The Philomath High School boys soccer rebuild will continue this season with a team that seventh-year coach Dave Ellis believes can develop into a playoff-level squad.
Ellis calls it the “two-year project” and he refers to a similar team-building stretch in 2019-20 that was followed by a state title in 2021. Now, Ellis isn’t going so far as to predict a state title in 2025 but he clearly has confidence in the potential of his players.
Overall, Philomath has just one senior on the roster but the junior class is loaded and the program has promising talent in the lower grades.
Answering questions following last week’s home jamboree, Ellis sees an improved team taking the pitch this fall. The Warriors missed the playoffs in 2023 but pushed some of the top teams in the state in close losses. In fact, state champion Newport had to dig deep to hold off Philomath twice during the regular season with a pair of 3-1 wins. North Marion, which made the semifinals, also had to work hard to beat Philomath.
“You know, against North Marion and Newport, we lost all those games 3-1 and the third (goal scored) was always a late goal when we were trying to get back into it,” Ellis said.
A pair of freshmen will have an immediate impact on the PHS attack.
“We’re definitely better this year,” Ellis said. “We’ve added Samuel Hernandez and Dreyton Nuno. Sammy’s a great player and Dreyton athletically and ability is there — he just needs to get used to the speed of the varsity game. He’ll contribute more and more as we go but we’re definitely stronger. We’re definitely moving forward.”
The team also returns several key players to form a solid nucleus, including two others from the Hernandez family — Jacob, a sophomore, and Lukas, a junior — along with senior Silas Pittman, who scored 11 goals and had six assists for Philomath last season while earning first-team all-conference honors. Jacob Hernandez also received postseason recognition for his freshman season performance at center back.
Goalkeeper Jake McGaughy missed the jamboree with an injury but the PHS junior said he expects to be back in time for the season opener. Junior backup Tlacaelel Brambila-Boatner took on keeper duties at the jamboree.
In addition to Jacob Hernandez at center and Lukas Hernandez on the right side, others penciled in for the back line include junior center back Mason Stevens and either junior Cameron McLennan or junior Blake Hauck on the left side.
Junior Caleb Babock and sophomore Esias Sapp will play defensive midfielder. Attacking midfielders include Nuno, Samuel Hernandez and junior Zach Grapoli. Pittman and junior Luke Arthurs are strikers.
“Our front four can play one- or two-touch if they would just do it,” Ellis said.
In the jamboree, Samuel Hernandez had three goals — including a corner kick in the latter match — and Pittman had one.
Pittman and McGaughy were chosen as this season’s team captains.
Ellis would like to see more numbers in the program with Philomath heading into this season with 27 boys.
Said Ellis, “We’re a little light on numbers … we’re a small school.”
The team will open the season a little later than most other teams with a Sept. 10 match at Gladstone to kick it off. But Ellis doesn’t mind with his players needing more drills before going live.
“We’ve got stuff to work on,” Ellis said. “There was an opportunity to pick up a 14th game but we have such a small roster … one less game is one less chance to pick up an injury.”
The Oregon West Conference has always been one of 4A’s toughest leagues. In fact, the state champion has come from the conference six of the last seven years.
“We have good teams — you have to deal with it,” Ellis said.
In the OSAAtoday preseason coaches’ poll, Stayton was voted into the No. 1 ranking with Newport at No. 3 and North Marion at No. 4. Philomath did receive votes and finished just outside the top 10.
In addition to the opener, Philomath’s nonconference schedule also includes a road game at Marist Catholic and a home matchup against Junction City. Marist was ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll.
