Summit Storm Set for OSAA Semifinal Clash Against Churchill

The road to the OSAA 5A State Championship runs through Salem this Friday night, where the top-ranked Summit Storm face the rising-fast Churchill Lancers at McCulloch Stadium on the campus of Willamette University. It’s a meeting between the heavyweight favorite and a dangerous underdog that’s been punching above its seed for weeks.

Summit: The Standard All Season

 Summit enters the semifinal unbeaten and largely unchallenged. The Storm have controlled every phase of the game this season — disciplined execution, balanced offense, and a defense that closes the door on momentum before opponents ever find it.

Running back Jude Anderson continues to deliver steady production on the ground, while receiver Connor Conneely gives Summit a reliable downfield threat. Quarterback Andrew Guthrie has been efficient and poised, spreading the ball and minimizing mistakes. The deeper story is Summit’s line play — physical, consistent, and often the difference in long fourth-quarter drives when games tighten up.

This is one of the strongest rosters Summit has fielded in years, and they’ve played like it: veteran leadership, clean football, and zero interest in letting opponents hang around.

Churchill: The Underdog With Teeth

 Churchill comes in as the #13 seed, but the ranking hasn’t meant much lately. The Lancers have stacked up road wins, including a big upset over Thurston in the quarterfinals — a game that turned plenty of heads.

The engine of their offense is senior running back Lukas Babbitt, who’s put up more than 1,100 rushing yards this season and continues to be one of the most explosive athletes in 5A. He’s not just a runner — he’s a game-breaker who can flip momentum instantly. Senior receiver Trayshawn Wright adds another layer, stretching defenses vertically and forcing secondaries to pick their poison.

Churchill has nothing to lose, and they’re playing like it. That makes them dangerous.

The Matchup

 This one comes down to whether Churchill can generate explosive plays before Summit’s structure and discipline take control. Summit’s depth and balance make them extremely hard to rattle, but Churchill thrives on chaos — big runs, turnovers, sudden momentum swings.

If Summit keeps the game in their rhythm, they move on.

If Churchill finds lightning early, things get interesting.