Week four prep football round up
Only Sprague wins locally; South Salem, North Salem lose for the first time
It was a tough week for the Salem-Keizer Schools in Special District One football action this past weekend. Only the Sprague Olympians came away with a victory, while South Salem and North
Salem fell from the ranks of the unbeaten. Here is a run-down of the games from September 23rd.
South Medford 48, South Salem 35: In the battle of unbeatens in Salem, visiting South Medford forced three interceptions from Saxon quarterback Daschel Smith while keeping South Salem receivers out of the end zone for the first time this season—and picked up the 13 point road win at Caldarazzo Stadium. South Medford QB Deacon Edgar threw for four touchdowns, while running for two more in the contest.
The two teams traded touchdowns several times in the opening quarter, and the Panthers forged a 21-14 lead at the end of one.
Both teams had a TD in the second to keep the South Medford lead at one TD at the break, 27-21.
South Salem briefly took the lead in the third quarter at 28-27 after a one-yard TD run by Smith, but the Panthers ran off 21 straight points to clinch the victory. Brady Vogt finished the scoring for the night three minutes into the fourth quarter on a four yard rush to make it 48-35.
Saxon miscues were the key to the Panther victory. In addition to the Smith interceptions which ended two drives deep in SM territory and gave the Panthers a short field offensively, the Saxons lost a ball in the end zone on a snap over the quarterback’s head, and had it recovered by South Medford’s Dylan Espinosa.
The normally pass-happy Saxons scored all their TDs on the ground. Brady Vogt had three of those scores, and tallied 113 yards on 17 carries. Zach Wustigg added another TD while running for 76 yards on just three carries. All totaled, the Saxons rushed for a season-best 203 yards on 27 carries. Smith threw for 233 yards on 24 of 42 attempts for South Salem.
The Saxons (3-1) will play at winless West Salem next Friday, while South Medford hosts Sprague in a 5:00 pm contest at Spiegelberg Stadium.
North Medford 27, North Salem 13: North Salem suffered its first loss of the 2022 season after being out muscled by the Black Tornado in a game played at Spiegelberg Stadium in Medford.
North Salem actually led the game at halftime, 13-10, thanks to the strong arm of Viking quarterback TC Manumaleuna. The highly college-recruited junior hit junior transfer Pierce Walker on TD passes of 45 and 15 yards to account for all of the Viking’s points. Walker returned to the North Salem line-up after being hurt during the team’s jamboree in late August. Manumalenua finished the night with 173 yards on 10-24 passing. He was also intercepted twice by the Tornado defense.
North Medford running back Ty Pugliano had two long screen passes for touchdowns of 50 and 44 yards from quarterback Caiden Lacey, who finished with 206 yards on 14 of 25 passes. He was also intercepted once. All totaled, North Medford rolled up 368 yards offensively. Pugliano topped the rushing attack with 95 yards on 22 carries.
The Black Tornado defense squelched the rushing efforts of North Salem’s Josiah Davis and the rest of his backfield mates—limiting the Vikings to just 43 yards on 30 carries.
North Salem falls to 3-1 on the year, while North Medford improves to 2-2. North Salem travels to McNary next Friday, while North Medford visits Grants Pass.
Sheldon 62, McNary 6: The top-ranked Irish came to Keizer looking to pick up an easy win against a McNary squad already depleted by sickness and injury. They got their wish.
Sheldon quarterback Brock Thomas scored on a 60-yard run on the opening play, and the team never looked back in their decisive victory. They led it 62-0 at halftime.
The Irish’s Joey Rubino and Hunter Lansdon each returned an interception for a touchdown in the second quarter in the romp.
Celtics coach Connor Astley had six players missing from his starting line up, including Hunter Ruberto (LB/RB), Ben Allen (LB), and Will Green (RT).
Sheldon (4-0) visits Roseburg next Friday, while McNary (0-4) entertains North Salem.
Grants Pass 27, West Salem 25: The visiting Titans made it interesting late, but couldn’t get over the hump in losing their fourth straight game to start the 2022 season.
The host Cavemen recovered from a convincing loss at South Salem last Saturday to improve to 3-1 on the year. Senior receiver Jackson Tunick caught 11 passes for 189 yards, while quarterback Jace Blanchard threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 21 of 39 passes for GP.
West Salem actually led 18-13 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter after Carson Evenson scored on a 9-yard TD run. Grants Pass recorded two straight TD passes to take a 27-18 lead with 3 ½ minutes remaining. West scored its final TD on a 12 yard pass to Connor Oertel from back up quarterback Cole Hansen with under a minute to play.
Kaden Martirano threw for 216 yards on 11 of 18 passes with two touchdowns for West, including a 76 yarder to Jimmy Lathen. Connor Oertel had two TD receptions of 28 and 12 yards. Carson Evenson rushed for 53 yards on 13 carries with a his lone TD for the Titans.
Of note: Titans sophomore quarterback Kaden Martirano was injured during the Grants Pass game, and is done for the season. Coach Shawn Stanley would not confirm the exact nature of the injury, but reports are he broke a wrist. Coach Stanley says injuries “are part of the deal,” and it is “time for the next guys to step up.” No word yet on who will be filling the quarterback spot.
West Salem (0-4) will be at home this Friday against South Salem (3-1), while Grants Pass (3-1) will play host to (2-2) North Medford.
Sprague 56, Roseburg 17: Despite racking up 125 yards in penalties, the Sprague Olympians cruised to an easy home victory over Roseburg.
The Oly offense recorded more than 400 yards in total offense, and quarterbacks Athan Palmateer and Wil Hassoun combined for nearly 200 yards through the air.
Five different Sprague players scored during the game, but senior receiver Drew Rodriguez was a highlight reel—with a 53 yard touchdown run, an 18 yard TD reception, an 89 yard kickoff return for a score, and a five yard TD pass to Casen Collins on a reverse-pass.
The Olys also took advantage of Roseburg’s offensive struggles, recording safeties early on two straight drives after the ball was snapped over the quarterback’s head and into the end zone.
The visiting Indians managed just over 100 yards on the night, led by junior Cayden Eckel’s 50 yards rushing on 16 carries. The Indians also got their first points of the season.
It was the second game in four weeks that Sprague has scored 56 points in a contest—the first time was in week two vs. Beaverton, a 56-14 victory.
Sprague (2-2) travels to unbeaten South Medford (4-0) this coming Friday for a special 5:00 pm ball game at Spiegelberg Stadium.
Galena (NV) 48, McKay 3: The nine hour-plus drive to Reno was an adventure, but McKay’s game against the host Grizzlies was difficult. Galena rolled up nearly 480 yards in total offense in the 45-7 win over the Scots. The Grizzlies led 38-7 at halftime.
Galena was playing its second game in just five days, after having their game the previous Friday postponed to Monday due to heavy forest fire smoke drifting into the Reno area.
McKay (0-4) travels to Corvallis next Friday to resume 5A Mid Willamette Conference action. The Scots will face off against Crescent Valley (1-3).