High School Football Coach Fired After Controversial Move Up 57-0

An Oregon high school football coach was fired after his team pulled an onside kick up 57 points in the first half against an opponent that could barely field a team.

Marist Catholic High School in Eugene fired head coach Zach Loboy after the Spartans flattened Cottage Grove 63-0 on October 9. School officials decided the scorched-earth approach didn’t square with the Catholic school’s values.

In a letter to football families, principal Bob Fraley said the school concluded new leadership was needed to “reflect our school’s mission and values.” Loboy’s removal took effect immediately.

The game itself was a mismatch. With 1:47 left in the second quarter and the scoreboard reading 57-0, Marist tried an onside kick down the right sideline. The ball rolled out of bounds for a penalty, but the message was clear.

Here is a clip of Marist Catholic onside kicking, up 57-0 late in the 2Q… #opreps https://t.co/dDGJ8O9dYP pic.twitter.com/ghbWGzYE5R

— Mid-Major Media (@MidMajorMedia) October 13, 2026

KVAL footage showed the Spartans successfully recovering a second onside try earlier in the game, though the score at that moment wasn’t visible.

The video also showed the gap in manpower. Marist’s sideline was crowded with reserves, while the visitors appeared to have very few backups.

The game was called at halftime because of the margin, and Cottage Grove never took the field for the second half.

Cottage Grove has a 1-5 record and has dropped five straight. They have been outscored 206-36 in that span, including a combined 105-0 over their last three losses.

Oregon already has a mercy rule meant to keep blowouts from getting uglier. Under Oregon Schools Activities Association policy, a football game switches to a running clock once one team leads by 35 at halftime or later. The rule doesn’t penalize coaches for running up the score, so the Loboy’s firing came from the school.

Jake Lowther, in his first season on the Marist staff after a stint as a varsity assistant at Cascade High School, steps in as interim head coach for the rest of the year. He debuts Friday when the 3-3 Spartans visit North Bend.

Fraley acknowledged in the letter that a midseason coaching change is hard on players and families, writing, “We recognize that a coaching change in the middle of a season can be difficult for players and families. We appreciate your understanding, support, and prayers as we navigate this transition. Thank you for your continued commitment to Marist and our student athletes. May God continue to bless you and your families.”

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