; in those cases, Lookout Eugene-Springfield was not able to contact coaches for comment.
Churchill Lancers
Conference: Midwestern League/5A Special District 4
Head coach: Layne Coffin (3rd year)
2024 record: 8-0 league; 9-2 overall
Big game: at Thurston, Sept. 19
Top players: Lukas Babbit, Sr., RB/LB; Charlie Dexter, Sr., TE/DE; Xander Mafoti, Sr., C; Lucas Gansen, Sr., QB; Tyler Howe, Jr., OL; TJ Wright, Sr., WR/DB
The Lancers won their first league title since 2018 last season, going undefeated in the Midwestern League after that opening nonleague loss to Marist, the eventual 4A state champion.
And a bunch of those 2024 players return this year, including Lukas Babbitt, the 6-foot, 228-pound linebacker who was the Midwestern League defensive player of the year with 64 tackles. Babbitt was also a second-team all-league running back, and The Oregonian lists him as the state’s 11th best player in its preseason list of the state’s top 250.
Also returning is tight end/defensive end Charlie Dexter, a 6-foot-5 senior, who played in the Les Schwab Bowl, the state all-star game, in June; all-state center Xander Mafoti; quarterback Lucas Gansen, a second-team all-league selection in 2024; and wide receiver/defensive back TJ Wright, who was honorable mention all-state last year.
Expect the Lancers to challenge for a state title in 2025.
Cottage Grove Lions
Conference: Sky-Em League/4A Special District 3
Head coach: Steve Turner (3rd year)
2024 record: 7-0 league; 9-1 overall
Big game: vs. Marist, Oct. 17
Top players: Leland Whiterock, Sr., DL; Trevor Cooper, Jr., WR
With a 9-0 record heading into the 3A state playoffs last year, the Lions were one-and-done in a first-round thumping, 46-7, from eventual state champion Burns. This season, Cottage Grove jumps to 4A and plans to contend for a Sky-Em League title against Marist.
The Lions will head to Sweet Home Friday night, Aug. 29, for a jamboree, and then open the season at Creswell in a nonleague contest Sept. 19. They don’t play a league game until they head to Junction City on Oct. 3.
Creswell Bulldogs
Conference: Mountain Valley Conference/3A Special District 3
Head coach: Chase Beach (1st year)
2024 record: 4-3 league; 4-5 overall
Big game: vs. Cottage Grove, Sept. 19
Top players: Hunter Mustin, Sr., RB/LB; Luke Bailey, Sr., DL
The Bulldogs head to Sutherlin Friday for a jamboree before opening the season with a nonleague contest at home against Cottage Grove. Creswell starts league play on Oct. 3 at home against Sisters.
First-year head coach Chase Beach replaces Scott Worsham at the helm.
The Bulldogs top player in 2025 is expected to be senior running back/linebacker Hunter Mustin, who was first-team all-league last year on both sides of the ball. Mustin rushed for 935 yards and scored 11 touchdowns and had a team-high 64 tackles on defense.
Some of Lane County’s 21 prep football teams open their 2025 seasons with games before Labor Day. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Crow Cougars
Conference: Mountain West League/1A Special District 3 (6-person)
Head coach: Nick Nevins
2024 record: 2-3 league; 2-5 overall
Big game: vs. Gilchrist (Homecoming), Oct. 17
The Cougars open the season Saturday, Aug. 30, with a jamboree at Siletz Valley that includes Mapleton and Elkton. They’ll play a nonleague contest on Sept. 5 at home against Mapleton before opening league play at home against North Lake on Sept. 19.
Elmira Falcons
Conference: Mountain Valley Conference/3A Special District 3
Head coach: Conrad Davis (1st year)
2024 record: 4-3 league; 4-5 overall
Big game: vs. Creswell, Oct. 10
Top players: Ali Garza, Sr., LB; Dallas Mark, Sr., CB; Braiden Agnes, Sr., OT; Talon Jerabek, Jr., QB; Danis Smajic, Sr., K
Conrad Davis is the new head coach, replacing Bo Highburger, as the Falcons host a jamboree Friday night against Scio. League play starts Oct. 3 at Pleasant Hill.
