McNary defeats West Albany 31-22 in a Greater Valley Conference game on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015.

Greater Valley Conference

Game of the week

West Salem at Sprague, 7:15 p.m.

On the air: Radio on KBZY 1490 AM, television on CCTV2 at 11:59 p.m.

Top running backs: This game features the top two statistical running backs in the league. Sprague senior Anthony Nunn has rushed for 632 yards and 15 touchdowns. West Salem senior Kyle Terry has rushed for 454 yards and seven touchdowns. Both of these teams put an emphasis on running the ball and whichever team rushes more efficiently should win.

Ailing Titans: Injuries kept three first-team all-league seniors – Andy Armstrong, Jacob Kizer and Markus John – out of last week’s 50-43 overtime loss against South Salem. At this same point last season the Titans were battling injuries, but got healthy and reached the state semifinals.

Power rankings mixed: Sprague is 4-0 yet is No. 16 in the OSAA’s Class 6A power rankings; West Salem has lost two straight and is 2-2, but is No. 14 in the power rankings. If the Olympians are going to show they’re for real this season, such as in the oregoinlive.com poll, a win against the Titans would go a long way.

McMinnville at McNary, 7:15 p.m.

On the air: Radio on http://www.KYLC.us and KYKN 1430 AM.

Similar prelims: Both teams held first half leads in last week’s games – McMinnville (0-4 GVC) against North Salem and McNary (2-2, 2-1 GVC) against McKay – but let them slip away. This game will be determined by which team closes better.

Forest Grove at North Salem, 7:15 p.m.

Vikings get defensive: The hottest team in the state is North Salem (3-1 GVC), which has won three straight. In so doing, North Salem’s defense has been lights out. The Vikings have given up 60 points, second fewest among Class 6A teams this season. This game will be a different challenge for North Salem’s defense with Forest Grove’s air attack behind senior quarterback Taylor Jensen.

McKay at West Albany, 7:15 p.m.

Role reversal: Last year West Albany was one of the top teams in the state as a second-round state playoff appearance showed when McKay upset the Bulldogs on their home field. McKay (1-3 GVC) is the hotter team this time as the Royal Scots are No. 19 in the OSAA’s power rankings – compared to No. 43 for West Albany – and the Bulldogs (0-4) would love nothing more than to return the favor and pick up their first win of the year.

Keep off: The new track at West Albany’s field is under process of construction and all spectators will be kept off the track Friday night.

Milwaukie at No. 6 South Salem, 7:15 p.m.

A respite from league: A Saxon (4-0 GVC) team that is coming off its biggest win of the year – a 50-43 overtime thriller against West Salem – plays its one nonleague game of the regular season and plays a Milwaukie (0-4) team that is No. 31 of 32 teams in the Class 5A power rankings.

Silverton High School plays its homecoming game against Crescent Valley with an enthusiastic crowd on Friday Sept. 25.

Mid-Willamette Conference

Game of the week

Crescent Valley at No. 10 Central, 7 p.m.

Dominating defense: The Panthers’ 8-0 shutout of Dallas last week wasn’t an anomaly. Central (3-1, 2-0) has held opponents to 37 points, the lowest of any Class 5A team in the state this season. It’s of no surprise considering the athletes Central has on defense: junior defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu has 30 tackles, including 12 for loss and five sacks, sophomore safety Isiah Abraham has 22 tackles and a fumble recovery and senior defensive lineman has 24 tackles, including eight for loss with six sacks.

Reeling Raiders: Early in this season it appeared Crescent Valley was going to challenge for the top spot in the conference, if not the state, but a 48-14 loss to Silverton last week dropped the team to 1-1 in the league and 2-2 overall. The Raiders were held to 61 yards rushing by Silverton and have to do much better than that to have a shot against Central.

Lebanon at Woodburn, 7 p.m.

Struggling on offense: The Bulldogs (0-4, 0-2) have coughed up the ball too many times in the past couple weeks and couldn’t get much going offensively. Woodburn turned the ball over four times in last week’s 65-6 loss to South Albany. Woodburn quarterback River Moss hit 3J Contreras for a 13-yard touchdown, but also was intercepted three times.

South Albany at Dallas, 7 p.m.

On a teetering point: The Dragons (1-3, 1-1) could go either way. Despite an 8-0 loss to Central last week, Dallas still has the potential to turn into a state playoff team. Junior quarterback Harrison Broadus was 11 for 29 passing for 93 yards and the passing attack has shown signs of life, but it will have to be more effective to beat the Rebels (2-2, 1-1).

Corvallis at No. 5 Silverton, 7 p.m.

Disappointing Spartans: Corvallis was expected to contend for the league championship this season, but after an 0-4 start a state playoff spot seems like a long shot. Corvallis quarterback Lance Peterson has completed 44 percent of his passes this year for three touchdowns and 469 yards and has been intercepted twice. Silverton (3-1, 2-0) has won three straight and is one of the top teams in the state.

Members of the Blanchet team during a huddle on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, in Scio, Ore.

Oregon West Conference

Game of the week

No. 8 Stayton at Yamhill-Carlton, 7 p.m.

Big passing: Stayton quarterback Kyle Schwarm is 40 of 72 passing for 877 yards and seven touchdowns this year, but the Eagles (4-0, 1-0) may not need to throw as much against a Yamhill-Carlton (0-4, 0-1) team that has been overmatched by every opponent thus far this year.

No. 2 Philomath at North Marion, 7 p.m.

Huskies face tall task: North Marion (1-3, 1-0) had a good showing in last week’s 66-6 win against Yamhill-Carlton, but it gets much harder this week when they face a Philomath team that knocked off state heavyweight Cascade 26-14 in last week’s league opener.

West Valley League

Game of the week

Amity at Taft, 7 p.m.

Which direction: Amity is 2-2 overall and 1-0 in West Valley play after last week’s 46-0 win against Sheridan, but the Warriors have yet to win two games in a row all year. If Amity is going to compete for a state playoff spot this year a win against Taft (2-2, 2-0) would be a good step.

Playing pass defense: Since dropping down to Class 3A prior to the 2014 season, Taft has been known as a pass-happy team. Junior quarterback Everett Thomas has completed 57 percent (84 of 147) of his passes for 10 touchdowns and 867 yards this season. Amity has the athletes in the secondary to keep up with any team at 3A.

Horizon Christian at Willamina, 7 p.m.

One to win first game: Both of these teams are still searching for their first win of the year. The Bulldogs have been making progress and this could be the team’s breakout game. Willamina sophomore quarterback Brad Milton threw two touchdown passes in a 21-14 loss to St. Paul.

Dayton at Sheridan, 7 p.m.

Turnaround time: Dayton’s 16-0 loss to Santiam Christian last week was the first time since a loss to Amity in 2008 that the Pirates were shut out. If the Pirates (3-1, 1-1) clean up the turnovers – they were intercepted three times and fumbled twice – they should be fine against a Sheridan (1-3, 0-2) team that has been shut out in two of its past three games.

Santiam Christian at Cascade Christian, 7 p.m.

Where: U.S. Cellular Field, Medford

Away from league: After the Eagles (4-0) got their biggest win of the season in a 16-0 West Valley League victory against Dayton, the team now gets a week off of league play to face a Cascade Christian team that is 1-3 this year.

Anthony Nunn fits Sprague’s I to a T

PacWest Conference

Game of the week

Jefferson vs. Blanchet, 7:30 p.m.

Where: McKay High School

Home at last, sort of: This is the first home game of the season for Blanchet (3-1, 1-1). The Cavaliers regularly play home games at McCulloch Stadium and return there next week when they play Riverside in a nonleague game, but at least Blanchet’s players will get to play in their home blue jerseys.

Chemawa at Colton, 7 p.m.

Still trying to get on the scoreboard: The Braves (0-2) are still looking for their first points this season. A Colton (3-1, 1-1) team that dominated Gervais 60-0 last week won’t be willing to give an inch to Chemawa.

Gervais at Salem Academy, 7 p.m.

