Sunday, October 18, 2026 - An Oregon high school football coach has lost his job just days after leading his team to a commanding 63-0 victory, in a controversial game that was stopped at halftime. Zach Loboy, head coach of Marist Catholic High School in Eugene, was dismissed following the October 9, 2026, matchup against Cottage Grove High School.
The decision followed criticism of his team's aggressive approach against an opponent struggling with a severely depleted roster. School officials said the coaching change was necessary to uphold the institution's mission and values, placing sportsmanship at the centre of the controversy.
The controversy intensified when Marist Catholic attempted an onside kick while leading 56-0 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. An onside kick is generally used by a team seeking to regain possession immediately after scoring, often when trailing. Cottage Grove reportedly had only 16 players available for the game, highlighting the imbalance between the two teams.
Marist subsequently scored again to extend its lead to 63-0. Both schools' athletic directors and a local officials' association commissioner agreed to end the game at halftime, citing the circumstances surrounding the contest and the interests of the players and spectators.
Marist Catholic athletic director Rick Gardner acknowledged that the team's conduct did not reflect the school's expectations for how opponents should be treated. Loboy, who became head coach in 2024, was replaced by Jake Lowther, the team's offensive line coach and assistant head coach, on an interim basis.
The incident has reignited debate over the balance between competitive ambition and sportsmanship in school athletics. While coaches are expected to prepare teams to compete, they also have a responsibility to consider player welfare and respect their opponents.
The controversy sends a clear message to school sports programmes: winning matters, but the manner in which a team wins can carry consequences far beyond the final score.
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