Class of '25 gets serious

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At McDaniel High in Northeast Portland, the air is filled with optimism on the football field where the Mountain Lions are preparing for a run at the playoffs.

That's somewhere the program hasn't been in seven years, but there's more players on the field than in past years, and the success of the youth teams are giving everyone a sense that there's a real program in the making under second-year head coach Russell Millage.

And, that's led to the optimism of making the playoffs, and maybe even playing that game at home - something the program has not done since 1987.

"We're looking to go to the playoffs this year," senior C.J. Vickers said at practice Tuesday. "I think we can go 6-1 or even 7-0 in league. We can do that because we're going to fight to the end in every game. I think we kind of gave up in a couple games last year, but we're not going to do that this year."

McDaniel's seniors are all part of the Class of 2025 for OSAA competitions.

Season opening games begin Aug. 30.

McDaniel plays its opener Sept. 6 at home against Hillsboro.

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