If the three Bend schools (Bend, Mountain View and Summit) end up in a league with the Salem schools, which it looks like they will, they’ll be joining some very big football teams in 2018.

The Oregonian just published Oregon high school football participation numbers and the Salem schools lead the way for the entire state.

To give you an head of how the Bend schools matchup size wise, Summit had 87 players in 2016.

2016 6A Oregon Football Participation Numbers:
(Salem schools in bold)
1. McKay 170
2. Clackamas 161
3. Tigard 160
4. West Salem 157
5. McNary 152
6. Jesuit 141
7. Sprague 138
8. Central Catholic 135
9. South Salem 132
10. West Linn 130
11. Sunset 128
12. Grants Pass 125
13. North Salem 122 – Not projected to be in the Salem league in 2018.
14. South Medford 121
15. North Medford 120
15. Sherwood 120
17. Oregon City 115
18. Aloha 112
19. McMinnville 111
20. David Douglas 109
21. Canby 106
22. Tualatin 104
23. Newberg 101
24. Barlow 100
25. Beaverton 99
25. Reynolds 99
27. Century 96
28. Franklin 95
28. Gresham 95
30. West Albany 94 – Not in Salem, but should be in the same league in 2018.
31. Southridge 92
32. Sheldon 91
33. Westview 87
34. Lincoln 85
35. Liberty 84
36. Lake Oswego 83
37. Centennial 81
37. Jefferson 81
39. Grant 78
40. Forest Grove 77
40. Roseburg 77
42. Lakeridge 76
42. Willamette 76
44. Glencoe 73
45. Wilson 64
46. South Eugene 62
47. Cleveland 55
48. Madison 52
48. Roosevelt 52
50. Benson 45

Proposed 2018 6A Greater Valley Football Conference
Bend Lava Bears
McKay Scots
McNary Celtics
Mountain View Cougars
South Salem Saxons
Sprague Olympians
Summit Storm
West Albany Bulldogs
West Salem Titans