Potent passing: A lot of teams pass the football to set up the run. In last week’s 68-47 loss to Scio, the Crusaders (3-1, 1-1) passed for 386 yards as Andrew Baker passed for six touchdowns and rushed for one other. Against the Cougars (0-4, 0-2), count on Salem Academy running the football more, but the fact that the Crusaders can throw like that is something all opponents must be worried about.

Scio at Rainier, 7 p.m.

A week away: The Loggers (4-0, 2-0) defeated the other top two teams in the conference in wins against Blanchet and Salem Academy in the past two weeks, but now get a brief respite against the Columbians. Scio rushed for 628 yards last week, and showed they can run on anyone.

Tri-River Conference

Game of the week

Santiam at Kennedy, 7 p.m.

Battle of heavyweights in Tri-River opener: Kennedy started the season 4-0 against a nonleague gauntlet of mostly Class 3A opponents. But the games count more starting with tonight’s game against Santiam (3-1).

Heavy run-based teams: The Trojans have relied heavily on junior running back Bishop Mitchell, who rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in last week’s 35-6 win at Creswell. The Wolverines have relied heavily on Joel Hills, who rushed for four touchdowns in a 35-29 loss to Reedsport last week. Expect both of these teams to stick with the run game.

St. Paul at Regis, 7 p.m.

Running Buckaroos: St. Paul (3-1) has been proficient in running the ball this season, including 300 yards – with rushing touchdowns from Tyler Smith, Carson Smith and Tanner Bernhardt – in Friday’s 21-14 win against Creswell. The Rams (2-2) were stopped on the 18-yard line with less than a minute left in last week’s 13-7 loss to St. Mary’s.

Class 1A

Game of the week

No. 3 Perrydale at South Wasco County, 7 p.m.

Quick ascent: Most people in Class 1A were skeptical of Perrydale (4-0, 2-0 Special District 4) since the team dropped back down before this season as evidenced by the team not being ranked until this week. A 36-34 win against previously No. 1-ranked Dufur changed that quick. If Perrydale can get 350-yard rushing games like it did from Kennan Bailey again, the Pirates will win the league championship.

On the road: For Perrydale’s next two games, at South Wasco County tonight and Oct. 8 at Ione, the Pirates have a long way to go. The team will travel a combined seven hours to play the two games.

Falls City at Mapleton, 7 p.m.

A defensive assignment: The Mountaineers (0-4) have struggled on defense this season. They have quite a challenge in their league opener. Mapleton defeated McKenzie 74-32 last week behind 128 yards and three touchdowns by Hunter Simington and two rushing touchdowns by Chanse Hamlow.

Cascade’s Emma Woods and Brooklyn Petterson (No. 1) embrace as Cascade defeats Stayton 2-1 in an Oregon West Conference game Thursday in Turner.

TURNER – Opponents often overlook Brooklynn Petterson.

At 5-foot-1, Cascade High School’s sophomore midfielder/forward can be lost by defenses, and she’s deadly when she is.

Petterson headed in one goal off a crossing pass from freshman Jenica Wiebenga minutes before halftime of Thursday’s Oregon West Conference game against Stayton, then she blew past the defense in the 53rd minute for a second goal in a 2-1 win.

“She’s a little firecracker,” senior goalkeeper Danyel Walling said. “You don’t think she’ll beat those people on the line, but she gets going and you can’t really stop her.”

Blog: Cascade feeds off coach Skip Collins’ boundless energy

Petterson plays with an absence of fear that makes her game bigger than her physical stature.

“I know I’m small, but hey, being small doesn’t make a difference,” Petterson said. “You can do anything.”

Cascade (5-1-1, 4-0) takes over sole possession of first place in the conference with the win against rival Stayton (4-2-1, 3-1).

Despite last year’s Class 4A runner-up finish, Cascade has never won a league championship in girls soccer.

Stayton’s Valeria Navarro and Cascade’s Halle Wright collide as Cascade defeats Stayton 2-1 in an Oregon West Conference game Thursday in Turner.

It’s an important step the Cougars feel they need to take.

“Right now we’re just trying to stay humble and not be satisfied with less,” sophomore defender Halle Wright said. “If we keep pushing, keep practicing, push hard, we’ll end up first in the league.”

Cascade has three upperclassmen on the team, and the bulk of the squad is made up of a sophomore class that came of age while starting as freshmen last season.

“The girls are getting the idea, they’re getting the concept, and I’m really surprised, too, by their age,” second-year Cascade coach Skip Collins said. “I’m starting four freshmen and five sophomores. That’s pretty amazing.

“Every win we can get right now is just a bonus on how strong we’ll be in the future. That’s really what we’re working on and focusing on.”

When Stayton freshman midfielder Izaland Samuell broke through with 11 minutes left and scored on a breakaway, it was the first time in the league season Cascade had given up a goal, a streak of 309 minutes without being scored on.

“I’m really proud of my defensive line,” Walling said. “They really save my butt a lot of the time. And it’s so great to have them and be able to trust them. They just have such great skill and I know that they can do everything.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Cascade 2, Stayton 1

At Cascade

CAS- Petterson (Wiebenga) 38:00; CAS- Petterson 53:00; STA- Samuell 69:00.

Stayton’s Alexus Hemphill heads the ball as Stayton falls to Cascade 2-1 in an Oregon West Conference game Thursday in Turner.

Sprague running back Anthony Nunn carries the ball against West Salem during a Greater Valley Conference game, Friday.

No one was surprised Anthony Nunn ran the ball as efficiently as he did Friday night, but it was the defense of the Sprague High School football team that made a statement.

The Olympians disrupted the passing game, took the ball away three times and forced West Salem to turn the ball over on downs three times in a 29-21 home Greater Valley Conference win.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Nunn rushed for 303 yards and two touchdowns on 44 carries as Sprague won its biggest game of the year.

“And he’s a pretty good back, but he’s got some pretty good guys in front of him,” Sprague coach Jay Minyard said. “I thought really those guys in front, they played really well tonight.

“We’re kind of going to hang our hat on the running game, and then hopefully that opens stuff for us to do the play-action and (quarterback Justin Culpepper) had a great night tonight. He had a couple big play-action passes when we needed it.”

Sprague takes over sole possession of first place in the Greater Valley Conference at 5-0, but next plays Oct. 8 at South Salem (5-0, 4-0).

“It’s a big game to us,” said senior safety Sophann Oum, who intercepted two passes. “It’s definitely going to be an emotional game for us, but I think in the end, win or lose, we’re going to be a family and we’re going to stick to our game.”

West Salem (2-3, 2-2) loses its third consecutive game, the first time since 2004 that the team has lost three straight.

Sprague led 14-0 in the second quarter when Carter James caught a fourth-down 20-yard touchdown strike from Culpepper.

But West Salem’s Keonte McMurrin returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards, and on the next play Manny Bravo ran up the middle for a 17-yard touchdown.

Bravo was spelling starter Kyle Terry – who rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries – and it was Bravo’s first touchdown of the year.

“He’s a good back,” West Salem coach Shawn Stanley said. “He’s a good player, plays a ton of defense. Kyle doesn’t play defense. Kyle runs so hard and so physically, we need to spell him once in a while so our plan was to play Manny every third series. We just need to continue to mix him in, but I thought at times we ran the ball well.”

Nunn rushed for his second touchdown of the half and the two-point conversion with 20 seconds left to put Sprague up 22-7 at halftime.

Culpepper hit Teagan Quintero for a 12-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend Sprague’s lead to 29-7.

West Salem scored on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Brody Wittman to Hunter Johnson to cut Sprague’s lead to 29-13 with 9:51 remaining.

Terry’s 1-yard touchdown run with 2:12 left to cut Sprague’s lead to 29-21, but Sprague’s Max Long recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Olympians ran out the clock.

Culpepper was an efficient 11 of 18 passing for 102 yards and two touchdowns for Sprague and completed four passes on third or fourth downs.

Sprague was able to disrupt West Salem’s passing game for most of the night and held Wittman to 12 of 27 passing for 146 yards.

“We have our two edge rushers, they’re really fast, we just wanted them to get a route and keep them in the pocket,” said senior linebacker David Prosser, who had a sack.