Junction City Tigers
Conference: Sky-Em League/4A Special District 3
Head coach: Tye Rauschert (1st year)
2024 record: 0-5 league; 1-8 overall
Big game: vs. Cottage Grove, Oct. 3
Top players: Kaleb Moore, Sr., OL/P;
The Tigers also have a new coach after winning just one game in 2024, as Tye Rauschert replaces Max Wall.
They open with a home jamboree Friday night and then have several nonleague matchups before league plays starts Oct. 3 with a home game against Cottage Grove.
Senior offensive lineman and punter Kaleb Moore is listed as the state’s 155th best player by The Oregonian. An all-state punter as a sophomore in 2023, Moore averaged 35.9 yards per punt last year.
Lowell Devils
Conference: East Cascades Conference/2A Special District 3
Head coach: Ray Yarborough (3rd year)
2024 record: 4-2 league; 6-4 overall
Big game: at Oakridge, Sept. 19
Top players: Ben Thurman, Sr., RB; Carter Harris, Sr., QB/DB; David Finch, Sr., OL
The Devils had a successful 2024 campaign before losing a first-round state playoff game to Gervais, 50-14, and now have to replace the league’s player of the year, running back JaMar Thurman.
Senior running back Ben Thurman and returning quarterback Carter Harris will have something to say about that.
Lowell heads to Harrisburg Friday night for a jamboree and starts league play on Sept. 19 at archrival Oakridge.
Mapleton Sailors
Conference: Mountain West League/1A Special District 2 (6-person)
Head coach: Jack Devereaux (1st year)
2024 record: (No team)
Big game: at Triangle Lake, Sept. 19
After the school’s few players played with Siuslaw last year, the Sailors head back to 6-person play with a Saturday, Aug. 30, jamboree at Crow before opening the season against those same Cougars, on the road again, in a nonleague contest Sept. 5.
League play starts Sept. 19 at Triangle Lake.
Marist Catholic Spartans
Conference: Sky-Em League/4A Special District 3
Head coach: Zach Loboy (2nd year)
2024 record: 5-0 league; 12-0-1 overall
Big game: at Henley, Sept. 12
Top players: Brody Buzzard, Sr., TE/LB; Jackson Skinner, Sr., RB/LB; Conner Harvey, Jr., RB; CJ Giustina, Sr., WR/DB; Brody Gilliam, Jr., QB; Cooper Kempf, Sr., OL
Can the 2025 Spartans do what no team in school history has and win back-to-back state titles?
“That’s always the goal,” head coach Zach Loboy said of winning another title after going 12-0-1 last year and beating Henley 30-6 in the title game. “But it’s a new team with a new mix of players.”
Marist graduated 19 seniors from the 2024 state champs, including quarterback Nick Hudson, who threw three TD passes in the championship game. Last season’s backup, Eli Martin, is in a three-way battle to start Friday against Churchill, along with junior Brody Gilliam, who started last season at North Eugene before transferring, and Sheldon transfer CJ Jones.
“If you want to see who starts, you’ll have to show up,” Loboy said.
The Spartans, with two of the best linebackers in the state in Brody Buzzard (also a three-time state wrestling champion at Harrisburg High) and Jackson Skinner, a Brown University commit, along with the return of standout running back Conner Harvey, likely will be in the mix to make history come November.
Marist Catholic players pause during practice Thursday, Aug. 28 in Eugene. The team opens its season with a Friday game against rival Churchill. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
McKenzie Eagles
Conference: Mountain West League/1A Special District 3 (6-person)
Head coach: Willy Kumle (2nd year)
2024 record: 1-5 league; 2-6 overall
Big game: vs. Crow, Sept. 26
The Eagles open league play Sept. 19 at Gilchrist and host Crow Sept. 26.
