By James Day
The Silverton High School football team has lost three games in the past two seasons, all of them to the eventual OSAA Class 5A state champions, and momentum seems to be riding the Foxes’ way in year five of coach John Mannion’s tenure.
“I like where the program is at now,” Mannion told Our Town. “The kids have bought into to what I do. Expectations have gotten higher. That’s the results of the work that they have put in and their commitment to the program. As a coach that’s great, to see expectations high to have a good season. It’s a building process. Every year is a new deal. I’m excited about the way they prepare and practice. It won’t be easy. Every year there are unique challenges, but this is a great group of guys and coaches to work with.”
Mannion returns five starters on both offense and defense from the squad that finished 10-2 last season, with both losses to Mid-Willamette Conference and state champion West Albany. Silverton lost to the Bulldogs 13-0 on Sept. 27 in Albany and 17-0 on Nov. 23 in the state semifinals. The Foxes outscored the rest of their opponents 436-48 and held eight teams to a touchdown or less.
Mannion will have the luxury of a third-year starter in senior quarterback Cole Chandler.
“Chandler does a great job,” Mannion said. “He’s a good athlete. To me the best stat for a quarterback is win-loss record. He’s 21-3 in the last years. It’s really exciting to have him back for another season.”
Others expected to play key roles include wide receiver Logan Munson, running backs Travis Sinn, Sam Kuschnick and Colton Cypert, linemen Cody Gubbels and Camryn Clokey and two-way stalwarts Noah Dahl and Luke Patten.
West Albany has moved up to Class 6A in the new OSAA alignment that starts this fall, with Central moving up from Class 4A to replace the Bulldogs in the Mid-Willamette.
“Our league is really competitive,” Mannion said. “Dallas had a good season, they’re very competitive. Crescent Valley and Corvallis have a lot of good athletes. South Albany is on the upswing. It’s a very competitive league. That’s what you want to have. You can’t look ahead or you’ll stub your toe. Teams are gunning for us, too. Have to be prepared every week.”
The Foxes and the rest of the state had an extra week of practice this year because openers are set for Sept. 5. Silverton hosted Springfield, Bend and Putnam of Milwaukie in a four-way scrimmage Aug. 29 and opens the season Sept. 5 against Wilson of Portland.
The Foxes visit Marist of Eugene on Sept. 12 before opening the MWC campaign Sept. 19 against visiting Lebanon.
Hometown: San Rafael, Calif., attended
San Rafael High School
Residence: Silverton
College: UC-Santa Barbara,
graduated in 1990 with a degree in economics
Position: Social studies teacher and
head football coach at Silverton High
Family: His wife Inga is a teacher
at Eugene Field. Children: Sean, 22
(OSU student and football quarterback),
Katie, 20 (OSU civil engineering student);
Megan, 15; Brian, 10.
Notable Quote: “I love practice more
than the games. We really work hard at
practice. Our team takes on that identity.
They take pride in outpracticing
our opponents.”
The Marist game should be one of the most high-profile Class 5A nonconference games. The Spartans were just 6-5 last season, but were 48-4 the previous four years and appeared in three state championship games, including a victory in the 2009 Class 4A title game before they moved up to 5A.
“We want to have kids prepare for a different team,” Mannion said “I like to play teams from around the state.”
Mannion said he doesn’t plan any new schemes offensively or defensively.
“We just try to get really good at what we do,” he said. “We’re excited about season that lies ahead. Every year is different. These guys are up to the challenge. I always tell our team the best complement is you are hard-nosed and hustling. That’s the way we want our identity to be. We run on and off the field. Not fancy. Blue collar, hard workers. We fight hard to the end.”
Meanwhile, at Kennedy High School, new coach Joe Panuke is handling his first fall camp after replacing long-time coach Randy Traeger.
“I am very excited about this year.” Panuke told Our Town. “There will be a lot new faces making plays for the Trojans this year. We will be young but talented. Our team goals are always to be in position for a league title and a playoff berth come the end of the season.”
Kennedy opens the season Sept. 5 at Monroe. The Trojans open play in the newly realigned Tri-River at Santiam on Oct. 9. Other league opponents are Regis, Central Linn and St. Paul.
Odds and ends: The first contest date for fall sports is Sept. 4. Kennedy and Silverton will co-host the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational on Sept. 10 on the ‘monster” course at Silver Falls State Park.
It’s not too late to sign up for The Oktoberfest Road Race starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at Humpert Park on Alder Street in Mount Angel. Runners can choose from a 5K – 3.1 miles or a 10K, 6.2 miles. There is a kids’ race, too, starting at 8:45 a.m. Race registration and packet pick-up begins at 7:30 a.m. For information on the race or to register, visit www.racenorthwest.com.
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