“We got Tegan Quitoriano, he’s a sophomore, and Spencer Nofziger, he’s a junior, so they were just able to get pressure and then our DB’s, all of them played really good and were able to make plays, break down passes. That just helped us out a lot.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

South Salem’s Gabe Matthews runs the ball as the Saxons defeat West Salem 50-43 in overtime during a game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Salem.

The margin of victory in No. 6-ranked South Salem’s 56-12 nonleague win against Class 5A Milwaukie was no surprise.

That senior quarterback Gabe Matthews was 15 of 19 passing for 263 yards and six touchdowns was as expected.

But some of the less-known Saxons (5-0 overall, 4-0 Greater Valley Conference) got a chance to get on the field and contribute significantly.

Senior running back Jerry Rivera rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in his first start.

“He got the start because we rested a couple of kids,” South Salem coach Scott DuFault said. “I thought he ran very well and was solid in pass protection.”

Senior running back Derek White rushed for a game-high 64 yards and a touchdown on four carries and junior receiver Conrad Thompson caught three passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Of course a more important game looms for the Saxons.

South Salem hosts Sprague (5-0 GVC) for first place in the conference at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to play in a game like this against a quality opponent,” DuFault said. “Games like this are fun to coach and play in.”

West Salem’s Paula-Marie Labate (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring her second goal of the game against South Salem during a Greater Valley Conference game, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2015, in Salem, Ore.

The goal the Titans set for Tuesday’s match was to score in the first five minutes.

But for West Salem High School’s girls soccer team to be leading South Salem 3-0 in the first 25 minutes was something no one could have foreseen.

The Titans made the early advantage hold up in a 3-0 win against South Salem on Tuesday night in a Greater Valley Conference game.

“It’s kind of a whole nother level of passion for us when we play them, and it kind of came out when we went into balls harder and everyone just played with a lot more heart,” West Salem senior goalkeeper Julia Van Winckel said.

In what has already been a surprising couple first weeks of conference play, neither West Salem nor South Salem – last year’s co-league champions – are leading the league.

West Salem improves to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the GVC, while South Salem is 4-6 overall and 2-2 in the GVC.

A West Salem team that starts nine seniors and was a state semifinalist a year ago started the conference season with a shocking loss to McMinnville.

West Salem midfielder Liz Mendez (1) controls the ball against South Salem during a Greater Valley Conference game, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2015, in Salem, Ore.

“We are getting better,” West Salem coach Jaime Rodriguez said. “Fitness was an issue early on. That doesn’t seem to be so much of an issue now. They’re able to go longer and go harder for longer into the games.”

Senior midfielder Liz Mendez scored two minutes into the game then senior midfielder Paula Labate scored in the seventh and 25th minutes to give the Titans an insurmountable lead.

The shutout was the first West Salem has recorded this season.

“We’ve been training really hard, especially for this game, and since it’s our last year I think we’ve wanted it more than any year before,” Labate said.

South Salem had better control of the ball in the second half and got better shots on goal, but couldn’t finish a shot.

“We always finish strong,” South Salem coach Alvaro Anaya said. “It seems like second halves are always better for us.”

West Salem forward Anna Norrenberns was injured in a collision with South Salem goalkeeper Kendall Harrison, left the game early in the second half and didn’t return.

“Looks like she’s going to have a shiner,” Rodriguez said. “She’s going to be fine.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

West Salem 3, South Salem 0

At South Salem

WS- Liz Mendez 2:00; WS- Paula Labate 7:00; WS- Paula Labate 25:00.

South Salem’s Francisco Ramirez Perez and the Saxons defeat West Salem 50-43 during a game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Salem.

No. 9 Sprague at No. 8 South Salem

When: 7:15 p.m. Thursday

On the air: Radio on KBZY 1490 AM, video stream at www.Clypian.com, television at 9 p.m. Friday on CCTV2 channel 22.

Records: Sprague 5-0 Greater Valley Conference; South Salem 5-0, 4-0 GVC.

Comparing quarterbacks: South Salem senior QB Gabe Matthews is 14-0 as a regular season starter and is one of the best athletes in the state. He is 65 of 104 passing for 992 yards and 17 TDs against two INTs. Sprague junior QB Justin Culpepper took over part-way through last season and led the Olys on a resurgence in the second half of the season. He’s an efficient 45 of 75 (60 percent) passing this season for 603 yards and six TDs against four INTs.

Comparing running backs: The only thing that stopped Sprague senior RB Anthony Nunn this season was an ankle injury in the second week. Outside of that game he rushed for 936 yards and 17 TDs on 130 carries in four games. South Salem’s top running back, Francisco Ramirez-Perez, asserted himself as a steady, productive back with 383 yards and a TD on 52 carries through the first four games, but he didn’t play in last week’s nonleague win against Milwaukie.

Comparing receivers: South Salem senior Joseph Carey has become one of the state’s top receivers this season – and a deep threat – with 14 receptions for 394 yards and eight TDs. Sprague is young on the outside, but has had some big plays from juniors Nick Brotton (15 receptions, 260 yards, TD) and Carter James (10 receptions, 161 yards, TD).

Sprague wide receiver Nick Brotton fumbles the ball after a hit from West Salem linebacker Isaiah Pineda during a Greater Valley Conference game, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Salem, Ore.

Comparing offensive lines: Sprague devastated opponents up front with one of the most experienced and skilled groups in the state. With a crew of multi-year starters including Jacob Nelson, Ryan Morgan, David Prosser, Bryce Webber and Kyle Rosenau. South Salem has a group up front that has made huge holes no matter who is running the ball with players including Vincent Villarreal, Luke Raynack and Tyler Coates.

Comparing defenses: Each team is strong in different areas on defense. South Salem’s strength is in its secondary where the team is experienced and athletic with players such as Gibson Hohberg, Carey, Tony Phong and Carter Dorn, and one of the best linebackers in the state in Davis Carter. Sprague’s strength is in its linebackers where the group, including Dane McKinney, Prosser and Andrew Axelson is athletic and covers a lot of ground.

Intangibles: Getting, and staying, healthy has been a great challenge to both teams. Sprague displayed in last week’s 29-21 win against West Salem it is as healthy as it has been all season. South Salem was without a number of players in last week’s nonleague 56-13 win against Milwaukie, but that gave a number of injured players time to recover for this game.

West Salem freshman quarterback Garrett Moore at his home, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2015, in West Salem, Ore. Moore was suspended from school on accusations he "inappropriately touched" a teammate while taking a snap under center during practice.

West Salem freshman quarterback Garrett Moore at his home, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2015, in West Salem, Ore. Moore was suspended from school on accusations he "inappropriately touched" a teammate while taking a snap under center during practice.

West Salem High School freshman quarterback Garrett Moore has been suspended from school for three days because school officials said he “inappropriately touched” another player during football practice.

Moore said it happened when he was taking a snap from a center.

“I’m so pissed right now I can’t even think straight,” Moore said.

West Salem principal Ken Phillips declined to discuss the specifics of the situation.

“Because it’s a discipline issue, there’s not a whole lot I can tell you,” Phillips said. “I can’t really share any kind of details.”

Moore first played football last year when he was in eighth grade at Straub Middle School.

In his seventh-grade year he decided he wanted to play quarterback — he had never played an organized sport before — so he watched videos online to learn about playing the position and climbed his way up to the second string for Straub.

“It kind of changed my whole life,” he said. “I was in trouble when I was younger, just behavior, and right when I started playing football everything just changed. School was good. I had A’s, B’s, everything was going perfect.”

Moore said he was the third-string quarterback for West Salem’s freshman team this fall. He said he played one play in a game and he threw a touchdown pass on that play.

West Salem freshman quarterback Garrett Moore at his home, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2015, in West Salem, Ore. Moore was suspended from school on accusations he "inappropriately touched" a teammate while taking a snap under center during practice.

According to Moore, the incident in question occurred in practice Oct. 2.

Moore said he was instructed by a coach to take a snap under center, which is when the quarterback has the ball handed to him from the center.