Mohawk Mustangs
Conference: Mountain West League/1A Special District 2 (8-person)
Head coach: Jeff Litle (7th year)
2024 record: 6-2 league; 6-4 overall
Big game: vs. North Douglas, Oct. 17
The Mustangs played in a jamboree at Camas Valley Thursday, Aug. 28, and open league play Oct. 3 at Yoncalla.
They won the league and made it to the 1A, 8-person state playoffs in 2024, where they lost in the first round to Sherman/Condon.
North Eugene Highlanders
Conference: Midwestern League/5A Special District 4
The Highlanders kick off the season Friday at Crescent Valley, and it’s sure to be a kick, indeed, for North assistant coach Eric Johannsen, whose daughter, Mylee, has won the starting kicker job.
“I’m really excited to see how she does,” Johannsen said in a text message this week.
Mylee Johannsen played on the girls soccer team the last two seasons, but will focus on football this fall despite never having played the sport.
Leading the Highlander attack in 2025 will be junior D’Mariyae “Dae Dae” Ireland, who was an all-league selection last season at running back. But now Ireland is needed behind center after last season’s starter, Brody Gilliam, transferred to Marist.
Oakridge Warriors
Conference: East Cascades Conference/2A Special District 3
Head coach: John Taylor
2024 record: 0-6 league; 1-7 overall
Big game: Lowell, Sept. 19
The Warriors host Sheridan Friday night in a 7 p.m. contest to kick off their 2025 campaign. They open league play at home against Lowell.
Pleasant Hill Billies
Conference: Mountain Valley Conference/3A Special District 3
Head coach: Kenny Koberstein (1st year)
2024 record: 3-4 league; 3-6 overall
Big game: at Creswell, Oct. 24
Top players: Kai Davis, RB; Jacob Neely, Sr., WR/DB; Steven Bounds, Sr., QB
Kenny Koberstein is the Billies new head coach, replacing Jeremiah Heacock, as they start things off with a jamboree Friday night at Santiam Christian. They visit Cottage Grove for a Sept. 26 nonleague game and open league play against Elmira Oct. 3
Sheldon Irish
Conference: Southwest Conference/6A Special District 1
With four state titles and four second-place finishes this century, the Irish expect nothing but success on the gridiron.
In 2024, they were a touchdown short of making another 6A title game, losing to eventual champion West Linn, 28-21. But almost all of the starters from last season are gone, either graduating or transferring to Willamette to play for former Sheldon coach Josh Line.
“It’ll be interesting to see how things play out for us,” second-year head coach Tyler Martell, who played on that 2007 state title team for the Irish, told Lookout Eugene-Springfield. “We’re inexperienced on both sides of the ball.”
Only defensive backs Cameron Gilhuber and Cam Thomas started last season, but it’s always been a next-man-up culture at Sheldon.
“I think our guys are just used to the Sheldon culture, which is they expect to win every time they go out, but you’re not going to just magically win because of the jersey,” Martell said.
Senior quarterback Micah Ritchie-Tuisue replaces Kelsen Sperry, and Martell expects big things from the kid with the big arm, especially with the likes of Gilhuber and junior Barry Myles at wideout.
“I really like our receiving corps,” Martell said.
Sheldon heads to McMinnville Friday night for a jamboree before taking on Lake Oswego on the road Sept. 5. The Lakers lost to West Linn in the 2024 title game and many expect them to win it all this season.
The big league game for the Irish comes Sept. 26 at Willamette, a contest that’ll be packed with emotion with Josh Line leading the early conference favorite Wolverines and all those former Irish players now out in Bethel.
Marist Catholic High School football players run drills during a practice Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Eugene. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Siuslaw Vikings
Conference: Far West League; 3A Special District 4
Head coach: Sam Johnson (7th year)
2024 record: 5-0 league; 9-1 overall
Big game: vs. North Valley, Sept. 12
Top players: Will Johnson, Sr., TE/DB; Jacob Mann, Sr., OL/DL
The Vikings had a heck of a season last year, heading to the 3A playoffs as the top seed before falling in the second round to North Valley, 55-22.
