​Who will be the top high school quarterback in the Eugene-Springfield area in 2026? With the fall sports season just around the corner, The Register-Guard will spend the next few weeks highlighting the top local football players in the area. We are kicking off this year’s preseason coverage with a look at Lane County’s quarterbacks. Now, it’s time for you to decide which QB is the best of the bunch. Without further ado, here are the nominees. Wylie Blake, Pleasant HillConnor Cutsforth, ElmiraEmmit Distefano, ThurstonBrody Gilliam, Marist CatholicBode Hough, North EugeneD’Mariyae “Dae Dae” Ireland, North EugeneTalon Jerabek, ChurchillCarson Jolliff, CreswellDaniel Mataisz, ElmiraMichael McCoy, ElmiraWyatt McNamee, LowellBrayden Rauschert, Junction CityRyker Rohaley, SheldonZeke Thomas, WillametteKeaton Welch, SheldonBrayden Wickersheim, SpringfieldInformation about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at www.registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, Aug. 9.Wylie Blake, Pleasant Hill With all-conference quarterback Steven Bounds moving on, Pleasant Hill will have some big shoes to fill at quarterback as it looks to defend its share of the league title.After serving in a Swiss army knife offensive role last season, rising senior Wylie Blake will look to keep the Billies rolling. Blake was the school’s junior varsity quarterback in 2024 and was an asset at receiver, running back and defensive back in 2025. His younger brother, Wyatt Blake, will be the backup signal-caller. “Wylie became this really indispensable part of our offense last year, where we could move him and (all-state receiver Jacob Neely) around to a lot of different spots,” Pleasant Hill coach Kenny Koberstein said. “He’s back for us and is a really, really highly intelligent kid. Really tough kid, and we feel really, really good about him.”Connor Cutsforth, Daniel Mataisz or Michael McCoy, ElmiraElmira will open fall camp with a three-man quarterback battle as it looks to replace all-conference starter Talon Jerabek, who transferred to Churchill. Sophomore Connor Cutsforth, junior Daniel Mataisz and junior Michael McCoy are all pushing for the starting job for the Falcons. “It’s going to be whoever can lead our team the best,” Elmira coach Conrad Davis said of what will be the deciding factor in the competition. “It’s not necessarily about who’s going to throw the tightest spiral; we need a leader who our kids respect when he’s talking in the huddle. We need 11 guys playing together as a team this year, and whoever starts at the quarterback spot is going to be a huge catalyst for that.”Emmit Distefano, ThurstonIn his first season as Thurston’s starting quarterback last fall, Emmit Distefano earned Class 5A second-team all-state honors after leading his team to the Midwestern League title. Now, the Colts’ standout could be poised for a massive encore during his senior year.Distefano has picked up college offers from Pacific, Lew