Centers snap the ball from the ground between their legs for the quarterback to grab. To take the ball, quarterbacks must place their hands between the center’s legs and up against the crotch.

The center was a player with whom he had problems, including the player pushing him to the ground earlier in practice.

He said the center instructed him to take the snap farther forward in his stance than he had with other centers.

“He wanted me to go way up there and it felt very uncomfortable,” Moore said. “I was, like, moving my hands and I touched him and he started laughing. I guess I tickled him. I wouldn’t mean to. That’s kind of weird.”

He says the center moved to the defensive line after a few plays and the regular center came back. The group ran a play and the player who had previously played center walked toward him after the play.

“He acted like he was giving me a hug and he kneed me in my crotch,” Moore said. “He said that he did that because I spat on his shoe, even though he was five feet in front of me.”

Moore said he was on the ground from the pain and assistant coach John Witherspoon came over to check on him, so he told Witherspoon what had happened.

“And he huddles everyone up, he explains how deadly that stuff is, that you can die from internal bleeding,” Moore said.

Moore said he recovered enough to run conditioning laps with the team at the end of practice.

School officials would not say whether the other player was disciplined for striking Moore.

While Moore was in his first period class on Oct. 6, he was called into the office of assistant principal Jim Miller to discuss what Moore describes as ongoing problems with other teammates.

Moore said he told Miller about the altercation at practice and Miller sent him back to class. Moore said the other boy was called to the office and gave a different version of the story.

Moore was again called to Miller’s office and this time escorted by a security guard. Moore said Miller asked if he had tickled the other boy while taking the snap in practice.

“I’m like, ‘I guess,’ ” Moore said. “He was laughing when I touched him. I didn’t mean to say tickle. I said tickle because he laughed.

“He calls my mom, makes it sound like I’m a complete pervert and she comes to get me.”

Tamara Moore said that when she was called to the school she met with Miller, athletic director Bill Wittman and Phillips about her son being suspended.

“I said, ‘This sounds absolutely absurd,’ ” Tamara Moore said.

Moore was sent home with the reason on a written referral as “Student inappropriately touched another student during football practice.”

Phillips said students that are suspended aren’t allowed to take part in activities so Moore won’t be allowed to be at school or at games until Oct. 12, though he will be allowed to make up his school work without penalty.

He said suspensions such as Moore’s can be appealed to Salem-Keizer Director of High Schools Larry Ramirez. Tamara Moore said she intends to appeal.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Regis’ Josh Scrocca runs the ball during a game with Dayton on Sept. 11.

Greater Valley Conference

Game of the week

North Salem at West Salem, 7:15 p.m. Thursday

On the air: Radio on KYKN 1430 AM.

A turnaround season: North Salem is 3-2 in the Greater Valley Conference and is fourth place in the conference, the team’s best league position at this point in the season in years. Though the Vikings’ 33-21 loss to Forest Grove to snapped their three-game winning streak, the team still has the potential to place in the top four in the conference and reach the state playoffs. A win in this game would go a long ways towards the state playoffs.

Losing streak: West Salem’s current three-game losing streak is the program’s longest such string since 2004. The Titans (2-3, 2-2 GVC) have played a tough schedule as represented by being No. 14 in the OSAA’s power rankings.

Multi-threat Maciel: North Salem senior running back Cristian Maciel showed he can do a lot of things in Friday’s 33-21 loss to Forest Grove. He rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, returned a kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown and kicked three PATs.

McNary at Forest Grove, 7:15 p.m. Thursday

Still looking for respect: McNary is 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the GVC, but the Celtics have yet to get much love from outside of Keizer. A No. 35 position in the OSAA’s power rankings probably doesn’t help that much. After this game McNary plays league heavyweights West Salem, South Salem and Sprague in consecutive weeks to close the regular season.

Big-time comeback: After being slowed significantly in a loss to McKay the week before, McNary senior quarterback Trent Van Cleave rolled up 336 yards of total offense and three touchdowns – two passing and one rushing – in last week’s 27-21 win against McMinnville.

McKay at Hood River Valley, 7 p.m. Friday

Nonleague game: This is the only nonleague game of the season for the Royal Scots, and it came at the perfect time. McKay (1-4 overall) lost 39-20 Friday against West Albany after giving up 240 yards rushing to the Bulldogs. McKay junior running back Matthew Jarding has rushed for 343 yards and six touchdowns – including two against West Albany – on 70 carries this season.

West Salem receiver Nate Okada has the ball knocked loose by Sprague’s Carter James last week.

Mid-Willamette Conference

Game of the week

Central at Lebanon, 7 p.m. Thursday

Share of league lead: These are two of the five teams tied for first place in the Mid-Willamette. Lebanon (4-1 overall) is No. 17 in the OSAA’s power rankings and Central (3-2 overall) is No. 18 at 2-1 in league. Of course they’re both tied with Crescent Valley, South Albany and Silverton for the top spot.

Mendazona coming of age: Central sophomore quarterback Peter Mendazona has grown dramatically in the first five weeks of the season. He has completed 66 of 117 passes for 626 yards and seven touchdowns, including going 17-for-30 for 208 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 36-33 loss to Crescent Valley.

Tough defensive assignment: One of the tasks Central faces in this game is trying to stop senior tight end John Bates. The 6-6, 210-pound commit to Oregon State has been difficult to stop as a receiver, wildcat quarterback or defensive end this season.

Woodburn at Crescent Valley, 7 p.m. Thursday

Trying to get something going: The Bulldogs (0-5, 0-3) have yet to score more than 14 points in a game this season. Woodburn is No. 32 of 32 teams in the OSAA’s power rankings and has a lot of room to grow.

No. 10 Silverton at South Albany, 7 p.m. Thursday

Comeback game: When the Foxes (3-2, 2-1) lost 28-18 to Corvallis last week, it ended a 14-game conference winning streak that dated back to 2013. The Foxes were held to 159 yards rushing against Corvallis without running back Jonas Dahl.

Dallas at Corvallis, 7 p.m. Thursday

In need of an offensive infusion: The Dragons (1-4, 1-4) struggled offensively in the past two games, being shut out against Central and held to 12 points by South Albany last week. Dallas showed flashes of getting things moving this year, but has a lot of work to do against the top teams in the league.

No. 8 South Salem plays No. 9 Sprague for top spot in GVC

Oregon West Conference

Game of the week

North Marion at No. 5 Stayton, 7 p.m. Thursday

A surprising star: Of all the standout players the Eagles (5-0, 1-0) have had this season, the biggest surprise is senior running back Bryan King. He has rushed for 411 yards and eight touchdowns on 50 carries (8.2 yard per carry average). Stayton has done well in a lot of things on the football field this fall, but his production has been a boon.

Ariel attack: The Huskies’ most consistent player this season has been junior quarterback Tanner Scanlan. Even when opponents have loaded up the box, he’s found ways to get over it. He was 8 of 17 passing for 78 yards in last week’s 27-7 loss to No. 2-ranked Philomath.

Yamhill-Carlton at No. 4 Cascade, 7 p.m. Thursday

Itching for a win: The Cougars (4-1, 1-1) haven’t won a game on the field since Sept. 18. After a loss to Philomath the team was ready to get some momentum going again against Newport, but a win by forfeit changed that. Winless Yamhill-Carlton (0-5, 0-2) shouldn’t pose much of a challenge for Cascade.

West Salem QB suspended over snap flap

West Valley League

Game of the week

Santiam Christian at Taft, 7 p.m. Thursday

Fallen from their perch: The Eagles (4-1, 2-0) were brought down to earth in last week’s 45-14 loss to Cascade Christian and dropped to No. 3 from No. 1 in the OSAA’s power rankings in the loss. Santiam Christian still has one of the top quarterbacks in the state in senior Daniel Hendrix – who as 8 of 23 passing for 119 yards and two touchdowns – and will need everything he can contribute to take the league lead from Taft.

High flyers: Taft (3-2, 3-0) is soaring under the mighty arm of junior quarterback Everett Thomas, who has passed for 1,202 yards and 12 touchdowns by completing 58 percent of his passes. But he and the rest of the Tigers are vulnerable. Thomas has been intercepted 10 times this season and Santiam Christian has been adept at changing turnovers into points.

