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By Dan Jones Mail Tribune September 03. 2015 3:50PM Cougars, Honkers aim for success By all accounts, Cascade Christian is still king of the four-team Southern Cascade League. With the top two teams in the conference set to automatically qualify for the OSAA’s 16-team bracket, squads like Illinois Valley and Lakeview are hoping to at least get a shot at that second berth. At Illinois Valley, Bruce Reece takes over as head coach for Ray Yarbrough, who accepted the coaching opportunity at Class 5A Churchill in Eugene. Reece was the Oregon City athletic director who filled in as interim football coach last season when the Pioneers won their first league title in 17 years. He and his wife, Danielle, have roots in the Rogue Valley. He is also the AD in Cave Junction, where the Cougars finished second in the league last year, going 5-4 overall and 2-1 in league. But Illinois Valley lost two crucial pieces in graduated seniors James Thompson and C.J. Manning. Thompson was a running back who broke the school records in rushing yards and touchdowns, while Manning was a four-year starting quarterback. Thompson was a two-time league offensive player of the year. Replacing Manning will be junior SCL second-teamer Skyler McLanahan, who stands at 6-foot, 145 pounds. Looking to fill the large shoes of Thompson will be senior Jordan Rubenstein and junior Zak Lindell. Another key component of the squad is Jacob Solomon (5-9, 205, junior), who was a second-team SCL center last fall. Other returners are Jayson Konick (OL/LB), Ross Gaynor (WR/LB), Chase Nelson (WR/DB), Nathan Klaiss (OL/DL) and Rowdy Bates (OL/DL). “We are very young, with only a handful of seniors,” said Reece, who has also made coaching stops in North Valley, Hidden Valley and Madras. The Cougars have won two league titles since 1950, the latest in 2007. They were picked in the coaches preseason poll to finish second, followed by St. Mary’s and Lakeview. Lakeview Rusty Zysett is the new coach at Lakeview, taking over for Rick Stupak. Zysett had coached at La Pine, with two different stints spanning 12 seasons. He’s already developed a healthy respect for the conference. “Obviously, Cascade Christian will be top dog of the league,” he said. “After that, you have an IV team that had a good year and a St. Mary’s team that has gotten stronger.” The Honkers are led defensively by lineman Eddie Murrieta, whom Zysett said has worked hard all summer. Murrieta was a second-team SCL offensive and defensive pick. A quarterback competition is brewing between Landon Lampman, a senior who experienced a concussion last year, and senior Dylan Diedrich, who took over during that time. Other key players include junior lineman Michael McCully and running back/outside linebacker Jace Frank, who was a first-team SCL defensive selection and second-team offensive pick. Reach reporter Dan Jones at 541-776-4499, or email [email protected]. Find him online at twitter.com/danjonesmt http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150903/SPORTS/150909847 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->