27 minute read
Grants Pass
from Prep Football 2022
New-look Cavemen may seem familiar
First-year Grants Pass coach Page hopes returners can spark playo push
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By Kris Henry
Mail Tribune
GRANTS PASS — Six months into his return to Grants Pass High and it all still seems surreal for first-year head coach Brad Page.
A 2009 graduate and former offensive lineman for the Cavemen, Page said he’s not sure when it will sink in that he’ll be making his first run as a head coach for his hometown program.
“Sometimes it’s just weird, like, I went to school here and had so many great memories here, it’s pretty surreal still this whole time,” said Page, who was hired in February after most recently serving as the director of football operations and quality control coach at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.
“It’s awesome,” he added of being back in GP. “It’s been busy — it’s a lot to run a football program — but it’s a good thing, it’s fun. We’ve got a good staff and I love the players and we have good community support, so I’m just excited to actually get into the season and play and focus on actual football.”
That focus will be on trying to build the Cavemen back up to a conference
title contender, something that has been a bit of a struggle in recent years with no more than two league wins in any of the last four seasons. Grants Pass last won a conference title in 2014, and the goal for this season is to be in the top half of the league to secure an automatic state playoff berth. “I think these guys have a lot of experience and they have some football IQ, which makes it easier for us to coach them obviously,” said Page. “They’re very hungry to compete “I don’t think the and to win. I think they’ve record refl ected kind of got a sour taste in how good our team is and was (last their mouth, and rightfully so. I think they feel like they kind of under-year). Our senior performed last season and and junior classes they’re hungry to prove are full of talent.” themselves.” The Cavemen are
Grants Pass fi rst-year coming off a 1-8 campaign head coach Brad Page that saw them go winless in the SWC but return the bulk of their roster that took the field in 2021, including all-conference players Trevor Reeves, Jackson Tunick and Parker Jarvis. “I think a lot of what I’ve seen on film,” said Page, “I don’t think the record reflected how good our team is and was (last year). Our senior and junior classes are full of talent. We don’t have a ton of depth necessarily, but that’s pretty standard once you start getting to those high classes where less and less kids are playing.”
SEE GRANTS PASS, 6
CAVEMEN
HEAD COACH
Brad Page (fi rst year)
GENERAL INFORMATION
ASSISTANTS: Scott Wakefi eld (defensive coordinator/ linebackers), Wes Cox (offensive line), Jameson Davis (defensive line), John Tunick (receivers), Chris Martinez (quarterbacks), David Zauher (defensive backs), Nate Scott (JV head coach/running backs), Tyler Amaral (linemen), Josh Merritt (JV defensive coordinator), Tanner Marval (freshman head coach), Brian Richard (freshman), Ben Davis (freshman), Brandon Montez (freshman), Chad Guthrie (freshman). 2021 LEAGUE RECORD: 0-4 (fi fth, SWC). 2021 OVERALL RECORD: 1-8.
PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: Tenth.
2021 RESULTS Page
GRANTS PASS OPPONENTS
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bend 27 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . West Salem 42 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . McNary 41 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shasta 20 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roseburg 56 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . South Medford 31 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beaverton 36 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Medford 51 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sheldon 38
RETURNING STARTERS
OFFENSE (7): Quarterback Jace Blanchard (6-1, 160, sr.), running back Trevor Reeves (5-10, 190, sr.), receiver Jackson Tunick (6-0, 170, sr.), lineman Parker Jarvis (6-4, 290, sr.), lineman Kain Robinson (6-3, 255, sr.), lineman David Hang (5-11, 215, sr.), receiver Troy Osborne (6-3, 182, jr.).
DEFENSE (6): Lineman Parker Jarvis, lineman JT Davis (6-3, 190, sr.), cornerback Jackson Tunick, linebacker Troy Osborne, defensive back Raiden Takahashi (5-11, 165, sr.), cornerback Malachi Kinyon (5-8, 151, sr.).