Dayton at Willamina, 7 p.m. Thursday

Posing a threat: Dayton’s defense has been tough all year, but they will get a challenge against the Bulldogs and sophomore Brad Milton. He has passed for 757 yards and six touchdowns by completing 65 percent (61 of 94) of his passes this season and has the potential to challenge the Pirates’ athletic secondary.

Amity at Horizon Christian, 7 p.m. Friday

Going again: In the past few years the Hawks have been league championship contenders, but a forfeit for not having enough players against Salem Academy earlier this season wasn’t a good sign. A 40-24 win against Willamina last week was a good sign. The Warriors (2-3, 1-1) need to get something going, but this game will be a challenge.

Blanchet quarterback R.J. Veil hands the ball off to Denver Bogat during their game with Scio on Sept. 18.

PacWest Conference

Game of the week

Salem Academy at Jefferson, 7 p.m. Friday

Receiving corps: Salem Academy (4-1, 2-1) has put together a passing game that few can rival this season. Receivers including junior Skyler Williams (18 receptions for 310 yards and six touchdowns), junior Rylan Stamback (11 receptions for 321 yards and three touchdowns), senior Kaleb Carmony (13 receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns) and Wilson McLean (13 receptions for 179 yards and four touchdowns) has been hard to stop.

Slow start: The Lions (1-4, 1-2) dropped a 48-6 loss to Blanchet last week for their second loss in a row. Jefferson has been inconsistent this season and a mighty Salem Academy team will be as difficult as any the team has faced.

Chemawa at Gervais, 7 p.m. Thursday

A mathematical problem: The Braves are 0-3 overall, 0-2 in the PacWest and have yet to score a point this season, yet Chemawa is still No. 21 in the OSAA power rankings. Gervais is 0-5 overall, 0-2 in the PacWest and has been shut out in its past two games, but is No. 32 of 32 Class 3A teams.

Scio at Colton, 7 p.m. Friday

Playoff implications: Yes, Scio is 5-0 and ranked No. 1 in the OSAA’s power rankings behind a monster rushing attack that averages a staggering 575 yards per game. But at 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the PacWest, Colton is a legitimate playoff contender with the potential to upset any team that overlooks it.

Lakeview at Blanchet, 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: McCulloch Stadium

Finally really home: This is the first game of the season for Blanchet (4-1, 2-1) at usual home field at McCulloch Stadium, though the Cavaliers did defeat Jefferson 48-6 at Blanchet last week in what was their first home game. Blanchet hosts two more games at McCulloch this season.

Tri-River Conference

Game of the week

No. 9 Regis at No. 1 Kennedy, 7 p.m. Thursday

Battle of No. 1s: Kennedy (5-0, 1-0) is No. 1 in the coaches poll; Regis (3-2, 1-0) is No. 1 in the OSAA power rankings. But which team wins this game will be No. 1 in the Tri-River.

Up-and-down Rams: Regis has yet to win two games in a row this season. Regis quarterback Bryce Piete passed for 243 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 48-8 win against St. Paul and held the Buckaroos to 131 yards.

Monster rushing effort: Kennedy has proven that it has one of the best offensive lines in Class 2A. The Trojans rushed for 238 yards in Friday’s 38-8 win against Santiam, including 129 and three touchdowns by junior running back Bishop Mitchell.

No. 5 Central Linn at Santiam, 7 p.m. Friday

Losing streak: A Santiam (3-2, 0-1) team that was a surprise 3-0 to start the season has now lost two straight, including last week’s 38-8 defeat against Kennedy. It doesn’t get any easier against a Central Linn team that is 5-0 and was the co-league champion a year ago.

Class 1A

Game of the week

Siletz Valley at Falls City, 7 p.m. Friday

Still a glimmer: The Mountaineers (1-4, 1-0 1A Special District 3) didn’t start the season well, but a 44-22 win against Mapleton on Friday showed the team may be a state playoff contender after all. Running back Zach Weems rushed for four touchdowns in the win.

A tough route: The closest route between the schools is 41.7 miles over the coast range, but Google maps says that route takes one hour and 47 minutes. The route down highway 223 to highway 20 is 69 miles, but takes one hour and 19 minutes.

No. 2 Perrydale at Ione, 6 p.m. Thursday

An emerging star: Last year running back Kennan Bailey was mostly an unknown. It’s safe to say the senior is now well-regarded. After rushing for over 300 yards against Dufur, he rushed for three touchdowns in last week’s 80-12 win against South Wasco County.

South Salem quarterback Gabe Matthews makes a pass during their game with Sprague on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015.

Everything went right Thursday night.

South Salem High School’s No. 8-ranked football team dominated every aspect of the game in a 56-14 home win against No. 9 Sprague to take sole possession of first place in the Greater Valley Conference.

The Saxons displayed a command of every facet of the game in the win.

Whether it was Gabe Matthews throwing five touchdown passes, the Saxons shutting down Sprague running back Anthony Nunn on defense or Francisco Ramirez Perez lighting up the Olympians’ defense for 174 yards rushing, South Salem did everything right.

“We were really good tonight,” South Salem coach Scott DuFault said. “We punted twice, I think, and once in the first half. I thought Gabe was really good. They didn’t really have an answer for Joseph (Carey) down the field. I thought Francisco ran the ball really well tonight.

Blog: Gibson Hohberg has become elite safety for South Salem

“My guess is we’re pretty balanced offensively and that’s the key. We averaged 200 yards a game rushing and 200 yards a game passing. As a defensive coordinator what do you take away?”

South Salem takes over sole possession of first place in the Greater Valley Conference at 6-0 overall and 6-0 in the conference while dropping Sprague to 5-1 in the GVC.

“It means a lot to be at this stage 6-0, but ultimately it doesn’t matter,” South Salem linebacker Davis Carter said. “It’s the next game we’re thinking of.”

South Salem did what no team has been able to do this season against Sprague in stopping Nunn.

Nunn rushed for 67 yards on 17 carries and fumbled the ball to South Salem defensive lineman Luke Raynak on Sprague’s first drive of the game.

“We have a great front seven, but our outside linebackers are told to squeeze, so they have to bounce it out,” Carter said. “When they have to bounce it out it’s just me and my other linebacker, William Riffe, and we have to clean up.

“We did a great job squeezing tonight and we cleaned up a lot of tackles, and I think that our linemen probably should get all the credit for that win.”

Ramirez Perez rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, changing directions with ease and showing a burst of speed in the open field that Sprague couldn’t match.

South Salem’s Francisco Ramirez Perez runs the ball against Sprague on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015.

“He runs hard and he’s slippery,” Matthews said. “I feel like one guy can’t take him down because he’s so strong. He’s a strong, stacked little dude, and he’s a good player for us.”

Matthews’ third touchdown pass of the game to Carey put the Saxons up 35-0 with 3:55 left in the second quarter.

Sprague recorded its fourth first down of the first half on a 17-yard pass from Justin Culpepper to Austin Kleinman, and three plays later Culpepper hit Alek Altringer down the middle of the field for a 49-yard touchdown as the Olympians showed signs of life.

But South Salem answered before halftime as Matthews hit Gibson Hohberg for a 10-yard touchdown strike for a 42-7 halftime lead.

Ramirez Perez broke the third play of the second half up the middle for a 71-yard touchdown and when Matthews hit Khalid Thomas for a 4-yard touchdown with 5:49 left in the third quarter for a 56-7 lead, it enacted the 45-point rule and the rolling clock for the rest of the game.

“We have good skill guys and our line is great,” said Matthews, who passed for 226 yards and also ran for a touchdown. “It took us a while to click and figure out what our strengths were, and I think we finally got it dialed in last week and this week especially. I think we just got great athletes, great O-linemen, great receivers and it’s clicked for us this week.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Sprague’s Anthony Nunn (28) blocks a tackle from South’s Davis Carter (42) while running the ball during their game on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015.

Salem Academy’s Skyler Williams (1) is tackled by Jefferson High School’s Luke McGivney (4) during their football game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, in Jefferson, Ore.

