By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

JEFFERSON, Ore.– Over the course of the last four years, Jefferson’s Jacob Karnes has worked his way up the High School ranks.  First starting as an assistant helping the line before taking over offensive line duties.  

That quickly evolved into becoming an offensive coordinator this past year under former Head Coach Kaleb Gilgan before taking over for Gilgan as Head Coach for the Lions on the heels of their first playoff win this millennium during their 7-4 season this past Fall.

” It’s such an honor. I have a great deal respect for these kids and have gone through so much with them. I’ve seen such dramatic growth in this senior class and I am thrilled to be their head coach for their senior year,” Karnes said.

I am very proud of the strides we were able to make last season on offense. We got a pretty complex and diverse offense installed and we were able to attack defenses in a variety of ways. I think it will help the team a ton to have continuity on offense for the first time for this senior class. For the first time they won’t have to learn a new offense.”

Jefferson will be turning to a solid core of seniors this upcoming season, anchoring a transition for Jefferson, not just in having a new Head Coach, but also being bumped up to 3A this upcoming season.
A league that features Scio, Dayton, Amity and Kennedy. The Trojans moving up to 3A as well to play 11-man as 2A has elected to go nine-man moving into this season.
The challenges will be there, but so will be the standard to continue in striving to improve and get better.
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Moving up to 3A provides an amazing opportunity to challenge ourselves to continue to elevate our standards,” Karnes said. “Moving up to 3A and being in the league that we are provides a giant opportunity for us. We have a very challenging schedule this coming season and I am hopeful that this opportunity that lays before us will only motivate our players and coaching staff.

“We are capable of great things and it’s all about getting the kids to buy in and believe in themselves. I am so proud of the growth I have seen in them over the past three seasons in this regard.”

Jefferson opens the season September 2 when they host Creswell before hosting Rainier September 9.