Hunter Vaughn’s adjustment to 11-player football turns out to be no problem in Les Schwab Bowl

You couldn’t really blame Hunter Vaughn if he asked himself, “Why are there so many players out here?” when he onto the field for the first play of the Les Schwab Bowl at Lewis & Clark College’s Griswold Stadium.

After all, Vaughn attended North Douglas High School in Drain, which is 40 miles south of Eugene, during his first three years of high school football.

North Douglas participates in Class 1A football with eight players. Naturally, each team has 11 players on the field at the high school all-star football game, the Les Schwab Bowl.

Vaughn was playing in his first-ever 11-person football game, despite being nothing short of a super star for North Douglas.

After the game, Vaughn laughed and stated, “I was really, really nervous.” All I wanted to do was perform. I wanted to make an impression because it was my first 11-man game.

Let’s see, he did.

Vaughn, who plays at receiver for Team Columbia, caught two touchdown passes during Friday’s 34-21 victory over Team Willamette.

After making a reception in the fourth quarter of Friday’s Les Schwab Bowl all-star football game, Hunter Vaughn looks to head up field.Dan Brood for OregonLive/The Oregonian

“It feels great,” Vaughn remarked. I’m rather pleased with my performance because this is my first time playing 11-man, and I scored two touchdowns.

Given that Vaughn had a North Douglas in his junior season, it certainly shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the 6-foot, 175-pound player stepped up at the Les Schwab Bowl. Vaughn ran for 2,673 yards and 45 touchdowns on 141 runs in the 2024 season, helping North Douglas to an 11-1 record and a trip to the Class 1A 8-man state championship game. In addition, he finished the season with 62 total touchdowns and 4,142 all-purpose yards.

In North Douglas’ 50-6 victory over Crosspoint Christian in a state playoff quarterfinal, Vaughn ran for 287 yards and four touchdowns and caught a 60-yard TD pass. Vaughn recorded an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown in the state championship game, which they lost to Adrian 66–12.

The question of what modifications would need to be made to play 11-man football against and with a team of all-stars, many of whom are from Class 6A schools, remains even though those gaudy figures are impressive.

According to Vaughn, there wasn’t a significant adjustment. I arrived here and quickly mastered the plays. And it was quite simple because of the excellent guidance. I’m happy to be here and to be playing in a legitimate football game.

Vaughn quickly made an impression during Friday’s all-star competition. The game’s first touchdown was scored by Mountainside senior-to-be quarterback Cade Mitchell, who threw deep to Vaughn, who was running down the right sideline, during Team Columbia’s second offensive possession. Mitchell’s pass went 65 yards to the North Douglas standout.

Mitchell then threw a 12-yard throw over the middle to Vaughn for the pair’s second score of the game during Team Columbia’s opening drive of the second half.

Mitchell, who recently committed to play collegiate football at the University of New Mexico, was undoubtedly impressed by Vaughn, if nothing else.

Mitchell remarked that Hunter is an excellent player. He will grow up to be a child you know you will watch play football for FCS. On both sides of the ball, Hunter is merely a dog. I’m very fond of the man.

Early in the third quarter of Team Columbia’s 34-21 triumph in Friday’s Les Schwab Bowl, Hunter Vaughn makes a 12-yard touchdown reception.Dan Brood for OregonLive/The Oregonian

Vaughn had three catches for a team-high 83 yards at the end of the game. However, he placed greater importance on assisting Team Columbia in winning.

According to Vaughn, it signifies a lot. We’ve been putting in a lot of work this week, maintaining our discipline, going to bed early, and strengthening our bonds. We won this game because we were a single family.

Vaughn will play a lot more 11-man football this fall at Willamette High School, where sophomore-to-be quarterback Zeke Thomas, who threw three touchdowns for Team Willamette in Friday’s game, may start at quarterback.

It’s fantastic. Regarding his future with the Wolverines, Vaughn stated that the adjustment has been excellent. There, I’ve made a ton of friends. We have a fantastic coaching staff and an exciting season ahead of us.

This raises the question of whether Vaughn represented Willamette or North Douglas in Friday’s Les Schwab Bowl.

“I’m representing both equally,” he remarked. Even though I have a fantastic year ahead of me at Willamette, I can’t help but remember my roots.

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