JEFFERSON — The Crusaders accomplished two things in Friday’s 52-0 win against Jefferson.

For one, Salem Academy High School’s football team takes control of its destiny in its attempt to make the OSAA Class 3A state playoffs for the second year in a row by improving to 5-1 and 3-1 in the PacWest Conference.

It’s quite a feat considering last year was the team’s first trip to the state postseason in 23 years.

“It’s a nice feeling, but we got to take it one game at a time,” said senior running back Braden Palanuk. “We can’t look forward to the playoffs like oh, well, Nov. 28 is state. We got to take it one game at a time and hopefully get the same goal, win every game.”

The other thing the win accomplished is Salem Academy, No. 3 in the OSAA’s power rankings, sets up an Oct. 16 showdown with rival Blanchet, No. 4 in the power rankings, for second place in the PacWest.

Salem Academy quarterback (9) Andrew Baker looks for a pass during their game with Jefferson on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, in Jefferson, Ore.

“I’m excited,” senior quarterback Andrew Baker said. “I think we can do good things, but we’ll see. We’re confident.”

Baker was an efficient 15 of 18 passing for 261 yards and touchdown passes to Rylan Stamback, Kaleb Carmony and Wilson McLean.

In all he mixed six receivers into the passing game and kept Jefferson’s defense on its heels all night.

“I’d say definitely it’s a chemistry,” Palanuk said. “Every day we’re running routes after practice and we’re getting timing down, play after play after play and rep after rep.”

Conference showdowns starting to heat up

For a Salem Academy team that focuses on the passing game, Palanuk showed the Crusaders can grind the ball out on the ground when they need to.

He rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, only one longer than 10 yards, and provided a ball-control element to the game.

“Braden runs really hard and he’s a great running back,” Baker said. “I couldn’t ask for a better running back next to me.”

Salem Academy’s defense limited Jefferson to 83 yards of offense and four first downs in the first half.

The Crusaders also scored on defense.

Kyle Haslebacher returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown and Jefferson snapped an attempt at a punt through the back of the end zone for a safety.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Jefferson High School’s Justus Arlundson (21) brings down Salem Academy’s Kaleb Carmony (5) during their football game on Friday night in Jefferson.

West Salem junior Ahmed Muhumed has run the fastest 5,000 meters in cross country in the state this season.

There are few high school runners in Oregon history that have run a 5,000 meter cross country in under 15 minutes.

West Salem High School junior Ahmed Muhumed put down a blazing 14:56.8 in winning the Sandelie XC Classic Friday and etched his name in rarified air in high school cross country history.

The time was a seven-second personal record from where he was in the race a year ago.

“I didn’t really care that much about time as I cared about winning because of the people that were there and all that, but at the same time I was really happy,” said Muhumed, who won the Greater Valley Conference meet as a sophomore.

“It is like a new world, kind of, going sub 15 and I have to work towards going sub 14 sometime soon. My goal for the rest of the season isn’t really to PR, it’s mainly to really place. That is the big thing.”

Muhumed’s time is the fastest a high school boy has run in Oregon this season, but he also had the No. 1 time in the state at this point last season.

He said after the first mile in the race in Wilsonville that the rest of the leaders dropped behind him and he was able to control the pace.

Muhumed won the race by five seconds in front of West Linn’s Roman Ollar and 11 seconds in front of Jesuit’s Joshua Schumacher.

“I did run fast without really a lot of competition ahead of me, like I was in a pack, a big pack and all,” said Muhumed, who placed third in the state last year. “I feel like I’m much faster.”

Muhumed’s next race is the Oct. 21 GVC district meet at Bush’s Pasture Park.

Volleyball

The Factory Volleyball Club will host a free clinic and informational meeting Oct. 18.

The clinic will be for 12U and 14U girls volleyball players from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at South Salem High School’s main gym.

The short informational meeting for parents and players from ages 12 to 18 interested in playing club volleyball will follow immediately after.

For more information contact club director Matt Leichty at factoryvolleyball@gmail.com or go to factoryvolleyballclub.com.

Soccer

North Salem’s boys soccer team is putting on a soccer program for youth with physical or mental challenges.

The program runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 4, 11 and 18 at Salem Indoor Soccer Center at 4701 Portland Road NE.

Registration is free.

For more information contact North Salem coach Rich Swartzentruber at (503) 931-1351 or swartzentruber_rich@salkeiz.k12.or.us.

South Salem’s Gibson Hohberg (9) and Tony Phong (4) celebrate Hohberg’s touchdown in the first half of the South Salem vs. McKay football game at McKay High School in Salem on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. South Salem leads 26-7 at the half.

In a three-week stretch Cascade High School’s football team went from being the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A to being upset by Philomath, to being on the receiving end of a forfeit by Newport and finally beating Yamhill-Carlton 49-6 for their first on-field win in weeks.

Now Cascade heads into Friday’s game at rival Stayton ranked No. 4 with a 5-1 record and 2-1 in the Oregon West Conference.

“It’s probably the most different situation I’ve been in in coaching,” coach Steve Turner said. “When you lose, you want to play against right away, yet we couldn’t play. It’s really hard to explain. It was like a season coming to an end and having to restart it again.

“We didn’t play for 13 days and it showed against Yamhill. We had penalties. The game rust. If one guy misses a game, you don’t see it as much as if a whole team misses a game. That was different for our kids, and for our coaches, too.”

In Cascade’s Sept. 25 upset loss to Philomath, Cascade led 7-0 in the second quarter, but gave up 26 straight points and lost 26-14.

But then Newport forfeited its Oct. 2 game to Cascade due to injuries, essentially giving the Cougars a bye week.

Cascade led 29-0 after one quarter against Yamhill-Carlton Oct. 8 and was up 42-0 at halftime.

“We had some things go wrong in the Philomath game and we wanted to fix those,” Turner said. “We have an identity now offensively that we’re going to follow, and that’s good. I think we lost our identity against Philomath.”

What Cascade faces in No. 5-ranked Stayton is a team that exceeded expectations all season by starting 6-0 and 3-0 in the Oregon West Conference.

It’s been a long time since both teams were ranked in the top five in the state when they played.

“The Stayton-Cascade rivalry’s always a big one no matter what the records are,” Turner said. “It helps our league. It makes our league more competitive. I knew they were going to be a good team.”

Stayton poses a unique challenge for Cascade.

The Eagles average 211 yards per game rushing and 201 yards passing per game behind the strong arm of senior quarterback Kyle Schwarm, who has passed for 1,206 yards and 11 touchdowns.

But Stayton also leads the state by holding opponents to 29 points this season.

How do you beat a team that well balanced?

“That’s the million dollar question,” Turner said. “Their quarterback is an outstanding runner as well as passer and they have quality receivers. We have some ideas, but again it’s too early to tell if it will work on the field.”

The team takes a knee for a huddle during football practice at Cascade High School in Turner, Ore., on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015.

South Salem

Two years ago Gibson Hohberg was a sophomore safety who got picked on.

No. 8 –ranked South Salem’s 6-foot, 170-pound senior is now picking on quarterbacks.

Hohberg intercepted two passes from Sprague quarterback Justin Culpepper in South Salem’s 56-14 win Thursday.

Hohberg caught four touchdown passes playing at receiver – usually on the opposite side of the field from Joseph Carey – but he’s become an elite player at defensive back.

“He’s our coach on the field,” South Salem coach Scott DuFault said. “He gets our kids lined up back there. He’s our quarterback back there. He’s a four-point student, a really smart kid. He understands the game a lot better now.

“Took his lumps a couple years ago against the West Salem’s and the Sprague’s, and it was a learning experience, but you start for three years in the secondary at this level, you’re going to be a pretty smart football kid. He’s done a good job of preparing and learning, and it’s paying off now.”

After breaking tackles by Blanchet defenders Scio’s Anthony Johnson (21) runs for a touchdown during their game on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, in Scio, Ore.

Scio

Anthony Johnson’s name is going to start popping up in record books.

