By James Day
Timing can be everything. The Silverton High School football team is one win away from the school’s first state title since 1991. But because of the Our Town publication schedule we were not able to publish the results of Saturday’s Class 5A title game between the Foxes and Hermiston.
The Foxes won their third consecutive playoff game Nov. 22, taking out Springfield 31-14 in the semifinals to move to 12-0. Earlier, Silverton, which finished 7-0 in a championship Mid-Willamette Conference season, took out Pendleton 54-6 and Ashland 28-0 in the first two rounds.
We’ll have a full report on the title game in our Dec. 15 issue, but for now here are some word pictures from the seven games I spent prowling the sidelines.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Foxes’ run has been their consistency, particularly on defense. Silverton had allowed 72 points heading into the title game, just six per game. No team scored more than 14 against the Foxes.
There is a quiet confidence about the team. There isn’t a lot of yelling and screaming from the team on the sidelines. They are businesslike and under control. Well, except for backup lineman Aaron Bischoff, whose thunderous “LET’S GO FOXXXXES!!!” chants I am sure could be heard in Scotts Mills.
The head man, Coach John Mannion, is just not quite human. It was 32 degrees at game time for the Ashland game and Mannion was in shirtsleeves. I had four layers on plus gloves and a Gore-Tex ski hat. At halftime I taught myself to write WITH the glove on my right hand to prevent frostbite.
The senior class never lost a home game at McGinnis Field. Included in that group are four players who advanced to at least the semifinals for three consecutive seasons: quarterback-defensive back Cole Chandler, running back-linebacker Sam Kuschnick and two-way linemen Camryn Clokey and Cody Gubbels.
The Foxes were 33-3 in the past three years heading into the Hermiston. A magical run no matter the outcome.
The crowd of Foxes alums on the sidelines kept growing as the wins piled up: Chris Garcia, Cort Martin, Matthew Willis, Preston Kirk, Wyatt Arrington, Trevor Bledsoe, Zach Gould … and many others I know I am missing.
It was good to see the marching band at McGinnis Field for the first time in a couple of decades. Frank Petrik’s group also turned in a punchy version of the infectious Pharrell Williams tune Happy.
All-league teams: Kennedy dominated the all-Tri-River Conference volleyball squad. Senior setter-outsider hitter Loghan Sprauer was named playoff of the year, and Staci Sprauer, who led the Trojans to a 14-0 league season and a fifth-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament, earned coach of the year honors. Middle blocker Mia Grosjacques and setter-outside hitter Lakin Susee joined Sprauer on the first team, with Hannah Kloft and Maria Pranger earning, second- and third-team honors, respectively. Loghan Sprauer (first team) and Susee (second team) also were noted on the Class 2A all-state squad.
First-year Silverton girls soccer coach Gary Cameron was named co-head coach of the year in the Mid-Willamette Conference after leading the Foxes to a 6-1-0 league record, one point behind league champion Corvallis. Defender Hailey Satyna and forwards Baylie Cameron and Caitlyn Keating were named to the first team, with midfielders Hannah Munson and Lizzy Roth earning second-team nods. In volleyball Foxes Isa Meraz and Kayce McLaughlin were named to the Mid-Willamette second team.
Kennedy’s Jacob Lopez, Brett Traeger, Jack Suing and Angel Mendez all received double honors on the Tri-River Conference football all-stars. Lopez (running back and defensive line) and Traeger (wide receiver and defensive back) received two-first team nods, while Suing was first-team tight end and second-team linebacker and Mendez was first-team kicker and second-team punter. Also honored from the Trojans were second-teamers Noah Giberson (quarterback), Enrique Larios (offensive line), linebacker Dylan Arritola and Wade Vaughan (defensive line).
Cross country: Maddie Fuhrman of Silverton and Adrian Parra of Kennedy participated in the Border Clash cross country meet involving athletes from Oregon and Washington at the Nike campus Nov. 22. Fuhrman took 61st in the girls race in 17:30. Parra was 63rd for the boys in 15:01. Fuhrman, a junior, took ninth at the OSAA Class 5A meet. It was Silverton’s second highest placing on the girls side in school history and the third fastest 5,000 meter time for a Foxes runner.
Dance: Silverton continues to turn in strong performances in tournaments. The Foxes took second place with both their contemporary and jazz dances in an event Nov. 22 at West Albany High. The team took second with their contemporary dance and third with their jazz dance on Nov. 15 at Wilsonville. Also, the Foxes successfully challenged a penalty they were assessed at a Nov. 8 competition at David Douglas and officially took home first in jazz. The squad, which won the Class 5A small state championship last year, competes next Dec. 8 in Categories Championships at Canby High.
Follow me on Twitter.com @jameshday. Email me at [email protected]
