Lakeridge head coach Spencer Phillips has guided the Pacers to three consecutive Class 6A state quarterfinal appearances. Now he'll try to do it again with a roster that lost 18 starters.

Phillips, entering his seventh season at Lakeridge, told the Lake Oswego Review on Thursday, Aug. 6, that the turnover has him energized rather than worried.

"Last year, both sides of the ball, we pretty much had a senior starting in almost every position," Phillips said. "So for us, it's a fresh start. New quarterback, new receivers, new linemen, new safeties, new corners, new linebackers. It's fresh start, so for me, that's exciting."

Gone is first-team all-state defensive lineman Noah Tishendorf, who signed with West Virginia, along with quarterback Drew Weiler, safety/wide receiver Marcus Post and wide receiver Jaden Tragesser. But five all-Three Rivers League selections return: senior center Caleb Klein (second-team offense), senior wide receiver and cornerback Sean Bour-Nelson (honorable mention offense, second-team defense), junior guard Wyatt Rose (honorable mention offense), senior running back Colby Owen (honorable mention offense) and senior running back/safety Easton Lawson (honorable mention offense, second-team defense).

Those five players account for seven all-league spots total across offense and defense.

Phillips said the program's culture means new starters already know what's expected. He pointed to players who waited behind Weiler, Post and Tragesser as ready to step up.

The Pacers will navigate one of Oregon's toughest leagues. According to a Three Rivers League preview in the West Linn Tidings, the TRL posted the highest winning percentage (62%) among the state's six Class 6A conferences in 2025, producing three of eight state quarterfinalists, two semifinalists and the champion in Lake Oswego.

Phillips named Lake Oswego, West Linn and Tualatin as the top TRL contenders for 2026, calling Tualatin "a top contender this year" given its talent level. Lake Oswego won the 2025 state title; West Linn won it in 2024.

The season builds toward the Oct. 30 Battle of the Lake, when Lakeridge travels to defending state champion Lake Oswego for a 7 p.m. kickoff in the TRL regular-season finale.

2026 schedule:

Non-league

  • Friday, Aug. 28 — at North Medford (Spiegelberg Stadium), 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 4 — at Newberg (ranked 12th in state in 2025), 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 11 — vs. Lincoln (home), 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 18 — vs. Mountainside (home, ranked 13th in 2025), 7 p.m.

Three Rivers League

  • Friday, Oct. 2 — at Tigard, 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 30 — at Lake Oswego (Battle of the Lake), 7 p.m.