League play couldn’t have started any better for local football teams as three of the four local teams were in action on Friday. Warrenton hosted Santiam Christian in a battle of 3A-playoff hopefuls, Seaside Seagulls played in a homecoming game against Taft and Knappa rode the legs of their senior quarterback against Corbett.
Warrenton Warriors: Defense shines under the lights
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Friday night was another defensive masterclass by the Warrenton Warriors.
In a battle of 2025 3A playoff teams, the Warriors outlasted Santiam Christian 16-7, behind great defense and timely offense. With football becoming all about the offenses in recent years, the fans of Warrenton football were treated to a throwback game.
With Friday night being the start of league play, both Santiam Christian and Warrenton wanted to get off to a good start in the 3A Special District 1. Due to Banks moving up to 4A, Kennedy and Gervais being redistricted to Special District 2 and Yamhill-Carlton struggling to field a full roster this week, there is opportunity for both Warrenton and Santiam to make a run.
On paper, Santiam Christian looked to have the edge. The Eagles had 12 more players on their roster, 38 to 26, and their wide receivers had a height advantage over the Warrenton secondary. But football is played in the trenches and the Warriors physical front seven took over the game after halftime.
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Santiam started fast on both sides of the ball. The Eagles had an edge in the first quarter and a half which coincided when they scored a touchdown to lead 7-0. Once the Eagles jumped ahead, the Warriors defense flipped a switch. After a Warrenton punt pinned Santiam inside the five-yard line, junior defensive lineman Anakin Angustain got in the backfield to force a safety. Then lightning struck for Warrenton right before the half as Eli Nearhing and Walker Rempfer forced a fumble around midfield. The ball was scooped up by Aaron Neahring, who rumbled 55 yards into the end zone. This ignited the crowd at John Matilla Field and served as a springboard for the rest of the game. After going into halftime up 8-7, the Warriors dropped the hammer in the second half. The Warriors defense pitched a shutout and senior Dylan Ballard took over the game at both safety and quarterback. Ballard flashed his athleticism running for 125 yards on 19 carries, while also coming up with seven tackles and a forced fumble from his free safety spot.
Ballard led Warrenton on a late fourth-quarter touchdown drive that iced the game. After a couple big runs, Ballard found Emery Torres for a short touchdown, then hit Jackson Simonsen for a two point conversion.
The 16-7 victory evened up Warrenton’s record at 2-2.
“That defense was unstoppable, they were everywhere,” Warrenton Head Coach Travis Freeman said. “We knew going into the game we had to win the turnover battle. … We did throw a pick off a tipped ball going into the end zone, which was a bummer. But just the way the defense played, downhill all night.
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“Those guys are legit, that was a great team we played — and I can’t be more proud of our defense, being ball hawks all night getting those takeaways. To have a fumble return for a touchdown really gave us a spark going into the half. Without that defense we’re looking at a different situation.”
The win allows Warrenton to keep pace with North Marion and Dayton, who were also victorious on Friday night. Warrenton is set for a bye week as they get ready for a rematch with Dayton. The Flyers beat Warrenton 42-0 last season and entered the 3A state playoffs undefeated, before being upset in the first round.
“This is a very tough league we got put in with teams who made the playoffs last year,” Freeman said. “We were excited at the prospect of getting a chance to play in a tough league like this one. … It’s one game at a time, kind of the same as always. We have Dayton next, who really kind of took it to us last year, so we’ve got to get things dialed in and ready to go.”
Seaside: Happy homecoming
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Friday night was a happy homecoming for Seaside football.
The early homecoming festivities inspired Seaside as they laid down the hammer against new 4A-opponent Taft. After moving up to 4A this summer, the Tigers entered an already grueling Cowapa league. Meanwhile, the Seagulls are looking to continue building on their play each week. Last week, Head Coach Dennis Olstedt said he believes the Seagulls are a playoff caliber team in 4A — and a Friday night victory moved them one step closer to that.
Due to the summer reclassifications, the top three teams from each league will earn automatic bids, with the highest-placed fourth team also qualifying for the 4A state playoffs. The Seagulls’ victory saw them keep pace with league favorites Banks and Scappoose.
The 28-7 victory was Seaside’s most impressive win score wise for 2026 and evened up their record at 2-2. Next up for Seaside is a road trip to Tillamook. After graduating a number of seniors from last season’s team, the Cheesemakers are off to just a 1-3 start and also had to forfeit their game last week against Scappoose.
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The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 at Tillamook High School.
Knappa football cracks the win column
Knappa’s football team joined the win column behind a ground show from quarterback Oliver Stevens.
The senior signal caller carried Knappa offensively to the tune of 300 yards and four touchdowns on the ground as Knappa defeated Corbett 35-7. This was the first win of the season for Knappa, after losing two close games against 2025 playoff teams.
This puts Knappa in pace with Clatskanie and Rainier in league play. Next up for the Loggers will be a homecoming game against Neah-Kah-Nie at 7 p.m on Friday, Sept. 25.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