Returning in 2025 for Siuslaw is standout tight end/defensive back Will Johnson, whose older brother, Sam Johnson, is the head coach, while their father is the offensive coordinator.
The Oregonian ranks Will Johnson at the state’s 187th best player. He had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2024 and caught eight touchdown passes. He also had 53 tackles on defense.
The Vikings play at Marshfield Sept. 5 in a nonleague matchup and open league play Oct. 3 against South Umpqua.
South Eugene Axe
Conference: Midwestern League/5A Special District 4
Head coach: Eric Scott (1st year)
2024 record: 0-8 league; 0-9 overall
Big game: vs. North Eugene, Sept. 12
Top players: Gus Nelson, Sr., WR/DB; Dash Fortner, Jr., RB/DB; Henry Fausett, Sr., RB; JacksonIngram, jr., DL
Can the Axe win a game in 2025? Maybe that Oct. 10 home date with Springfield? Hey, give South a break. It didn’t even field a team in 2021 or 2022.
New coach Eric Scott is about to find out the challenges of leading a team at a soccer school as the Axe heads to Corvallis Friday night for a jamboree and then heads up Interstate 5 to play Milwaukie Sept. 5 in a non-league game before archrival North Eugene drives across town on Sept. 12.
Springfield Millers
Conference: Midwestern League/5A Special District 4
Head coach: Frank Geske (3rd year)
2024 record: 2-6 league; 2-7 overall
Big game: vs. Thurston, Oct. 3
Top players: Noah Soto, Sr., QB; Kai Brusasco, Sr., OL/DL; Brady Lo’Ser, Sr., WR/K; AdamHernandez, Jr., WR; Cooper Collier, Jr., DL
The Millers host Mountain View Friday night at Silke Field and start league play Sept. 19 against defending league champion Churchill, also at home. Springfield also has archrival Thurston at Silke Oct. 3.
Senior quarterback Noah Soto, second-team all-league in 2024, returns, along with senior lineman Kai Brusaco, who played in the Les Schwab Bowl in June.
Thurston Colts
Conference: Midwestern League; 5A Special District 4
After losing in the first round of the 5A state playoffs last year, the Colts are ready for something more like 2018, 2019 and 2021, when they won back-to-back state titles and finished second in ’21.
Longtime head coach Justin Starck sure has plenty of returning talent to get it done.
The Colts have to replace all-state quarterback Noah Blair, but junior Emmit Distefano is up to the task, and he’ll be surrounded by the likes of wideout Matthew Newell, second-team all-state last season and ranked as the state’s 28th best player in The Oregonian poll.
Other all-league and all-state selections in 2024 return, including linebacker Payton Ferreira, running back/linebacker Cruz Gray, center Jordan Barr and tight end/defensive end Caleb Jones.
The campaign opens Friday at Caldera High in Bend, followed by the league-opener against Eagle Point Sept. 12. Defending league champ Churchill visits on Sept. 19 in a huge game for both teams.
Triangle Lake Lakers
Conference: Mountain West League; 1A Special District 2 (6-person)
Head coach: Derek Pennel
2024 record: 4-1 league; 5-4 overall
Big game: vs. Mapleton, Sept. 19
The Lakers’ first game is Sept. 6 at North Lake, and league play starts Sept. 19 at home against Mapleton.
Willamette Wolverines
Conference: Southwest Conference/6A Special District 1
What has Josh Line created in Bethel? If there’s a high school transfer portal, the former Sheldon coach, who starts his second year with the Wolverines with a trip to South Medford on Sept. 5, has found it.
The roster is loaded with players who played their first downs of high school ball elsewhere.
The list includes University of Oregon commit Tony Cumberland, ranked by The Oregonian as the state’s second-best player. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive end was second-team all-league last season — after transferring from Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona — with 78 tackles and six sacks.