OTHER NOTABLES
Receiver/defensive back Aiden Dietz (6-4, 175, sr.), receiver/linebacker Niko Madamba (5-9, 155, sr.), running back/linebacker Gage Blay (5-11, 180, jr.), tight end/ linebacker Luke Morgan (6-4, 185, jr.), lineman Connor Johnston (6-2, 200, so.), receiver/defensive back Hayden Kiser (6-0, 150, so.), running back/linebacker Pete Amatoi (6-0, 205, jr.), receiver/defensive back Cole Carnes (62, 175, jr.), linebacker/fullback Bruxton Leair (5-10, 167, jr.), linebacker/running back Griffi n Davis (5-9, 157, jr.).
2022 SCHEDULE
Sept. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Shasta (CA), 7 p.m. Sept. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALDERA, 7 p.m. Sept. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at South Salem, 3 p.m. Sept. 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WEST SALEM, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NORTH MEDFORD, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .at North Salem, 7 p.m. Oct. 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOUTH MEDFORD, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Sheldon, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at Roseburg, 7 p.m.
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SOUTH
From Page 2
Edgar enters his third season as South’s starting quarterback and will be tasked with turning athletic promise into on-field dominance and consistency.
A dual-threat QB, Edgar passed for 1,517 yards and ran for nearly 400 more during his second season of 2021 last fall. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder passed for 11 touchdowns and ran for five, finishing with a 53% completion percentage with seven interceptions as an honorable mention all-SWC pick.
“He’s been through the battles but he’s got to play a little bit more consistently every game,” noted Singler, who expects to turn the QB loose a little more this year. “Hopefully with the game experience he’s had the last two years he’ll feel a heckuva lot more comfortable doing it.”
The good news for Edgar and company is that South returns a host of capable receivers, some up-and-coming running backs and a bevy of linemen who anticipate being able to hold firm even more this season.
“We have some pieces surrounding (Edgar) with a good receiver corps top to bottom,” said Singler, “and our running backs don’t have a lot of experience but I think they’ve got some ability.”
Walker headlines the bunch, with the state-champion sprinter coming off a junior campaign that saw him earn firstteam all-SWC honors on both sides of the football. The 6-1, 175-pounder ran 10.61 seconds in winning the 6A title in the 100-meter dash and 21.33 to claim the 200 crown.
Walker was South’s leading receiver a
ANDY ATKINSON / MAIL TRIBUNE
South Medford’s Gabe Staszak, seen here making a tackle against Roseburg last season, returns to help lead a Panthers defensive line that gained valuable experience in 2021.
year ago with 26 catches for 630 yards and three TDs — ranking second in the SWC — and the Panthers expect to mix up their looks with him to combat steady attention by the defense.
Helping keep teams honest will be fellow outside receiver Josh Phillips (6-2, 180) and tight end Ty Henry (6-4, 165), both seniors, as well as juniors Tanner Tuggle (6-2, 180) and Gannen Jones (5-11, 160).
Henry collected 114 yards and two TDs on eight receptions in 2021, while Phillips (six catches, 91 yards, one TD) is primed for a big season after a reserve role last year due to defensive duties. Singler is also high on a host of running backs at his disposal in junior Ryder Scheid, sophomores J.T. Dalton Phillips Henry and Jacob Dalton and seniors Dylan Espinosa and WIll Greenwood. The hope is the Panthers will be able to improve on their 4.2 yards per carry from a year ago and allow for more play-calling options to keep the defense off balance. All of it, however, will stem from a sturdy approach on the offensive line that will be spearheaded by all-conference guard Li Moala (5-10, 230) and center Anthony DelPizzo (5-11, 250).
The return of junior Makani Manuwai (6-0, 250) after a one-year absence also gives South a boost, along with the playing time gained last year by seniors Spencer King (6-3, 200) and Diego Rios (5-11, 205) and juniors Diego Luna (5-11, 235) and Jayden Solis (5-11, 275).
“We’ve got a ton of linemen, which for me is very pleasing,” said Singler. “You can’t play football without linemen, and our JV and our varsity line corps is very solid. We’ve got good numbers and hopefully can rotate guys in a little bit and keep guys fresh.”
Defense has been a particular emphasis after South struggled in that area for most of last season, but linebackers Isaack Valdez, Espinosa and Gio Livingston all gained valuable experience last year while defensive tackles Logan Crocker (6-1, 260) and Moala and defensive end Gabe Staszak (6-6, 215) had highlight moments of their own.
