BROTHER, NICE STREAK.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

Brothers Gary and Andrew Roberts have never lost a league game in their high school football careers.

Gary Roberts was an offensive lineman for Marshfield in 1994-95 when the Pirates posted back-to-back undefeated Midwestern League championship seasons to begin a streak of 55 straight league victories that stands as the state record.

Roberts is an assistant coach at Sheldon where his younger brother, Andrew, has enjoyed similar success as the Irish have not lost a league game during any of his three years on varsity to run their league winning streak to 51 straight games.

"From being a player at Marshfield to coaching at Sheldon and now having a brother playing and all these streaks, it is a bit ironic," Gary Roberts said.

While the Roberts brothers have enjoyed similar success on the field, there are some differences between the winning streaks they contributed to as linemen.

For example, Marshfield was coming off consecutive league losses at the end of the 1993 season when Roberts started playing varsity as a junior in 1994. Roberts helped Marshfield go 9-0 in 1994 and 1995 before graduating and watching the Pirates complete four more undefeated league seasons before suffering a loss.

"It wasn't really a streak when I was there, we just went through two years without losing," Gary Roberts said. "But then it kind of built up and gained that momentum."

Sheldon had won 30 straight league games when Andrew Roberts arrived in 2004 and he has played in almost every one of Sheldon's 21 straight league wins since then. Roberts played running back and linebacker as a freshman before starting at center during the past two years.

"He's been a bigger part of this streak than I was of the streak in Coos Bay," Gary Roberts said. "I was a junior when it started, but he played in almost every game as a freshman. I think he played at some point in nine games as a freshman."

Andrew Roberts was a ball boy for Sheldon football before putting on the uniform.

"I grew up watching (Alex) Brink and (Chris) Baltzer and the guys before me," said Andrew Roberts, who earned first-team all-Southwest Conference honors last year.

"It was kind of like a tradition we felt like we needed to carry on. Every player here feels a little extra pressure to excel and be the best at what we can do. We always feel like there is a repetitive nature to winning in this program."

The two brothers have enjoyed their time together during the past four years.

"It's good; he has a lot of knowledge and he helps me out on the field and off the field," Andrew Roberts said.

Gary Roberts said it will be strange next year when his younger brother is no longer on the team.

"When I was in high school, he was always running around in a Marshfield uniform and I've got pictures of that," he said.

"Andrew has been around here as long as I've been here as a ball boy. Having him on the team, it started out a little different but I got used to it and I'm not sure what it will be like next year when he is not around.

"It has been neat for me to have him part of my life and have him around these coaches because they have been so special to me and my life here."

11-1 overall. Southwest Conference champions at 5-0. Defeated McKay (38-7) and Barlow (41-18) in the playoffs before losing to Jesuit (65-7) in the quarterfinals.

Zach Todd: Senior RB rushed for more than 1,200 yards and had 30 receptions last season.

Andrew Roberts: First-team, all-conference center is a three-year starter.

Brandon Baker: Senior was a first-team, all-conference selection on offensive line and at linebacker.

Will Rogers: 6-8, 330-pound senior who earned all-league honorable mention joins Roberts and Baker on a veteran offensive line.

Tyler Martell: Senior was a second-team all-league linebacker who also earned honorable mention at receiver.

Pete Jaeger: Second-team, all-league defensive back is also a backup quarterback.

Matt Carman: Senior receiver returns after suffering a season-ending injury against Roseburg last year.

Parker Strom: Senior returning starter on the defensive line who may also start on offense.

Austin Embery: Senior is a veteran at linebacker.

The Irish have four players vying for the starting QB job. Senior Tommy Stewart, a transfer from Marist, and sophomore Jordan Johnson, coach Marty Johnson's son, were splitting time with the first string in the preseason. Both Johnson and Stewart are athletic and could play receiver if they are not starting at QB. Transfer Tyler Briffett, who moved from Massachusetts, and Pete Jaeger are also in the mix.

51

Consecutive league victories dating back to 2000, a streak that ranks third in

state history.

11

Average wins

per season for

the Irish since the

2001 season.

6

Sheldon's

total number of losses

since the 2001

season.

385

The Irish's average yards

of offense per game last

season, tops in the

Southwest Conference.

Marty Johnson

Record at school: 92-20

Season: 11th

Overall record: 92-20

Playoff record: 16-7

Notable: Johnson became the winningest football coach in school history last year when he passed Tom Wright, who went 82-64 from 1981-95. Current Sheldon assistant Dick Arbuckle, who went 71-51 from 1965-73 and 1977-80, ranks third.

Coach Johnson SAYS:

"Zach Todd has done a lot this summer in terms of going to camps. I don't know whose (recruiting) lists he is on, but ... I think if he has a great senior year, he may have the opportunity to do something."

THE REST OF THE SOUTHWEST

A look at the rest of the Southwest Conference

Grants Pass: Senior quarterback Zach Morgan stepped in as an injury replacement last year and earned all-conference honorable mention when he completed 46 of 69 passes for 593 yards and four touchdowns.

North Medford: Black Tornado look to rebound after missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 1997.

Roseburg: Thurman Bell, the dean of 6A state football coaches, returns for his 37th season with the Indians.

South Medford: Singlers star in football too: Junior receiver Mitch Singler was a second-team all-league receiver and cousin E.J. Singler, Kyle's younger brother, earned honorable mention at tight end.

The Irish will have a new QB, but a couple talented contenders are leading the battle as Tommy Stewart is a strong-armed senior who gained experience at Marist last year and sophomore Jordan Johnson knows the offense after leading the freshman team last year.

The Irish have a talented group of receivers, too, as Tyler Martell ranked sixth with 223 yards in five SWC games, Matt Carman made some big plays before being injured, and big sophomore Curtis White has experience and a lot of potential.

Sheldon has established itself as one of the state's top programs and handled expectations with poise, but the Irish may have to deal with even more attention from around the state this year as they challenge the all-time league winning streak.

Insert the "Sheldon is the champion until somebody beats them" cliche here because the Irish have won six straight league titles and show no signs of a letdown this season.

Southwest Date Opponent Time Aug. 31 Marist W, 49-21 Sept. 7 Westview 7 p.m. Sept. 14 Tigard 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at Thurston 7 p.m. Sept. 28 Churchill 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at South Medford 7 p.m. Oct. 12 Roseburg 7 p.m. Oct. 19 North Medford 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Grants Pass 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at South Eugene 7 p.m.