Scio’s senior running back rushed for 467 yards and six touchdowns on 16 carries in Friday’s 76-20 win against Colton.

Through six games for No. 1 Scio (6-0, 3-0 PacWest) Johnson rushed for 2,039 yards and 27 touchdowns on 128 carries.

Perrydale

No. 2-ranked Perrydale started the season with 14 players.

The team added a couple since then, and one made a huge an impact.

Haylen Janesofsky rushed for six touchdowns in Friday’s 62-20 win against Ione.

The 6-3, 165-pound running back was a star for the team as a freshman in 2013 and was a starter again in 2014, but wasn’t going to play football this season and didn’t play in a game until the sixth week of the season.

Members of the West Salem High School team celebrate a point against West Albany during their volleyball game on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Albany, Ore.

ALBANY – A conference championship eluded West Salem High School’s volleyball team for almost a decade.

If the Titans hit anything like they did Tuesday night in a sweep of West Albany then the Greater Valley Conference championship is inevitable.

West Salem had a stellar .429 hitting percentage as they beat West Albany 25-19, 25-18, 25-17 on the road to take over sole possession of the GVC lead.

“It’s a great feeling,” junior setter Mattie Kelly said. “We’re going really far and it’s awesome to be a part of it at West Salem and representing our school.”

West Salem improves to 15-3 and 12-1 in the Greater Valley Conference, and drops West Albany to 12-2 in conference and 13-7 overall.

This is the latest in a season West Salem has been in sole possession of a conference lead since 2007.

“It feels very good, but we still have pressure on us because everybody wants to take a game from us and we have to just be ready to go,” coach Katie Herber said. “We have to be ready to go against McMinnville on Thursday, we got to turn it around and bring it to Sprague on the following Tuesday and we got McNary, which is a huge match for us.

“The way I look at it is this is one big hurdle for us, where we took the pressure, which is huge. This team has struggled with the pressure, and we were able to keep our nerves down and overcome.”

A West Albany team that placed third in the Class 6A state tournament last season and won the conference title a year ago couldn’t keep up with the offense that West Salem produced.

Main photo: West Salem High School’s Paige Whipple goes up for kill past West Albany defenders during their volleyball game on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Albany, Ore. Secondary photo: Members of the West Salem High School team celebrate a point against West Albany during their volleyball game.

Junior outside hitter Paige Whipple had 19 kills by hitting .548 and junior middle blocker Delaney Smith had 12 kills by hitting .647.

The setting of Kelly, who had 39 assists, was key, but Kelly also had three blocks and disrupted West Albany’s offense from the front row.

“She’s definitely very smart with her placement,” said Whipple, who also had 10 digs and two aces. “The setters have setters practice every day before practice. All they do is reps, reps, so that they’re setting the same ball, consistent spot every time, and it’s just clicked with Mattie and she’s starting to get really consistent.

“I’ve never seen her block like that. It was amazing. And she’s really been working. She’s been going to training and stuff, working on her vertical and she’s gotten so much better.”

Both teams started the match hitting high percentages in the first set. West Albany led at 19-18 until Delaney Smith’s kill started a 7-0 West Salem run to clinch the first set.

West Salem led almost the entirety of the second set and Kelly worked different hitters into the offense and into different positions.

West Albany led the early stages of the third set until Whipple broke a 13-13 tie with a kill, a block and a kill for three straight points to launch the Titans to a 10-1 run, capped off by two consecutive aces by Whipple for a 21-14 lead.

The development of the Titans from even a few weeks ago is remarkable. The team is playing error-free and asserted itself as a team to contend with on the state level.

“We’ve been escalating ever since our first game,” Kelly said. “We haven’t hit our rough patch yet so it’s nice that we’re continually improving every match, every game, every practice.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or twitter.com/bpoehler

West Salem d. West Albany 3-0

Scores: 25-19, 25-18, 25-18

At West Albany

Kills- Whipple (WS) 19. Digs- Whipple (WS) 10. Blocks- Kelly (WS) 3. Assists- Kelly (WS) 39. Aces- Whipple (WS) 2.

Newport’s Brendan Chuck runs the ball against Stayton on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Stayton, Ore.

STAYTON – The point is that there is no star.

The defense of the No. 6-ranked Stayton High School football team was built around the principal that all 11 players on the field need to get to the ball, and it has been effective at stopping opponents this season.

Going into Friday’s Oregon West Conference showdown against No. 4-ranked Cascade, the Eagles have held opponents to 29 points this season, the fewest of any team in the state regardless of classification.

It’s a stark turnaround under first-year defensive coordinator Jed Leeper for a team that allowed an average of 25.3 points per game a year ago.

“Coach Leeper brought swarm and punish to our team, and that is just having everyone around the ball as much as possible,” said senior linebacker Ryan Forrette.

“We’re focused on a team defense, and it’s not focused around one position where we specialize in one area, but it’s one guy will benefit another where it’s his job to make the play, but not to make the tackle.”

Stayton’s stifling defense – and a surprisingly balanced offense – have led the Eagles to start the season 6-0, including a 3-0 record in conference.

The Eagles rotate a lot of players through their defense.

In last week’s 21-9 win against North Marion, Stayton rotated nine players through the defensive line and seven players through the defensive back spots.

Forrette and Taren Ikea-Mario lead the team with 24 tackles each, but 30 players have made at least one tackle.

“I would just say we’re a whole lot more disciplined,” said senior cornerback Everett St. Clair, who has five interceptions. “Last year we ran to the ball a lot still, but I think this year we emphasize on it more.

“We try to get everyone to the ball instead of just like one man trying to do it. I just think we really work hard on that and it’s changed our defense.”

The three shutouts this season were the first time since beating Cascade 20-0 in 2011 that they shut out an opponent.

Stayton has intercepted a staggering 12 passes this season. Add to that 10 fumble recoveries and it’s given the offense a lot of opportunities.

“It’s a focus,” Leeper said. “They’re good athletes, obviously. Everett’s been playing since he was a sophomore. He knows the game pretty well. He’s a smart player.

Stayton High School’s Jacob Jungwirth (23) tackles Newport running back Dennis Lancaster during their game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Stayton, Ore.

“He does a good job of giving up space when it’s needed and he also knows if I can get tight on this guy and be aggressive, they can do that as well. It’s a lot about knowing who you are and having a great football IQ. We’ve got a lot of guys with a lot of football experience.”

Stayton has a statistical balance on offense is staggering: The Eagles average 211 yards rushing and 201 yards passing per game.

The Eagles are running the ball 63 percent of the time; quarterback Kyle Schwarm estimates that Stayton passed the ball 85 percent of the time last season.

“It’s something that was new to us this year, but when you got a kid like a Ryan Forrette, who is an outstanding lead blocker, we’re going to utilize that kid,” first-year Stayton coach Andy Campbell said.

“Same thing with running backs. We got three guys in Bryan King, Andrew Kuenzi and Seth Dailey —we’re running back by committee. That’s kudos to our offensive line. We’re averaging six, seven yards a carry.”

At Campbell’s previous stops, his teams have been run-heavy.

But then he came into a situation at Stayton with an experienced, confident senior quarterback in Schwarm (1,206 yards, 11 touchdowns, 57 percent passing) and experienced, talented senior receivers in St. Clair (24 receptions, 497 yards, five TDs), Ben Diehl (17 receptions, 339 yards, two TDs) and Charlie Weeks (16 receptions, 305 yards, four TDs).

So the team has done both.

“We changed our run game this year,” said Schwarm, who also has rushed for 173 yards and six touchdowns on 45 carries. “Last year we were downhill. This year it’s more off the edges. I’m running the ball more, running backs are good and everybody’s running the ball hard this year.”

Stayton’s 6-0 record is its best start to the season in a long time.

But the program’s return to relevance in the state almost been overshadowed by how it has happened.

“It’s weird to me,” Forette said. “It’s a weird feeling of being of being 6-0. I almost don’t even look at that. I look at being 1-0 every week and it’s easier because we’re not taking too much off to chew every week.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

No. 4 Cascade at No. 6 Stayton

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

Records: Cascade (5-1 overall, 2-1 Oregon West Conference), Stayton (6-0 overall, 3-0 Oregon West).

