​Who’s going to be the most impactful high school quarterback in the Salem-Keizer area this fall?It’s time for you to decide. The 2026 OSAA high school football season is rapidly approaching and teams across the Willamette Valley have retooled and refocused for an exciting season. Area quarterbacks return with accolades spanning from all-state to all-conference, and a handful of local transfers make for an intriguing year ahead.The Statesman Journal will be working across the football field to decide who the most impactful players in each position will be this season, starting with the quarterbacks. Without further ado, here are the nominees. Our list is sponsored by Maps Credit Union.Kellen Bowman, South SalemJT Girod, CentralThomas Hess, DallasNoah Hockett, St. PaulMadden Hughes, CascadeTaiki Kawamura, Salem AcademyQuenton Lake, SilvertonTevita Lata, North SalemJackson Olson, West SalemEthan Wylam, SpragueInformation about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Monday, Aug. 10.Kellen Bowman, South SalemBowman is back in the pocket for his senior season with the Saxons. Last fall, Bowmen led all of Class 6A in passing yards with 3,214, but the Saxons finished the season winless. He set state records in single-game passing yards (692) and completions (48) in the same game against Grants Pass and earned all-state honorable mention.JT Girod, CentralGirod, a senior, returns to the gridiron for one final season with the Panthers. Last fall, Girod earned honorable mention in Special District 3 by throwing for over 1,500 passing yards at a near 60% completion rate. Girod also threw 17 touchdowns to three interceptions, one of the best ratios in Class 5A.Thomas Hess, DallasDallas’ dual-threat first-team all-conference quarterback is back. A year ago Hess, now a senior, helped the Dragons to a third-place conference finish, 5A state quarterfinal appearance and 7-4 overall record in Class 5A’s Special District 3.Noah Hockett, St. PaulSt. Paul’s starting quarterback is back. Last year, Hockett helped lead the Buckaroos to a Class 2A state semifinal appearance and Special District 2 championship. The now-senior lit up the stat sheets as a dual-threat quarterback on countless occasions as St. Paul finished the season 8-3. Hockett earned 2A all-state honorable mention.Madden Hughes, CascadeHughes, a junior, led Stayton to a 7-3 record, Class 4A state tournament appearance and earned Special District 2 all-conference first-team last fall. Hughes joins a Cascade side with multiple returning all-state receivers as the classification’s highest-scoring offense retooled for a strong 2026.Taiki Kawamura, Salem AcademyKawamura, a junior, returns for another year of starts for the Crusaders. Last fall, Kawamura helped Salem Academy to a 3-5 record in a challenging Class 3A Special District 2 and earned all-conference honorable mention.Quenton Lake, SilvertonLake excelled in