“We know that we have to improve on defense,” said Singler. “We can’t give up 35 points per game like we did last year. Offensively we can help them out by keeping the ball more for longer drives, or if they’re not longer drives, we’re scoring points. We have to improve on the 20 points per game that we averaged last year.”
The additions of the Dalton twins, who pack a punch at around 6-0 and 200 pounds apiece, and Tuggle to the defensive lineup should allow South to carry promising physicality into each week and improve on the 415 yards allowed per game in 2021.
Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541776-4488, khenry@rosebudmedia.com or via Twitter @Kris_Henry
GRANTS PASS
From Page 5
Often with a new coach comes a new approach to the offensive and defensive schemes, but Page said he isn’t out to reinvent the wheel, just hopefully give his players the tools they need to propel it a little better.
An offensive lineman for GP back when the bulk of the offense — a successful one at that — was run Criss Bowen left and then Criss Bowen right, Page has that element close to his heart despite being part of some “air raid” attacks as a college and high school assistant (Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Arizona).
“I like to use the whole field but I think that we need to get back to some of those roots with running because I think that’s what made GP so special was our ability to run the ball back in the day,” said Page. “That’s definitely going to be a focus, but I don’t want to be heavy one way or the other. I want to be as balanced as possible and force the defense to use the whole field. I think the way it’s designed, and as long as we’re doing it correctly and can stay healthy, our offense can be really explosive that way.”
Reeves definitely gives GP a good place to start, with the 5-11, 170-pounder playing a big role down the stretch last season to finish with 579 yards and seven touchdowns on 103 carries.
“When I watched the film I was really impressed by Trevor Reeves,” said Page. “He’s such a hard runner, and it’s all been confirmed as I’ve seen him in person. He’s just all in with everything we’re doing. He’s the first one installing things on Hudl and leading our team.
If he stays healthy, he’s going to have a great season.”
Tunick was the third-leading receiver in the SWC with 563 yards and three TDs on 44 catches and expects to be a top target again for senior quarterback Jace Blanchard, who took some lumps in his first year as a starter but has already made a good impression on his new coach.
Blanchard completed 139 of 257 passes (54%) for 1,450 yards with six TDs against 10 interceptions.
“Jace Blanchard has been really awesome,” said Page. “His mechanics have improved a lot and he’s understanding our concepts and reads and progressions. He’s been such a great leader and impressive this summer.”
“I give him a lot of credit,” the coach added of Blanchard. “He’s learning a whole new offense and he’s embraced it and jumped right in and is excited and wants more. He doesn’t just know his position, he knows every position on the field, and that’s what’s really important. He has a strong desire to be great.”
The front-line blocking of returning senior linemen like Jarvis, who sets a formidable tone at 6-3 and 300 pounds, and Kain Robinson (6-2, 242) and senior tight end JT Davis will help with that road-grader mentality near and dear to Page’s heart.
Seniors Aiden Dietz and Malachi Kinyon and junior Luke Morgan offer perimeter options, with junior Troy Osborne also expected to make a big impact this year after recently committing to play baseball at Sacramento State.
A strong defensive line crew, led by Jarvis, Robinson and Davis, will be taken advantage of as GP utilizes a 4-3 scheme. Niko Madamba, Bruxton Leair, Griffin Davis, Osborne and Gage Blay (also slated as backup RB) pace the linebacker corps, with Raiden Takahashi at safety complementing the speedy Tunick, Dietz and Kinyon.
“I think we have a good culture we’re building here and the guys are buying into that,” said Page, who was a senior when GP snapped Sheldon’s eight-year, 57-game conference win streak. “I want us to be a tough team and a team that plays with class, I think those kinds of intangibles are important. How much players want to step up and lead will be what makes us go from an average to a great team.”
Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, khenry@ rosebudmedia.com or via Twitter @Kris_Henry
NORTH NORTH
From Page 4 From Page 2
Ty Pugliano (5-10, 185) ranked fourth among Southwest Conference runners last season and will again be the focal point of the Black Tornado attack. Last year, he ran for 967 yards and nine touchdowns on 139 carries and showcased his versatility with 11 catches for 131 yards.
