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James Day

Revered program – Moffatt proves a thinking man’s athletic director

A few years back I was at Kennedy to report on a Class 2A baseball playoff game. The Trojans won easily, and I figured it would be just a few minutes before coach Kevin Moffatt would be done talking with his team and I could interview people. I waited. And waited some more. The huddle in the outfield appeared to […]

James Day

Football powers – Silverton, Kennedy off to the races – again

We’re two-thirds of the way through the regular season as I write this and it has been a stunningly impressive one for our two local football teams, Silverton and Kennedy. The Foxes were 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class 5A heading into Thursday, Oct. 12’s Homecoming encounter with 5-1 McKay. The top-ranked Trojans are 5-1 and ranked No. 1 […]

James Day

Champs again! Mount Angel JBO squad claims state title

A Mount Angel JBO squad has won a state title for the second consecutive season. The program’s Junior American squad finished a 4-0 run through this year’s tournament with an 11-1 win against the Spartans in the championship game at North Clackamas Park. The team’s Midget American squad, including many of the same players, was a state winner a year […]

Foxes second-year coach Dan Lever works with his linemen on footwork at a practice Aug. 7. Silverton opens at home on Sept. 1 vs. Dallas.  James Day

Football preview – Silverton, Kennedy getting ready for openers

By James Day It’s year two for Silverton football coach Dan Lever, who led the Foxes to a 7-4 record and a Class 5A quarterfinals berth a year ago. “Year two is a lot better than year one,” he said Aug. 7 as the team opened fall camp. “In year one you are just trying to get everything in place.” […]

James Day

Football memories – Top 10 moments from ten years on the beat

This is the 10th anniversary of my sports column in Our Town. Well, actually, it’s the 11th, but I’m not counting the COVID year. With football season almost upon us I thought it was a good time to look back on those ten-plus years and note the top moments from our two teams, Silverton and Kennedy. During that stretch both […]

James Day

All-around winners: Kennedy once again rules Class 2A in Oregon

Kennedy High has returned to the top of the leaderboard in Oregon’s Class 2A. And the accomplishment involves elements way beyond just athletic competition. The Trojans have captured the 2022-23 OSAA Cup, the all-sports trophy that also includes academic and sportsmanship components. It’s an honor that’s dear to the heart of Kevin Moffatt, who coached the baseball team to its […]

James Day

Equestrian athletes – Silverton takes seventh in state championships

The Silverton High equestrian team finished seventh in the large division of the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams state championships May 11-14 at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond. Silverton scored 141 points. Oregon City (588) and Mountain View of Bend (411) dominated the team race. Silverton scored well in numerous events, with Adeline Kuenzi taking third in hunt seat […]

Coronation time – JFK boys end sterling session with repeat baseball title

31-0. We should have seen this coming. The team that coach Kevin Moffat sent out in last June 3’s title game vs. Umpqua Valley Christian featured senior Riley Cantu and eight juniors.  Returning this year were Charlie Beyer, Luke Beyer, Brian Beyer, Ethan Kleinschmit, Andrew Cuff, Owen Bruner, Brett Boen and Matt Hopkins. Sophomore Brody Kleinschmit took over at second […]

A class above – Kennedy an immediate state power at 3A level

One of the challenges of this job is explaining things that are difficult to explain. But I am going to give it my best effort. What the Kennedy High football squad was able to achieve this season was just off the charts. The Trojans finished 12-1, losing only to Cascade Christian of Medford in the Nov. 26 Class 3A title […]

Football all-stars – Foxes, Trojans dominate all-league squads

Silverton earned 17 spots on the all-Mid-Willamette Conference football teams as selected by league coaches. The Foxes were playing Wilsonville in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Friday after the Our Town presstime. Top honors went to Jackson Pfeifer, offensive player of the year, and Xavier Orozco, defensive lineman of the year. Pfeifer was on the first team at running back […]

Football frenzy – Foxes, Trojans getting ready for openers

The Foxes lost tons of contributors from a 12-1 2021 squad that took home the school’s first state title since 1991. But the program, which has made the playoffs every year since 2011 (minus the COVID year), boasted a 25-2-1 record for its 3 teams a year ago and new coach Dan Lever clearly has a lot of talent to […]

Magical season – Foxes have a new trophy for the case

Somehow you get the feeling that folks in Silverton will be talking about the final play of the 2021 Class 5A football title game for a long time.  Here is the setup: The Foxes were clinging to a 26-20 lead against Thurston and were facing 4th and 17 at the Colts’ 26 with 12 seconds left. No timeouts left.  Let’s […]

Champs again! Foxes hold off West Albany in instant classic

When the football schedules come out you always circle the Silverton-West Albany match-up. The past 8 times the two teams have played, including Friday night’s 28-21 Foxes win at McGinnis Field, either a league title has been on the line or the game has been in the playoffs. The two schools are 4-4 in those eight contests, with Silverton holding […]

Fast start: Openers show promise

Will Silverton High senior quarterback Jordan McCarty explode for nearly 400 yards of total offense every Friday? Who knows, but it should be a fun ride. McCarty threw for 322 yards and one touchdown and scrambled for 66 more yards and two more scores on Sept. 3 as the Foxes thrashed Class 6A Grant of Portland 41-7 in their opener […]

Football frenzy – Foxes, Trojans getting ready for openers

Silverton was 3-2 in last spring’s shortened football season and the Foxes are hoping for a full nine-game regular season – and perhaps success beyond that point as well, starting with the Sept. 3 home opener against Grant of Portland. Fifth-year coach Josh Craig noticed a surge of energy, particularly after the state opened up from COVID restrictions June 30. […]