Cumberland’s teammates include a bunch of other transfers, including quarterback Zeke Thomas, who threw for over 2,500 yards as a freshman at Crescent Valley in 2024; wideout Hunter Vaughn, who played three seasons of 8-person ball at North Douglas before catching two touchdowns in the Les Schwab Bowl in June; wideout TaeSean Tarusan, all-league at North Eugene last season; linebacker Kawai Chamberlin, second-team all-league as a sophomore at Sheldon last year; and offensive tackle Aiden Lewey, another Sheldon transfer who also played in the Les Schwab Bowl.
Oh, and standout running back Maveryck Akers started his high school play at Roseburg before playing for the Wolverines in 2024.
Marist Catholic Spartans line up during a practice in Eugene Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Prep sports schedule
FOOTBALL
Friday, Aug. 29
North Eugene at Crescent Valley, 7 p.m.
Thurston at Caldera, 7 p.m.
Mountain View at Springfield, 7 p.m.
Marist Catholic at Churchill, 7 p.m.
Sheridan at Oakridge, 7 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Friday, Aug. 29
Thurston vs. Baker at Mountain View Invitational, at Mountain View High School, 9:15 a.m.
Catlin Gabel at Pleasant Hill, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Springfield at Central High School Tourney, time TBA
Marist Catholic at Cascade Christian Invitational, time TBA
Creswell at Cascade Christian Invitational, time TBA
Oakridge vs. Lost River, North Douglas High School, noon
Oakridge vs. North Douglas, North Douglas High School, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Cottage Grove at Stayton, 6 p.m.
Sweet Home at Junction City, 6 p.m.
Pleasant Hill at Siuslaw, 6 p.m.
Eugene Christian at Western Christian, 6 p.m.
Mohawk at Lowell, 6 p.m.
Mapleton at Waldport, 6 p.m.
Yoncalla at Crow/Northwest Christian Academy, 6 p.m.
Springfield at Willamette, 6:45 p.m.
Sheldon at Sheldon Tournament; matches begin at 9 a.m.
Ridgeview at Thurston, 6:45 p.m.
Marist Catholic at Churchill, 6:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Friday, Aug. 29
Junction City at La Grande, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Junction City at Pendleton, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Elmira at North Bend, 3 p.m.
Willamette at North Eugene/Triangle Lake, 6 p.m.
Cottage Grove at Stayton, 6 p.m.
West Salem at Sheldon, 6:30 p.m.
Churchill at David Douglas, 6:30 p.m.
Sweet Home at Siuslaw, 6:30 p.m.
Marist Catholic at Valley Catholic, 7:15 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Friday, Aug. 29
Junction City at La Grande, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Junction City at Pendleton, noon
Thurston at North Salem, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Elmira at Sutherlin, 6 p.m.
Mountain View at Thurston, 6 p.m.
Marist Catholic at Churchill, 6 p.m.
Siuslaw/Mapleton at Sweet Home, 6 p.m.
Stayton at Cottage Grove, 6 p.m.
Sheldon at West Salem, 7 p.m.
CROSS-COUNTRY
Friday, Aug. 29
Sheldon and South Eugene at Night Meet, Wilsonville High School
Saturday, Aug. 30
Cottage Grove, North Eugene and Springfield at The Opener, Western Oregon University Ash Creek Preserve
We’ve got Thursday night football to kick off Week 1 around the Garden State as JSZ brings you three games from the gridiron. Princeton and Allentown meet in a Mercer County thriller, Demarest looks to start strong against Bergen Tech plus Washington Township tries to reach 2-0 against Pennsauken in the WJFL. Check back as the highlights are posted throughout the night!
Down 6-0, senior Ellinton Hinds who already had an interception on the first drive of the game, made one of the best catches in all of New Jersey high school football so far this season to keep Princeton (2-0) undefeated in 2025. Hinds had two leaping catches from QB Quinton deFaria, who threw for 109 yards and a TD. The Tigers beat Allentown (0-2) for the first time since 2005 and look to keep their win streak alive with a Week 2 matchup against Ewing.
JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights + reaction from Allentown:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Princeton and Allentown is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.
The Minutemen took care of business in their home opener by racing out to a 35-0 halftime lead and cruising the rest of the way. Colin Beeler scored a pair of touchdowns to lead a bruising rushing attack in the victory. Paris Pratt hauled in a touchdown and added a fumble return touchdown for Washington Township (2-0). Pennsauken (1-1) will look to bounce back next Thursday against Highland.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Sewell:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Washington Township is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
With lead running back Reed Kauderer unavailable for the majority of the game, the Norsemen needed their other playmakers to step up. They ultimately answered the bell. Quarterback Joseph Yun accounted for three total touchdowns as Demarest (1-0) begins their 2025 season with a bang. Daejuan Joseph caught a pair of touchdown passes in the win. Bergen Tech (0-1) will now turn their focus to a game against Ferris next week.
JSZ’s Sean Dugan has the highlights from Little Ferry:
Five games dotted the high school football schedule Thursday night.
In Class AA, Butte stormed past Billings Skyview 33-13 on the road while Missoula Sentinel knocked off No. 3 Great Falls CMR 6-0. A big showdown in 8-Man lived up to its billing as No. 3 Fort Benton beat No. 2 Belt 24-22.
Check out the highlights and details below:
CLASS AA
Missoula Sentinel 6, No. 3 Great Falls CMR 0
After a scoreless first half, Sentinel struck with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Rudy Hess to Kyler Haslam. That ended up being the game’s only score, as the Spartans’ defense kept Great Falls CMR off the scoreboard entirely.
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS:
Missoula Sentinel knocks off No. 3 Great Falls CMR in defensive slugfest
Sentinel held CMR to six first downs, and 0-for-9 showing on third down and 132 total offensive yards. The Spartans’ Jake Boggust recovered a fumble on a promising CMR drive in the fourth quarter that helped preserve the shutout.
Butte 33, Billings Skyview 13
Hudson Luedtke caught three touchdown passes from Brooks Vincent to lead Butte to a road victory. Peyton Johnson had a scoring run and Jaeger Hansen returned an interception for a TD as the Bulldogs built a sizable first-half lead.
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS:
Butte picks up convincing win at Billings Skyview
The Falcons got their points on two touchdown passes from Jaxon Zagata to Jackson Carter.
At halftime, Skyview celebrated the 30th anniversary of its 1995 state title team. That year, the Falcons went 11-1 under coach Rob Lebsock and won the Class AA championship with a 27-20 victory over Bozeman.
MTN Sports
The 1995 state champion Billings Skyview Falcons are honored at Daylis Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Billings.
8-MAN
No. 3 Fort Benton 24, No. 2 Belt 22
Truman Giese’s fourth-quarter touchdown and two-point conversion gave Fort Benton the lead and two defensive takeaways in the final minutes helped maintain it as Fort Benton knocked off Belt in a ranked matchup.
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS:
No. 3 Fort Benton knocks off No. 2 Belt in 8-Man showdown
Blake Waldner set an early tone for the Huskies with a 29-yard touchdown run, but Giese scored from 3 yards out to help tie it 8-8 in the second quarter.
Slater Lords had a long catch and run for a touchdown, putting Belt up 16-8, but a Giese-to-David Olson TD pass tied the game again. In the third, Waldner turned a Huskies interception into another touchdown run as Belt grabbed a 22-16 advantage. But it didn’t hold up.
Australian Sam Groth has the honour of having the fastest recorded tennis serve of all time.
The 6ft 4 Australian set the record during an ATP Open Challenger match in Busan, South Korea, in 2012 against Belarusian tennis player Uladzimir Ignatik.
Groths serve clocks in at a staggering 263.4kph (163.7mph).
Frenchman Albano Olivetti holds the record for the second-fastest serve ever recorded. The French tennis pro also remains the second person to break the 160mph serve speed barrier.