The elder Pugliano has the strength to run inside the tackles but also the shiftiness to hit cutback lanes and take it the distance in earning first-team allSWC honors.
“Ty’s such a good, hard-working kid and has an ability to do anything you need him to do,” added Chin. “He can catch the ball out of the backfield, he can pass protect and he’s obviously a good ball carrier. When you have a running back like that, that has a dynamic ability about him, you can really do a lot of stuff with him — and you trust him to do all that stuff.”
As the state’s top tight end recruit for the Class of 2024, the 6-4, 220-pound AJ Pugliano saw his season derailed by a shoulder injury midway through the campaign but still managed to record 21 catches for 368 yards and three scores and finish among the top-10 SWC receivers.
With a stellar blend of power and athleticism, AJ Pugliano can be a matchup problem for any opposing defense. He already holds Pac-12 Conference offers from Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona and Washington State.
“AJ runs a lot better than most people give him credit for,” said Chin. “He’s tough and he’s strong and can make something happen in a lot of ways.”
Senior Alexander Angulo — known as Diggy to his coaches and teammates — and junior Connor Cesaro provide steady complements in the passing game, which this year will be guided by senior quarterback Caiden Lacey. After playing last season for Eagle Point, where he passed for 1,318 yards, Lacey transferred back to North Medford, where he played his first two years of high school.
With the Eagles, Lacey completed 62% of his passes (111-for-179) with 12 TDs and eight interceptions to become a first-team all-Midwestern League pick.
“He’s been solid,” said Chin of Lacey. “The one thing about him is he is a quarterback and he takes pride in being a quarterback so his work ethic is built around that. Throughout the last half year getting to know each other has been really big for both of us.”
“He throws the ball fairly well and accurately,” he added, “and so there’s no doubt about it, he’s going to be able to take advantage of who he has around him.”
Angulo was an all-conference pick after showing his own offensive versatility at slot receiver with 189 yards rushing on 28 carries to go with nine catches for 45 yards. Cesaro made a splash in his debut season on the outside with 16 catches for 177 yards and one TD. North will look to juniors Cody Carlson and Janson Thompson, senior Robbie Caster and sophomore Max Aukusitino to help bolster the offensive line, with several of those same faces needed to pitch in on defense with senior Kellen Thomey on the edge after the Black Tornado graduated its entire front unit from a year ago. Where North expects to have a stronghold is at linebacker and safety, where the Pugliano brothers, Kilohana Wailehua, Jeremiah Robbins, Angulo, Joey Newberg and Cameron Nix stand to be in the mix for a sturdy corps in the middle.
The secondary took a hit when senior safety Aidan Becksted suffered a broken leg at summer camp but senior Ty Carpenter and Cesaro each boast game experience and twins Isaiah Chavez and Isaac Chavez will join Matt Griepsma as senior cornerbacks.
Cascade Christian senior transfer JT Knobloch-Scott gives North a solid addition at kicker after an all-conference run with the Challengers.
“We obviously have to be disciplined and do the things we do,” said Chin of a push toward the top-third of the South/Central Football Conference, “but I feel like we have a group of guys
Kim has been especially impressive with his ability to move well for his size, leading Chin to consider moving him in from tackle to center due to his athleticism.
If that weren’t enough, the line of candidates to fill in includes sophomore Connor Trinca (6-0, 240) and seniors Adam Burkett (6-2, 220), Kyler Steel (5-11, 270), Conner McDougall (5-9, 220) and O’Shea Miller (6-5, 255).
“We almost have two full groups to go after things with our linemen,” said Chin.
That group will be tasked with giving time for senior quarterback Mason Warren to find the likes of Dyer and Pugliano on the perimeter. Warren served mostly in the Black Tornado secondary this past spring but was also the backup QB so there’s plenty of familiarity with the position. “He carries himself well back ANDY ATKINSON / MAIL TRIBUNE North Medford senior Alexander Angulo will provide the Black Tornado with a steady set of hands at receiver this season. there and he does a pretty good that can do it.” job,” said Chin. “He poses a multiple-option game because Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541he’s not just a thrower. He’s a 776-4488, khenry@rosebudmedia.com fairly athletic kid that moves or via Twitter @Kris_Henry well and he likes the physical side of football, for sure.”
