In a signing ceremony held Thursday evening, May 28, Sweet Home’s Dillan Davis and Luke Rosa both signed letters of intent to play football at Lewis & Clark College.
“I’m proud of both of them for the work they put in to reach this point,” said Sweet Home Head Coach Ryan Adams. “Both kids were fundamental in our success as a football team this last fall and are two phenomenal young men.”
Davis scored eight touchdowns for the Huskies as a wide receiver and finished with 27 catches for 527 yards, a 19.52 yards-per-reception average. He carried 18 times for 121 yards and a touchdown, and returned a punt for a touchdown.
Rosa finished with 96 tackles – 59 solo, eight for loss, forcing one fumble and recovering three.
The two led the Huskies to a 7-3 season record, 3-2 in Special District 3, including a historic win over Marist and their first playoff appearance since 2019.
Rosa said he “loved” the south Portland Lewis & Clark campus.
“The thing, for me, was looking past football,” he said. “I was trying to picture myself without football and, like, where would I want to be? The campus is beautiful. It was amazing.”
He said he contacted River Otters and they responded.
“They got the ball rolling, so I’m very appreciative for that,” he said. “They got me the coach’s number and I got on a call with him.”
Davis said the Otters reached out to him after he attended the Northwest Showcase last summer, hosted by Lewis & Clark.
“They reached out to me.”
He said he was a little nervous but once he got there, “I got to meet the guys over there, and it was just, like, so welcoming.”
He said he came back sure that he wanted to play for the Otters.
“Their coaching is awesome,” he said. “The guys there, all the college students, they just welcome you so, so easily. It’s just crazy.”
He said he heard from some other schools, such as Southern Oregon, and had conversations with Oregon State, but “I found a home. Yeah, it’s good.”
Davis said he’s not sure yet what he wants to pursue as a major, adding that he is interested in rhetoric and “something business-related.”
The two follow in the footsteps of Keegan Holly, who signed with the then-Pioneers in 2018.
The River Otters were formerly the Pioneers until 2025, when a poll of students indicated that the large majority felt that Pioneers or “Pios” glorified colonialism.
Students, alumni and employees chose River Otters over the seven other options presented in a ranked-choice voting system, according to Lewis & Clark.
The River Otters, who play in the Northwest Conference, finished 6-4 last season under first-year Coach Brett Elliott after scoring 28 consecutive points to defeat Pacific to snap a four-game losing streak and secure their sixth victory of the season, the team’s most since 2011.
Lewis & Clark expects to return the majority of its roster for the 2026 season for Elliott’s second season.
Rosa said he likes playing on special teams and hopes to be able to do that for the Otters, as well as play “mike” linebacker.
“Coming in as a freshman, I’m not expecting any playing time; I’m just gonna be there and, hopefully, develop.”
Davis, who finished fifth last week in the 400 at the state meet, said he’s interested in running track in college.
“I’m really liking track.”
Rosa said he plans to pursue a degree in data science and “possibly business or economics along with that.”
Said Adams: “I’m excited to watch them continue their journey at the next level.”