Olivetti’s serve came in 2012 at the challenger level during the Internazionali Trofeo Lame Perrel–Faip.
Albano Olivetti holds the second-fastest record serve on the tour.
It would be hard not to include the American giant John Isner in this list. The 6ft 10 American is known best for his monster serves, which are delivered consistently throughout.
His monstrous serve is thanks in part to his stature. Isner clocks in as the third-tallest tennis player on the ATP behind the Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic and American young gun Reilly Opelka (both 6ft 11 inches). Ivo Karlovic currently holds the record for the fourth fastest recorded tennis serve.
Isner currently holds the third fastest serve in tennis. The Americans serve, clocking in at 253 kph (157.2 mph) during a 2016 Davis Cup tie against Bernard Tomic.
John Isner also holds the record for playing the longest match in Grand Slam history against Nicolas Mahut. During Wimbledon 2010, Isner beat Mahut in 5 sets: 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68. The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes.
Isner’s serve is the fastest recorded serve in tennis, recognised by the ATP.
Spaniard Georgina Garcia Perez holds the record for the fastest recorded tennis serve by a woman.
Perez clocked a serve of 200kph (136.7 mph) during the Hungarian Ladies Open in 2018.
Georgina Garcia Perez holds the record for the fastest serve by a female.
Why is it nearly impossible to hit a 160 mph tennis serve?
A considered calculation of stature, technique, coaching, mechanics and good old practice is said to make the perfect concoction for a fast serve.
A direct correlation has been proven between the height of a player and power during a serve. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the top servers of the game are all giants by nature.
The trajectory of a serve remains ever important. Players who are 6ft 7 or above have the ability to hit the ball with a downward trajectory, whereas those who are under that height are unable to do so.
Modern technology has also greatly aided in the incremental increase of server power over time. The changeover from wooden rackets to today’s modern racket is a huge factor in determining serve power. Advancements in string technology and racket materials also play a huge part in determining a fast serve.
Other mitigating factors include court conditions. Faster serves are much more likely to happen on a hard court and during hotter temperatures, where there is less resistance to air density, translating to faster speeds.
When you compare the fastest tennis serve with other sports, you can see how fast it is.
Fastest Football shot – 114 mph by David Hirst in 1996 Fastest Baseball pitch – 105.1 mph by Aroldis Chapman in 2010 Fastest Cricket Bowling speed – 100.2 mph by Shoaib Akhtar in 2003
What is the average tennis serve speed?
The average tennis serve speed differs between both men and women, as well as between pros and amateurs. Data shows us that for professional male tennis players, the average tennis serve speed is approximately 114 mph (on their first serve) and 93 mph (on their second serve).
For women, the average tennis serve speed clocks in at 98 mph (on their first serve) and 82 mph (on their second serve).
This data was recorded between 2002-2013, so bear in mind the average speeds have likely increased by a few miles per hour in the modern era, as racquet technology and athletes continue to evolve and adapt within the sport.
Check out Wired’s video, which covers the topic more in-depth.
It’s the second edition of Blue Federal Credit Union‘s Fort Collins-area Athlete of the Week for the 2025-26 high school sports season.
And this week’s honor is hitting the local tennis courts with a top singles player.
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Poudre boys tennis player Owen Addington took top honors in the Fort Collins area for the week of Aug. 25-30 after a couple of dominant sweeps.
Playing on the No. 1 singles line, the Impalas senior dropped just six games in four sets across two match wins over Windsor and Northglenn’s top players.
He beat Windsor’s Joseph Bisceglia (6-2, 6-3) and followed that up with a 6-0, 6-1 over Northglenn’s Emrah Mehidic.
Poudre’s Owen Addington bends down to hit a shot during a city rivalry boys tennis dual on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 at Fort Collins High School in Fort Collins, Colo.
Addington, also a basketball player and tennis team captain, has helped Poudre get off to a 3-1 start this season that also included a team tournament title at the Thompson Valley Invitational.