After graduating one of the state’s leading rushers in Devin Bradd, who averaged 27 carries and 173 yards per game in the spring, the Black Tornado will feature more of a committee approach this fall.
Ty Pugliano (5-10, 185) was the JV’s leading rusher and boasts quick feet
Cesaro Wailehua
with a hard-charging approach to each carry, while fellow junior Kilohana Wailehua (5-11, 180) is equally adept at helping North move the chains. Ty Pugliano ran four times for 56 yards in a season-ending rout of Sheldon, 48-16. “They’re good, physical runners,” said Chin. “They’re athletic and they run well. They’re not the same back obviously as Devin, they don’t have that downhill, but both of them are strong runners.” Each expects to get a good amount of carries, with junior Alex Angulo (5-6, 170) complementing as a change-of-pace slot receiver who can move into the backfield, but it may not be in the same vein that Turner’s troops carried the ball in recent years. “We’re going to be more of a spread offense,” said Chin. “Obviously that’s kind of my take on football so we’ll be a little bit more in that fashion. I’m not saying that we’re going to throw the ball 50 times per game, we’re just going to line up in that kind of look. They’ve always had a sprinkle of it in the past here so it won’t be completely new.” What also won’t be new is the focus of the aerial attack: Dyer (6-5, 200) and AJ Pugliano (6-4, 220), who offer matchup nightmares due to their size and agility. Dyer had 16 catches for 264 yards and three TDs to be North’s leading receiver in the spring, while AJ Pugliano burst on the scene with 14 catches for 215 yards and one TD to rank a close third.
Defensively, senior Brandon Dominguez (6-2, 250) returns to lead an odd-front set that will take advantage of North’s depth at the line of scrimmage. The linebacker corps is equally
Johnson Santacruz
deep, with Wailehua joined by AJ Pugliano and junior Hudson Greisen (6-1, 185) in leading the charge. Dyer, a safety, will get new help in the secondary but Chin is excited by a host of options at his disposal. Fuiava Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, khenry@ rosebudmedia.com or www.twitter. com/Kris_Henry
Kim
Junior receiver Jackson Tunick (6-0, 165) may well be the most dynamic player for the Cavemen and leads a core group of outside targets for Blanchard that includes converted QB Troy Osborne (6-3, 182) and Jayce Jordan (6-2, 170).
Defensively, the Cavemen plan to move from their traditional 4-2 alignment to a 4-3 look that, although schematically similar, will add another linebacker and give GP more size to help stop running attacks.
Senior Braeden Lesina (6-0, 203) started every game in the spring and
GRANTS PASS returns as the team’s second-leading tackler at middle linebacker. Musser From Page 4 calls Lesina an “old-school Mike linebacker who can fit tackle to tackle in the box” and is “tougher than nails.” “He kind of sets the tone defensively with his toughness and his intelligence,” said Musser. Osborne and senior Bug Galli (6-0, 201) complement at linebacker, along with North Valley senior transfer Chase Comyford (6-1, 185). Up front, GP has considerable size on the line in junior Parker Jarvis (6-3, 300) and senior Tholo Vainuku-Johnson (6-0, 233). The Cavemen haven’t missed the playoffs since 2009 and suffered only two losses in the spring, both in heartbreak fashion to North Medford (27-20) and South Medford (56-55 3OT). Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, khenry@ rosebudmedia.com or www.twitter. com/Kris_Henry
ANDY ATKINSON / MAIL TRIBUNE
North Medford running back Ty Pugliano carries the ball during a practice last month.
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SOUTH/CENTRAL
From Page 3
Cayden Eckel finished third in SWC rushing last year at about 1,000 yards with 13 TDs in the regular season. With good vision and shifty moves, combined with Roseburg’s strength in the trenches, the 5-7 junior will play a prominent role.
Sophomore Owen Bentea and junior Camden Hartsell are leading figures to take over for last year’s SWC offensive player of the year in Colton Marsters at quarterback.
