The Lakeridge Pacers have usually taken a back seat to their crosstown rival, the Lake Oswego Lakers. This could be the year when the Pacers emerge from the Lakers’ giant shadow.
The Pacers (3-0), after winning their first three games for the first time since the 2013 season, are tied for first with the Lakers, West Linn and Tualatin in the loaded Three Rivers League.
The Pacers feature one of the most prolific offenses in Class 6A, producing an average of 41.6 points per game. But it’s their high-level defense that has carried them to an undefeated start to the season, and during a 42-13 victory over the previously unbeaten Liberty Falcons last week, Lakeridge turned in its best performance of the season.
The Falcons entered the game averaging 54 points a game, but the Pacers recorded four interceptions — including a 45-yard pick-six by safety Jake Reichle in the second quarter — on the way to a lopsided win. The Pacers are allowing an average of 13.0 points a game in 2021 after allowing an average 31.0 points during the spring season.
“They have bought in to what we’re trying to do,” Pacers’ coach Spencer Phillips said. “The type of senior leadership we have has been the big difference. They have worked hard with their preparation during the process. The kids play really hard.”
After three weeks, the list of leading tacklers in 6A is dotted with Pacers. Senior linebacker Zac Waible ranks first with 45 and senior linebacker Jonathan Curry is second with 38. Defensive end Nui Tovey ranks third with 32 tackles — while also leading 6A in sacks (four) and tackles for loss (seven) — and Reichle is fourth with 29.
In other words, the Pacers are playing downhill and flying to the football on a regular basis.
“It’s hard to get tackles, because everyone is a good tackler,” Waible said. “We are always repping our tackles. We work on tackling a lot.”
The Pacers are itching to get another crack at the Lakers. They lost to their rivals 24-21 in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 OSAA playoffs, extending the Pacers’ losing streak to the Lakers to eight games. Lakeridge hasn’t defeated Lake Oswego since the 2013 season.
“Beating them would mean everything. It’s the biggest game of the year by far,” Waible said. “I think this year, we’re gonna bring it.”
Lake Oswego is a long way off and the Pacers are focused on facing South Medford on Friday before beginning their league schedule. Lakeridge is moving in the right direction, on its own terms.
“Our message for our kids is to be Lakeridge — don’t try to be Lake Oswego,” Phillips said. “Let’s build our own identity. We really want the kids to start believing in themselves. I think we’re getting there.”
-- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold
Ad Choices