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Who's going to be the most impactful high school quarterback in the Salem-Keizer area this fall?
It's time for you to decide.
The 2026 OSAA high school football season is rapidly approaching and teams across the Willamette Valley have retooled and refocused for an exciting season. Area quarterbacks return with accolades spanning from all-state to all-conference, and a handful of local transfers make for an intriguing year ahead.
The Statesman Journal will be working across the football field to decide who the most impactful players in each position will be this season, starting with the quarterbacks.
Without further ado, here are the nominees. Our list is sponsored by Maps Credit Union.
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Monday, Aug. 10.
Bowman is back in the pocket for his senior season with the Saxons. Last fall, Bowmen led all of Class 6A in passing yards with 3,214, but the Saxons finished the season winless. He set state records in single-game passing yards (692) and completions (48) in the same game against Grants Pass and earned all-state honorable mention.
Girod, a senior, returns to the gridiron for one final season with the Panthers. Last fall, Girod earned honorable mention in Special District 3 by throwing for over 1,500 passing yards at a near 60% completion rate. Girod also threw 17 touchdowns to three interceptions, one of the best ratios in Class 5A.
Dallas' dual-threat first-team all-conference quarterback is back. A year ago Hess, now a senior, helped the Dragons to a third-place conference finish, 5A state quarterfinal appearance and 7-4 overall record in Class 5A's Special District 3.
St. Paul's starting quarterback is back. Last year, Hockett helped lead the Buckaroos to a Class 2A state semifinal appearance and Special District 2 championship. The now-senior lit up the stat sheets as a dual-threat quarterback on countless occasions as St. Paul finished the season 8-3. Hockett earned 2A all-state honorable mention.
Hughes, a junior, led Stayton to a 7-3 record, Class 4A state tournament appearance and earned Special District 2 all-conference first-team last fall. Hughes joins a Cascade side with multiple returning all-state receivers as the classification's highest-scoring offense retooled for a strong 2026.
Kawamura, a junior, returns for another year of starts for the Crusaders. Last fall, Kawamura helped Salem Academy to a 3-5 record in a challenging Class 3A Special District 2 and earned all-conference honorable mention.
Lake excelled in his first year as a starting varsity quarterback last year for North Salem. He helped the Vikings to a 5-5 record and earned a spot on the all-conference second team in Class 6A's Special District 1. This offseason, Lake, a junior, transferred to 5A state champion Silverton, where he will team up with a plethora of returning all-state talent.
Lata, a senior, has emerged as a strong candidate to run the offense at North Salem this fall. He started for the Vikings in the pocket two years ago as a sophomore and with the team's opening in the role, Lata brings leadership and experience and has emerged again as an option.
Olson, a senior, is in the running for the quarterback position as West Salem. A year ago, the 6-foot-3 thrower led the Titans' junior varsity squad from quarterback and brings years of reps and work within the Titans' program.
Wylam's presented himself as a candidate to run the offense at Sprague for his junior season. A year ago, Wylam led the junior varsity Olympians to an undefeated season and has veterans across the offensive line and receiving corps to work with if he wins the starting job.
Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote! Who will be the most impactful Salem-area quarterback this fall?
Continue reading...
It's time for you to decide.
The 2026 OSAA high school football season is rapidly approaching and teams across the Willamette Valley have retooled and refocused for an exciting season. Area quarterbacks return with accolades spanning from all-state to all-conference, and a handful of local transfers make for an intriguing year ahead.
The Statesman Journal will be working across the football field to decide who the most impactful players in each position will be this season, starting with the quarterbacks.
Without further ado, here are the nominees. Our list is sponsored by Maps Credit Union.
- Kellen Bowman, South Salem
- JT Girod, Central
- Thomas Hess, Dallas
- Noah Hockett, St. Paul
- Madden Hughes, Cascade
- Taiki Kawamura, Salem Academy
- Quenton Lake, Silverton
- Tevita Lata, North Salem
- Jackson Olson, West Salem
- Ethan Wylam, Sprague
You must be registered for see images attach
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Monday, Aug. 10.
You must be registered for see images attach
Kellen Bowman, South Salem
Bowman is back in the pocket for his senior season with the Saxons. Last fall, Bowmen led all of Class 6A in passing yards with 3,214, but the Saxons finished the season winless. He set state records in single-game passing yards (692) and completions (48) in the same game against Grants Pass and earned all-state honorable mention.
You must be registered for see images attach
JT Girod, Central
Girod, a senior, returns to the gridiron for one final season with the Panthers. Last fall, Girod earned honorable mention in Special District 3 by throwing for over 1,500 passing yards at a near 60% completion rate. Girod also threw 17 touchdowns to three interceptions, one of the best ratios in Class 5A.
You must be registered for see images attach
Thomas Hess, Dallas
Dallas' dual-threat first-team all-conference quarterback is back. A year ago Hess, now a senior, helped the Dragons to a third-place conference finish, 5A state quarterfinal appearance and 7-4 overall record in Class 5A's Special District 3.
You must be registered for see images attach
Noah Hockett, St. Paul
St. Paul's starting quarterback is back. Last year, Hockett helped lead the Buckaroos to a Class 2A state semifinal appearance and Special District 2 championship. The now-senior lit up the stat sheets as a dual-threat quarterback on countless occasions as St. Paul finished the season 8-3. Hockett earned 2A all-state honorable mention.
You must be registered for see images attach
Madden Hughes, Cascade
Hughes, a junior, led Stayton to a 7-3 record, Class 4A state tournament appearance and earned Special District 2 all-conference first-team last fall. Hughes joins a Cascade side with multiple returning all-state receivers as the classification's highest-scoring offense retooled for a strong 2026.
You must be registered for see images attach
Taiki Kawamura, Salem Academy
Kawamura, a junior, returns for another year of starts for the Crusaders. Last fall, Kawamura helped Salem Academy to a 3-5 record in a challenging Class 3A Special District 2 and earned all-conference honorable mention.
You must be registered for see images
Quenton Lake, Silverton
Lake excelled in his first year as a starting varsity quarterback last year for North Salem. He helped the Vikings to a 5-5 record and earned a spot on the all-conference second team in Class 6A's Special District 1. This offseason, Lake, a junior, transferred to 5A state champion Silverton, where he will team up with a plethora of returning all-state talent.
Tevita Lata, North Salem
Lata, a senior, has emerged as a strong candidate to run the offense at North Salem this fall. He started for the Vikings in the pocket two years ago as a sophomore and with the team's opening in the role, Lata brings leadership and experience and has emerged again as an option.
Jackson Olson, West Salem
Olson, a senior, is in the running for the quarterback position as West Salem. A year ago, the 6-foot-3 thrower led the Titans' junior varsity squad from quarterback and brings years of reps and work within the Titans' program.
Ethan Wylam, Sprague
Wylam's presented himself as a candidate to run the offense at Sprague for his junior season. A year ago, Wylam led the junior varsity Olympians to an undefeated season and has veterans across the offensive line and receiving corps to work with if he wins the starting job.
Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Vote! Who will be the most impactful Salem-area quarterback this fall?
Continue reading...