Roseburg churned out nine wins last year, which equaled the amount gained over the previous four seasons, and will look to build on that momentum despite graduating most of its starting lineup. McNary
Head coach Connor Astley moves from offensive coordinator to the top spot and inherits a group that will be looking to integrate a host of new faces in with some key veteran returners.
Seniors Hunter Ruberto (5-8, 185) and Jacob Hurst (6-5, 220) are joined by juniors Jesse Dyer (5-8, 150) and Jake Allen (5-11, 190) as returning starters on both sides of the ball, while junior Ben Allen (6-0, 190) also started at linebacker.
Ruberto sets the tone at middle linebacker for a defense that has been completely revamped to a 4-3 system this fall, with Ben Allen at strongside linebacker.
McNary’s most electric force may be in junior Gage Smedema (6-0, 145), who will see time at quarterback, receiver and cornerback.
Jake Allen will be one of the Celtics’ main ball-carriers, while Dyer is a shifty threat at slot receiver and senior Jackson Alt (6-0, 192) is also in the mix at quarterback.
South Salem
If any team is capable of stirring up the conference picture this year, it’s the Saxons.
“We have as good of a group as we’ve had in a while,” said Scott Dufault, in his 22nd season. “We played a lot of young kids last year and took our lumps at times but we’ve got quite a few kids coming back.”
Senior QB Daschel Smith lays the foundation for an explosive offense after passing for about 2,500 yards and 18 TDs last season and running for 10 more scores in leading his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. In South Salem’s no-huddle Air Raid scheme, which looks to put teams on its heels with a play every 15 seconds or so, Smith also has the luxury of returning seven receivers who caught multiple passes last year.
Senior Tini Tinitali led the 6A level with 78 catches for just over 1,000 yards and seven TDs last year but will get plenty of help in the four-receiver system from second-leading receiver Esteban Mendez, Jaxon Watson and Jefferson transfer Zach Wusstig, who earned 2A all-state honors and may be the fastest player on the team.
Hatimu Letisi, Trevor Goldman, Tyler Takemoto and Levi Willhite anchor a group in the trenches that Dufault feels can go 12-deep.
South Salem also expects to benefit from a schedule that doesn’t include Sheldon and North Medford, and won’t have the Saxons traveling further south than Roseburg.
Sprague
You name it and Drew Rodriguez provided it last year for Sprague, earning first-team all-conference honors as a receiver, safety and kick returner to go with a second-team nod at punter.
The three-star Colorado State-bound Rodriguez (6-2, 205) likely moves to outside linebacker this year, where he will be joined by returning senior starter Barik Hill (5-10, 180) on the second tier to complement senior defensive linemen Cole Steketee (6-2, 250), who also was an all-league center on offense, and Gavin Nguyen.
Senior Wil Hassoun (6-0, 190) takes over at quarterback for a fairly young group for 11th year Sprague coach Jay Minyard.
Hill will gain a lion’s share of the carries at running back — with senior Casen Collins (6-0, 205) at fullback — after limited need last year backing up Riley Davis, who moved to Texas in the offseason.
North Salem
After advancing to the Class 5A state quarterfinals last year and earning its first playoff win in 17 seasons, North Salem will bring its wing-T offense — led by star junior quarterback TC Manumaleuna and junior running back Josiah Davis — and a host of returning starters on both sides of the ball to the 6A level.
In his 15th season at North Salem, head coach Jeff Flood benefits from three-year starters in Manumaleuna and linebackers Jerrik Wangler and Imyas Aguilar as the standard-bearers.
Davis (6-1, 225), a three-star prospect, ran for about 1,300 yards and scored 20 rushing TDs in only seven games played last year after battling a hamstring injury, and Manumaleuna has grown to 6-2 and 215 pounds and already holds several Division I offers.
The Vikings will have to develop an almost entirely new cast of linemen but they are loaded at the skill positions, with senior Erick Gonzalez (6-0, 165) joined by senior Chris Harsen and junior Pierce Walker as receiving threats while the backfield is fortified by standout juniors in Wangler, Micah Richter and sprint champion DeMari Thompson.
In all, North Salem returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense to create a confident transition from 5A.
