Focus on Small Schools
Salem Academy, Blanchet prepare for new league

by Mark Gilman, Full Access Sports

September 1, 2010

The Oregon School Activities Association's realignment of prep football leagues this year resulted in "relocation" of two small schools from the Salem area.

Salem Academy and Blanchet Catholic--both longtime mainstays in the 2A Tri River Conference--have been moved up to the 3A Pac West Conference. They will face perennial playoff teams such as Santiam Christian and Pleasant Hill this fall, but remain confident the step up in competition won't be intimidating.

Salem Academy

First year coach Jim Stomps got his Crusader team on the practice field at the earliest possible moment, holding a midnight practice on the first day for daily doubles.

Salem Academy, which finished 1-4 in league play (4-6 overall) has a good blend of returnees and fresh blood among the 38 players out for the team, but that will be complicated by installation of a new spread offense and changes in the defensive scheme.

Stomps is especially excited about his front line. Senior Scott Holland (6-3 240) should be an anchor on both sides of football. He should receive support from the likes of juniors Brad Naden (6-1 215) and Michael Bryant (6-3 260).

Junior quarterback Chase Hutchinson (5-10 170) returns after throwing for five touchdowns last season. He will have Ryan Swinford (5-10 175 Jr.) as his primary ball carrier. Swinford averaged over four yards a carry in limited action.

Many of those same offensive players will play defensively as well. Swinford led the team with 83 tackles last year, and will spend most of his time at safety. Senior Matt Filipenko (6-0 190) and sophomore Riley Breckenridge (6-2 205) figure to provide some physical toughness at linebacker.

Blanchet

Third year coach Matt Arnold is understandably excited about his Cavalier squad, which finished out of the playoff hunt last year with a 5-5 record and 2-3 in league action.

Wide receiver/defensive back Nick Johnson (5-8 140) returns for his senior year after receiving second team all-state honors after catching 52 passes for 655 last year--including three touchdowns. Senior Grayson Francke (6-2 180) also returns after a great 2009, when he had nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 13 TD catches.

Senior QB Nick Cantonwine, a first team all league selection last season, is coming off a junior year which included 2,000 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.

The entire front line returns, with tackles Ryan Bain (6-4 245 Jr) and William Van Snoorensberg (6-5 285 Soph) leading the charge. Four year starter Eric Brown (6-3 195) will line up at guard along with junior Dan Smith (6-2 220). Senior Jackson Smith (6-2 240) will start at center.

Defensively, Arnold likes the speed of his team from top to bottom. Two-way players will include Van Snoorensburg, Brown, Dan Smith and Bain on the line, and Johnson and Francke in the secondary. Seniors Nathan Russell (6-1 175), Brown, and Jacob Gries (5-10 160) will team with Alex Hoy (6-0 170) to provide an experienced linebacking corps inside and outside. A long list of underclassmen will also provide considerable depth for the Cavs.

Mark Gilman can be contacted at mark@fullaccesssports.com