Sheldon High School is home to the #22 ranked football team in the country. They have dismantled opponents all season long outscoring other teams (576-111) with a 48-9 average final score. The Irish lead the state in scoring and also in points allowed. They were dominant on both sides of the ball, with the starters usually only playing a half of football due to blowouts. All of this was done while playing in a very competitive conference with an extremely difficult non league schedule.
This is one of the deepest teams in state history that will leave a very impressive legacy with a state title. You basically have two Offensive players of the Year in Connor Strahm and Dillon Miller (6-0 185 Sr QB). As reported Strahm has been off the charts good, but so has Miller. The returning Conference Player of the Year from 2010 has been nothing short of phenomenal. He has thrown for 3,184 yards with a 68.6 com pct, which includes 36 touchdown passes and only 4 Int’s. He is ranked the #1 QB in the state (NEI) but still hasn’t received an offer.
As the son of former Duck and NFL QB Chris Miller you expect to see a successful athlete, but this kid is good at whatever he does. He was the 2010 Player of the year in football and basketball for the Southwestern Conference and has thrown for a combined 6510 yards and 76 touchdown passes over the last two seasons. Strahm was selected conference player of the year in 2011, but Miller will be right there with him in the 6a Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Sometimes a defense can get lost in the hype of the offense, but not in this case. The Irish possess two of the top three candidates for State player of the year in Sam McCaskill (6-3 240 Sr DE/C) and Dawson Housley (6-2 215 Sr LB). Both kids have been dominant and hold Divison 1aa offers. McCaskill was recently voted conference player of the year and leads the state in sacks with (13). His 105 total tackles is second to only Housley (113) and his motor is non stop. Both Portland St and Montana have offered scholarships, but its still early. McCaskill has shattered multiple school and conference records and looks to be the top Oregon Player of the Year candidate.
Housley tracks down ball carriers like they just called his mother a bad name. He is fearless and one of the hardest hitters in the Pacific Northwest. He currently leads the state of Oregon in tackles and has complete disregard for his body when making a stop. His stat line is never ending; state leading 113 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 blocked punts, 3 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries while allowing the fewest points in the state. He has received scholarship offers from Portland St and Weber St.
Both McCaskill and Housley are Pac 12 kids and two of the top defensive players in the entire region. When an Oregon team breaks into the Top 50 you know they are a special group. When you break the top 20 you start to ask is this one of Oregon’s greatest teams ever? These three individuals lead a spectacular overall crew that has a chance to make history. We will find out shortly how the Irish finish up, and look forward to covering one of the most classy programs in the entire country.
