By Chris Parker
Salem football went 2-8 last season, but is looking to stack more wins this season with 10 offensive and eight defensive starters returning this season.
“Last season, we faced our share of challenges, finishing sixth in the conference and ending our year with a tough 42-8 loss to Mountain Grove in the first round of districts,” Salem head coach Neal Myers said. “While the results weren’t what we hoped for, the experience gave our team a clearer picture of where we need to grow. The effort and resilience shown throughout the year laid an important foundation, and we’re motivated to build on that heading into next season.”
Six seniors return for Salem including Jayden Ard (OL/DL), Charlie Terrill (OL/DL), Hayden Ragsdale (QB/DB), Cason Malone (FB/DL), Ira Barton (RB/LB), Everett Campbell (RB/LB) and Gavin Sapaugh (TE/LB). The returning juniors include Brody Ray (RB/DB), Max Schloemer (TE/DB) and Sylis DuBois (RB/DB).
Ard earned honorable mention all-conference on the offensive line. Sapaugh was honorable mention all-conference on the defensive line tallying 52 total tackles last season. Ragsdale enters his second season as a starting quarterback running the flexbone.
Salem will look to increase its average of 165 rushing yards per game behind a stout offensive line.
“One of our biggest strengths heading into the season will be our offensive line,” Myers said. “We’ve got size, experience, and toughness up front, and that group will be the backbone of our offense. They set the tone physically and give us a strong foundation to build around. Our second key strength is our overall team speed. Across the board, we’ve got athletes who can fly, and that’s something we plan to use to our advantage. That combination of physical play up front and speed on the perimeter gives us a lot to be excited about this season.”
The defense will look to cut down on the 41.7 points per game allowed last season.
“Defensively, we’re expecting to be much stronger this season, starting with the toughness and leadership we have at linebacker,” Myers said. “That group brings a physical edge and a relentless mindset that sets the tone for our entire defense. In the secondary, our team speed really stands out. We’ve got athletes who can cover ground quickly, break on the ball, and limit big plays. With that combination of grit in the middle and speed on the back end, we’re aiming to be a fast, aggressive unit that flies to the football and makes opponents earn every yard.”
