By GEORGE CUSTER/Editor — With a record of 11-1, the Lowell High School Red Devil football team took to the road to play for the State Championship against the Athena, Oregon’s Tigerscots. After defeating Oakland 19-3 in the semifinals, the Red Devils were ready to take on the team that had given them their only loss for the year. The matchup at Hillsboro Stadium wasn’t even close. Final score: Red Devils 74, Tigerscots42.
The Red Devils set things in motion with a six-yard run and a 60-yard passing touchdown to establish an early lead in the first quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Carter Harris completed 11 of 17 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns for Lowell. JaMar Thurman, who was named MVP of the championship game, rushed for five touchdowns and 273 yards. He also made one receiving touchdown for the Red Devils. Receiver Rowan Files caught two touchdown passes from Harris.
Louie Estrada and Rowan Files each had six solo tackles on defense.
First year coach Ray Yarborough was ecstatic on the win. Yarborough hails from Cave Junction, Oregon. His initial assignment was as the high school woodshop and metalworks teacher. Ray accepted the challenge of being the head coach of the football team just this year. State champions; not a bad start.
Coach Yarborough, his wife Julie, and their two children, Justin and Lillian came to Lowell from Triangle Lake, Oregon. Julie works in the human resources department at the BiMart corporate office in Eugene. Daughter Lillian is a sophomore at Churchill HS. Son Justin played 8th grade football this season.
When asked to look at how next year’s team is shaping up, coach Yarborough indicated that Lowell is only losing five starting seniors from the team. Coach will have a lot of pressure now that the Lowell Red Devils will be the team to beat next year.
Congratulations to the Red Devils’ football team on winning the state championship and good luck for next year.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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