Cottage Grove Lions Football 25-18 Creswell

Cottage Grove football got its 2026 season off on the right foot Friday night, defeating rival Creswell 25-18 in a non-league opener played in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The Lions, members of the Sky-Em League (4A), earned a hard-fought seven-point victory to move to 1-0 on the young season. The game had the feel of a heated local rivalry from the start, with Creswell keeping things competitive throughout. Cottage Grove held a 25-18 advantage when the final whistle sounded, a margin that reflected just how much both teams were willing to fight for every yard. The Lions showed enough in the win to give their fans reason for optimism heading into the weeks ahead. The home crowd in Cottage Grove had plenty to cheer about as the team delivered a strong opening statement. Cottage Grove will look to build on this momentum as league play approaches and the Sky-Em schedule begins to take shape.