NEWBERG, Ore. — George Fox University will add a women’s flag football program beginning in fall 2027, according to a university news release. The program will start as a club team before moving to NCAA Division III varsity status in 2030.
In local high school action, the Newberg High School Tigers boys soccer team stayed undefeated with a 3-2 win over Woodburn, the football team earned its first win of the season with a 20-6 victory over Clackamas, the girls volleyball team won twice at the Lincoln Tournament, and the girls soccer team lost 4-0 to St. Mary’s Academy. We also caught up with the Newberg eighth-grade youth football team, who beat Estacada, lost at Sandy, and beat Clackamas.
George Fox teams also took the field, as the women’s golf team tied for third at the Saint Martin’s Invitational, and the volleyball and men’s soccer teams each lost to Linfield University.
Read the recaps from each program below.
Newberg Middle School
Information provided by Newberg Middle School boys football coach Bryan Long.
Newberg Eighth-Grade Youth Football beat Estacada 12-0 on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, according to head coach Bryan Long. Linebacker Gryson Kropt and defensive linemen Weston Grimm and Judd Brown were driving forces behind the shutout. Quarterback Max Anderson threw a touchdown pass to Raylan Flowers, and running backs Graydon Wright and James Whitmore helped the team find field position.
“This team is full of potential,” Long said. “They have great players at every skill position with a complete offensive line. On defense, they play aggressive and responsible team [defense].”
The team traveled to Sandy, Ore., for its next game on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, and lost 20-8. Despite making it to the red zone five times in the game, Newberg was plagued by turnovers, including one at the 1-yard line, and was able to punch it in only once. Carter Sullivan and Weston Grimm both held strong on defense, with Sullivan providing lead blocking on much of the team’s offensive successes.
Newberg traveled to Clackamas on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, and won 6-0 behind the defensive play of Graydon Wright and Weston Grimm. While the offense struggled with penalties, Greyson Kropft found the end zone for the game’s lone touchdown.
The team next travels to Sherwood on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
Newberg High School Tigers
Scores provided by Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) and team coaches.
Newberg High School Boys Soccer (5-0-2) stayed undefeated with a 3-2 win over the Woodburn High School Bulldogs (3-3) in a nonleague game on Sept. 22, 2026, in Woodburn, Ore. Goals were evenly distributed across the Tigers, with Noah Rodriguez scoring on a Santi Anaya assist, Alex Rodriguez scoring on another Anaya assist, and Alex Balcazar-Gonzalez scoring on a Noah Rodriguez assist. The Tigers will try to hold their undefeated status at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at home against 19th-ranked Southridge High School (5-2).
Newberg High School Football (1-3) brought home its first win of the season with a 20-6 victory over Clackamas High School (1-2) in a nonleague contest on Friday, Sept. 25 in Clackamas. Sophomore quarterback Kamden Raever threw for 256 yards and a touchdown to junior wide receiver A.J. Thomas. Senior wide receiver Owen Kubin also recorded 149 receiving yards, and sophomore running back Kwin Burks recorded 26 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown. The Tigers’ defense held strong, allowing 64 passing yards but giving up 256 rushing yards.
The Tigers will travel to Hillsboro’s? Century High School on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. for their first 6A-3 Pacific Conference matchup of the season.
Newberg High School Girls Volleyball (8-4) split its league matches, winning 3-1 against McMinnville (2-9) at home on Sept. 22, 2026, and losing 3-0 at Forest Grove (11-5) on Sept. 24, 2026. The Tigers won twice at the Lincoln Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Portland, Ore., at Lincoln High School, with 2-0 wins over Liberty and Tigard high schools.
The Tigers have another full week, starting with a match at Beaverton (7-11) at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, followed by a home match against McKay High School (1-11) on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 6:45 p.m. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, they travel to Glencoe High School (2-11) for a league match against the Crimson Tide at 6:45 p.m.
Newberg High School Girls Soccer (1-4-2) lost 4-0 to St. Mary’s Academy at home on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. The Tigers travel to Happy Valley, Ore., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, for a nonleague game against undefeated Adrienne C. Nelson High School (7-0) at 6:30 p.m.
George Fox University Bruins
Scores, stats, and narratives provided by George Fox University Athletics and a university news release.
George Fox University Women’s Flag Football will start as a club team in fall 2027 for its first two seasons before transitioning to full NCAA Division III varsity status in 2030, according to a university news release.
“Anytime we can provide more opportunities for women to play sports is exciting,” said Adam Puckett, director of athletics at George Fox University. “We are thrilled to give female student-athletes another venue to compete, excel, and grow in Christlike character as we build this program from the ground up.”
According to the release, the addition of the program is a reflection of the growth in the sport around the country. In California, participation in high school girls’ flag football has reached 19,000 members, eclipsing other traditional sports programs like girls lacrosse, which counts 9,000 participants. The popularity is largely due to significant investments by the National Football League and its inclusion in the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Currently, there are two teams on the West Coast with Division III flag football programs, Cal Lutheran University and Redlands University, along with two club teams at Azusa Pacific and Claremont College, all in Southern California. There are nearly 400 collegiate teams projected to field flag football teams by spring 2027.
George Fox University Women’s Golf tied for third place at the Saint Martin’s Invitational in DuPont, Wash., on Sept. 22, 2026, with a score of 610 (+34). Katelyn Lam was the top finisher for the Bruins, taking 10th place with an overall score of 149 (+5). The Bruins are headed to North Plains, Ore., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, for the one-day Northwest Conference Fall Classic, hosted by Pacific University.
George Fox University Volleyball (2-9) dropped its lone match of the week to rival Linfield University (5-5), 3-1, on Sept. 25, 2026. Sophomore Addison Goff led the Bruins with eight kills, one ace, and one block. The Bruins will travel to Walla Walla, Wash., to play Whitman College (5-5) on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 7 p.m.
George Fox University Men’s Soccer (1-5-1) lost 2-1 to rival Linfield University (3-3-2) on Sept. 27, 2026. Carson Tapia scored the lone goal for the Bruins in the second half on a Zac LeVin assist. The Bruins are headed to Spokane, Wash., to play Whitworth University (2-5-1) on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
