By James Day
The best Silverton High School football season in a generation was noticed statewide.
Class 5A coaches named three Foxes to the All-State team and Coach John Mannion was selected coach of the year.
Mannion, in his third season, led the Foxes to an 11-1 season in 2012 which ended in a 46-19 state semifinals loss to eventual state champion Sherwood.
Silverton went a perfect 7-0 in winning the Mid-Willamette Conference and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since its 1991 squad won the OSAA Class 3A title.
Silverton senior linebacker Chris Garcia, one of three Foxes selected to the first-team defense, shared defensive player of the year honors with Sherwood linebacker Joseph Balfour.
It was fitting that Silverton had such a presence on the defensive squad, since the Foxes shut out four teams and held nine of its 12 opponents to seven points or less.
Only Springfield, West Albany and Sherwood managed to score more than a touchdown against the Foxes, who outscored opponents 434 to 120.
Joining Garcia on the first-team defense was junior defensive lineman Matt Craig and senior defensive back Nick Teubel.
Silverton placed five players on the second team, including the pitch and catch tandem of sophomore quarterback Cole Chandler and wide receiver Preston Kirk. Chandler passed for 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns, with Kirk, a state champion pole vaulter in his first year of high school football, catching 42 passes for 695 yards and seven touchdowns.
Chandler and Kirk were joined on the second-team offense by junior center Joseph Kuenzi and senior lineman Quinn Dreher, who also earned second-team defensive honors at linebacker.
Garcia, who rushed for 850 yards and 15 touchdowns, was an honorable mention choice at running back. Junior offensive lineman Matthew Willis also received honorable mention.
In other news:
The Silverton boys basketball team has a 7-4 record as of Jan. 10. The team started its Mid-Willamette Conference schedule on Jan. 9 with a 76-69 win against West Albany. The Foxes, who have lost to three Class 6A teams, played its home conference opener Jan. 11 against Crescent Valley.
The Foxes’ girls basketball team was 4-6 as of Jan. 10. The team lost to West Albany 58 to 27 at home.
The Kennedy girls basketball team is 6-7 overall and 2-1 in Tri-River Conference. The Trojans have defeated East Linn Christian and Waldport in league play, with their lone loss to perennial power Regis. Kennedy hosted Western Mennonite after press time Wednesday and visited Culver on Friday.
The Kennedy boys basketball team also is 6-7, and is off to a 1-2 start in the Tri-River. The Trojans defeated Waldport 49-48 on Monday after opening the conference season with losses to East Linn Christian and Regis. Kennedy also hosted Western Mennonite on Wednesday and visited Culver on Friday after press time.
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