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The senior and third-year varsity player is the first tennis player to earn Blue FCU Athlete of the Week honors in the award’s third school year. He joins Rocky Mountain’s Bode Nesbitt as the first winners in the 2025-26 prep sports season.
Poudre fans pushed Addington atop the polls, giving him the victory with 51.5% of the fan vote.
That propelled him past these other four outstanding Athlete of the Week nominees:
Brooke Pravlik, PSD flag football (runner-up at 36.7%)
Taylor Morgan, Wellington softball
Judd Nikkel, Fossil Ridge boys golf
Nora Ebel, Rocky Mountain girls cross country
The Blue Federal Credit Union Athlete of the Week series features five nominees on Mondays, with voting at Coloradoan.com until 11:59 p.m. every Wednesday.
Fans can nominate their favorite athletes (deadline: 11:59 p.m. every Sunday), and the Coloradoan Sports staff will ultimately select the nominees each week.
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If you have nominations for a future Athlete of the Week, please send them via email to ChrisAbshire@coloradoan.com for consideration.
View the full results:
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
BB&N senior Sam Kelley (right) announced he will play football at Brown. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
With sincere apologies to all the games played Thursday, here at Globe Schools it feels a lot like Christmas Eve, with a full slate of high school football arriving under the tree Friday evening.
Over the last two weeks we talked to nearly 200 football coaches and wrote more than 30,000 words previewing every team in Eastern Mass. There’s still time for a cram session!
Team-by-team previews for every Eastern Mass. program
Trevor Hass wrote about Whittier football coach Kevin Bradley, who is continuing to coach the team while battling tongue cancer. Read coach Bradley’s inspirational story.
The first three football games of the season were played Thursday night, with Pentucket topping Northeast (26-22), Waltham holding off Belmont (24-12), and Brookline beating Lexington (27-10).
1. Milestones
▪ Two golf teams made history, as Canton set a new low home score at Blue Hill Country Club, scoring a 138 as a team to best Mansfield by 15 strokes thanks to 1-under-par 33s from senior Joey Ryan and freshman Chase Thomas.
▪ Rockport set a record for most points on its home course, Rockport Country Club, posting a 168-151 win over Hamilton-Wenham behind a 38-point showing from Sam Kesterson, who shot a 1-under-par 34 with three birdies.
▪ St. John Paul II field hockey coach Leah Pierce got her first win with the program, beating Bishop Stang, 3-0. Ariana Liakos got her first win helming the Pembroke girls’ volleyball, beating Falmouth, 3-1. And Acton-Boxborough girls’ soccer coach Manny Lopes notched his first victory, 4-0, over Algonquin.
▪ On the pitch, No. 18 Medfield boys’ soccer shocked No. 10 Oliver Ames, the defending Division 2 state champions, with a 2-0 win powered by goals from Max Tillmann and Sebastian Cole.
Keene State freshman Kayla DiPasquale, a Marshfield High graduate, was named Little East Conference women’s soccer Rookie of the Week after scoring her first two collegiate goals in a 4-2 win over Rivier.
4. Commitment central
BB&N senior captain Sam Kelley, a 6-foot-2-inch, 228-pound two-way athlete from Natick, announced he will play football at Brown.
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Zach Loboy, head coach of the Marist Catholic Spartans, talks to his team during practice in Eugene, Friday, Aug. 28, 2025. The Spartans are defending state champions.  100vw, 780px”><figcaption class=)
Some of Lane County’s 21 prep football teams open their 2025 seasons with games before Labor Day.  100vw, 780px”><figcaption class=)
Marist Catholic players pause during practice Thursday, Aug. 28 in Eugene. The team opens its season with a Friday game against rival Churchill.  100vw, 780px”><figcaption class=)
Marist Catholic High School football players run drills during a practice Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Eugene.  100vw, 780px”><figcaption class=)
Marist Catholic Spartans line up during a practice in Eugene Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. 
