Century High School's non-league football schedule got a new wrinkle. The Jaguars will face a Southridge program under new leadership when the two teams meet Thursday, Sept. 3 at Hillsboro Stadium.

Josh Gray, 25, was named head coach at Southridge in April, replacing Aaron Tanabe after just one season. Gray becomes one of the youngest head coaches in Oregon 6A football, taking over a program that has gone 1-8 in back-to-back seasons since returning to the 6A Metro League, according to the Hillsboro News Times.

Four years ago, Gray was working fast food in Portland. He graduated from Ione High School in 2019, where he played eight-man football, and spent one season at College of the Siskiyous in California before an injury ended his playing career. He broke into coaching as a defensive line coach at Cleveland in 2022, then served as JV head coach at Franklin (2023), varsity defensive coordinator at Cleveland (2024) and JV head coach and varsity offensive assistant at Southridge last season before athletic director Trisha Shoemaker promoted him.

Gray told the News Times the job still feels surreal, saying he sometimes has to remind himself the program is his. He called himself young and short on experience but eager to do his best.

The numbers tell the story. Southridge's turnout was in the mid-50s last year and dwindled as injuries mounted; the JV squad finished with barely a dozen players. Summer workouts have drawn about 50, with a core group of 20, and Gray's target is 70 for the season. The program reinstated its grades 7-8 youth team after a multi-year absence, with 32 players committed.

The Skyhawks will look different on offense. Coordinator Liam Walsh, who joined the staff from Valley Catholic last year, is scrapping the wing-T for a spread/West Coast hybrid. Senior quarterback Connor Harding returns, along with receivers Wyatt Bickler, Cody Harrington and Zach Turner, a baseball player suiting up for football for the first time.

Bickler, son of former Southridge head coach Kevin Bickler, anchors the defense at free safety. Now 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, he drew praise from Gray, who said the senior added significant muscle and looks like a different player from a year ago.

Depth up front has improved. Gray said as many as 28 linemen are participating in practices, boosted by senior center Tristan Lulay, a transfer from Valley Catholic after the Valiants could not field a team this season.

Gray ran padded spring practices to build physicality and has leaned on mentors including Franklin head coach Adam Grimes and Horizon Christian head coach Keith Bennett. He acknowledged predictions that Southridge will go winless but said he embraces the underdog label.

"I was a little upset at first, then I was like, 'I love that we're that underdog,'" Gray said. "I'm hoping we can surprise some people."

After the Century game, Southridge faces South Salem, Gresham and Forest Grove before beginning Metro League play.