Stayton football forfeits game with rival Cascade

On October 15, Stayton High School's football team became another victim of Oregon's growing trend of game forfeits. The team, just a day before playing against rival Cascade in Turner, decided to forfeit the Week 7 conference game due to insufficient players. This decision was communicated to the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), which posted the message on their scoreboard.

Cascade, the reigning 4A state champions, missed out on a crucial matchup against one of its biggest rivals during the heart of the season. The decision to withdraw both the varsity and junior varsity teams was made due to concerns about the health and roster of the players. Cascade athletic director and football coach Shane Hedrick expressed their understanding of the situation and their commitment to player safety.

Stayton's varsity team was scheduled to host Philomath on October 23, but that game will now be affected by the recent forfeit. This incident is not isolated; other football teams in the Willamette Valley have also canceled games or seasons this fall. Blanchet Catholic in early September and South Eugene nearly a week before their opening kickoff have joined Stayton and Cascade in this trend. South Eugene's 5A school was the latest to succumb to this issue, forfeiting its varsity season.

Cascade's next scheduled varsity game is set for October 23 against McKay. The growing trend of forfeits and cancellations across Oregon's high school football has now reached into Class 4A's Special District 2. The article was originally published on the Salem Statesman Journal by Landon Bartlett.