Mountainside High's football program picked up 17 votes in the 2026 statewide preseason 6A coaches poll, placing the Mavericks just outside the top 10 as the school year opens and fall sports begin.
The Beaverton Valley Times published the poll Monday, Aug. 24, via OSAAtoday. Lake Oswego topped the rankings with 171 points and 10 first-place votes, followed by West Linn (169 points, six first-place votes), Central Catholic (130), Tualatin (125) and Nelson (107). Mountainside led the "others receiving significant votes" category, ahead of Sprague's 11.
The poll is unofficial.
It has no bearing on the OSAA's RPI and Colley ratings used for playoff seedings, but the recognition tracks with a program that has built momentum under head coach Keanon Lowe. The Mavericks won the Metro League title in 2024, ending Jesuit's long reign, before Jesuit reclaimed the crown in 2025 with a 28-23 head-to-head win over Mountainside. MaxPreps ranks the Mavericks No. 15 in Oregon heading into 2026.
Lowe returns a deep backfield. Senior Reece Ballew rushed for 522 yards at 9.3 yards per carry as a sophomore before a shoulder injury ended his junior season after three games. He runs a 10.76-second 100 meters and holds offers from George Fox, Lewis & Clark and Pacific University. In April, Lowe told OregonLive that Ballew "is poised to be one of the top backs in the state with his elusive running style and home-run ability."
Behind Ballew, sophomore Cash Arbow scored more than 25 touchdowns as a freshman. Junior Kade Laraway started every game at linebacker last year, earned second-team all-Metro League honors and was named No. 202 on OregonLive's list of 300 top players for 2026. Junior Isaac Conner, a two-time wrestling state champion, started every game at safety as a sophomore and earned third-team all-Metro League honors as a defensive back.
Mountainside's home opener comes Friday, Sept. 4, against Glencoe, a matchup OregonLive ranked No. 93 among the state's 100 best games on the 2026 schedule. MaxPreps also lists the Mavericks at No. 4-ranked Tualatin on Friday, Aug. 28.