Greater Valley Conference

Game of the week

West Salem at McNary, 7:15 p.m.

On the air: Radio on KBZY 1490 AM

Need to get passing game going: In West Salem’s 20-2 win against North Salem last week the Titans (3-3, 3-2) completed one pass and were intercepted twice. Much of that was due to North Salem’s defense, but against a team such as McNary (4-2, 4-1) can pile up points in a hurry and has a solid pass defense, the Titans will have to find a way to get the ball over the top.

Do-everything Van Cleave: McNary senior quarterback Trent Van Cleave has proven adept at doing anything asked of him. He was 18 of 23 passing for 230 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 51-28 win at Forest Grove and rushed for two touchdowns. Few defenses have been able to keep up with him, and he will be West Salem’s biggest assignment.

The home stretch for McNary: The Celtics are 4-1 in the GVC and in third place, but have a tough gauntlet of opponents to finish the season. After this week’s game against West Salem, the Celtics still have to play South Salem and Sprague to finish the season.

No. 6 South Salem at North Salem, 7:15 p.m.

On the air: CCTV2 Channel 22 at 11:59 p.m.

The Mayor’s Trophy: The winner of the longest running high school football rivalry in town wins the trophy, something South Salem has done the past eight years consecutively.

A growing streak: South Salem (6-0, 5-0) extended its conference winning streak to 15 games with last week’s 56-14 win against Sprague.

McMinnville at McKay, 7:15 p.m.

On the air: Radio on KYLC.com

A start: McMinnville’s 35-26 win against West Albany last week was the first of the season for the Grizzlies (1-5 GVC), which had been the only winless team in the league previous to that. Cedric Acgaoili-Ostrom ran for three touchdowns in the win.

A star season: One of the bright spots in McKay’s 49-14 loss at Hood River Valley was the play of junior Matthew Jarding. He has rushed for a team-high 399 yards and seven touchdowns on 83 carries and has 62 tackles, including 12 for loss with 3.5 sacks for the Royal Scots (1-5, 1-4).

Grant at Sprague, 7:15 p.m.

Quick appearance: Sprague’s 5-0 start brought the team into the Class 6A media poll for the first time this season. Its 56-14 loss dropped it out again. Sprague’s one nonconference game of the season against Grant (1-6) give the Olympians a chance to get healthy for a stretch run with games against North Salem and McNary to close the regular season.

McNary’s Trent Van Cleave runs the ball as the Celtics defeat West Albany 31-22 in a Greater Valley Conference game on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015.

Mid-Willamette Conference

Game of the week

Central at Silverton, 7 p.m.

Tight losses: Central (3-3, 2-2) has lost its past two games by a total of four points. The Panthers have improved significantly on offense from early in the season – Alvin Berroa rushed for 106 yards, Peter Mendazona passed for 238 yards and four touchdowns and Peter Mason had 130 yards receiving in a 36-35 loss to Lebanon – but the team has given up 36 points in each of its past two games.

Reeling Foxes: Two straight losses have sunk Silverton (3-3, 2-2) and dropped the team out of the top 10 polls. Silverton quarterback Sam Morrison threw five interceptions in last week’s 41-8 loss to South Albany, and the Foxes were once again without senior running back Noah Dahl.

Corvallis at Woodburn, 7 p.m.

A tall order: After missing a game due to injury, Corvallis senior running back and linebacker Hunter Mattson has made an impact. He rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries last week against Dallas. His impact on both sides of the ball is massive and Woodburn (0-6, 0-4) has a tough task in trying to control him.

Crescent Valley at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Still a running team: In last week’s 35-0 loss to Corvallis, Dallas (1-5, 1-3) had its most success on the ground. The Dragons rushed for 193 yards on 49 carries, including Alex Hofferber rushing for 97 yards on 25 attempts. Crescent Valley has been vulnerable on the ground, and the Dragons will need to exploit that.

Blanchet’s Jared Myers (48) is tackled by Scio defender Steven Copple during their game on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, in Scio, Ore.

Oregon West Conference

Game of the week

No. 4 Cascade at No. 6 Stayton, 7 p.m.

Meaningful rivalry game: This rivalry game hasn’t meant this much in years. No. 4 Cascade (5-1, 2-1) and No. 6 Stayton (6-0, 3-0) have had up-and-down cycles in the past decade and them both being relevant at the same time makes this a premier game in the state.

Newport at North Marion, 7 p.m.

Good time for a comeback: The Huskies (2-4, 1-2) have been limited to one touchdown in each of their past two games, losses to Philomath and Stayton, and their best chance of making the postseason is to beat Newport (0-6, 0-3) and Cascade next week.

West Valley League

Game of the week

Amity at Santiam Christian, 7 p.m.

League-leading Eagles: Santiam Christian (5-1, 3-0) owns sole possession of first place in the West Valley. A 19-18 win against Taft gave them the outright lead and the inside track on the league title.

Overcoming: The Eagles came back from four turnovers and an 18-7 third-quarter deficit to win last week’s showdown against Taft. The Eagles are a ball-control team and must control the time of possession against an Amity team that relies heavily on the running game.

Horizon Christian at Sheridan, 7 p.m.

Tables turning: Not long ago it would have seemed Sheridan would be a shoo-in to win a game like this – Horizon Christian (2-4, 2-2) forfeited its second game of the season to Salem Academy due to having numerous injuries – but Sheridan (1-4, 0-3) has struggled, scoring 52 points this season and Horizon Christian pulled off a 30-8 upset of Amity a week ago.

Willamina at Taft, 7 p.m.

Pass-heavy offense: Most high school teams try to be balanced or rely mostly on the run. Taft is the opposite, and everyone knows it. Junior quarterback Everett Thomas is 142 of 251 passing for 1,558 yards and 13 touchdowns this season as the Tigers have struggled rush for 70 yards a game. Willamina (0-6, 0-3) has a tough task defensively, but the Bulldogs have some athletes to keep up with the high-flying Tigers.

Salem Academy’s Skyler Williams (1) blocks Jefferson High School defender Jacob Sobel (20) during their game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, in Jefferson, Ore.

PacWest Conference

Game of the week

Blanchet Catholic at Salem Academy, 7 p.m.

On the air: Radio on KYKN 1430 AM

Different ways of doing things: Blanchet (5-1, 2-1) is a heavy run team out of the wing-T offense; Salem Academy (5-1, 3-1) relies on the pass and does it well. Salem Academy senior quarterback Andrew Baker is 67 of 110 passing for 1,202 yards and 15 touchdowns.

For second place: The winner of this game will take over sole possession of second place in the PacWest. Blanchet still has to play a tough Colton team, which can change things, but after this game the Cavaliers play their final two games of the regular season at their home field at McCulloch Stadium.

Scio at Gervais, 7 p.m.

Opposite ends: Scio is 6-0, 3-0 in the PacWest and No. 1 in the OSAA’s power rankings. Gervais is 0-6, 0-4 in the PacWest and No. 32 of 32 teams in the OSAA’s power rankings.

Jefferson at Chemawa, 7 p.m.

Can the Braves win two straight: Chemawa’s 18-12 win against Gervais a week ago ended a 16-game losing streak dating to 2012 and was the program’s first conference win in more than a decade. Jefferson (1-5 1-3) struggled to score the past two weeks, and Chemawa has its best shot at a winning streak in a long time.

Tri-River Conference

Game of the week

No. 1 Kennedy at No. 4 Central Linn, 7 p.m.

The league lead: One of these teams will leave this game leading the conference and one will be second. Kennedy (6-0, 2-0) and Central Linn (6-0, 1-0) are No. 1 and 2 in the OSAA’s power rankings.

Defensive challenge: It’s no surprise what Central Linn does. The Cobras run the ball heavily out of the single-wing offense, and they do it well. Braden Nightengale has rushed for 433 yards and seven touchdowns, Chandler Jeppsen has rushed for 413 yards and six touchdowns and Jesse Wibbens has rushed for 318 yards and six touchdowns.

Santiam at St. Paul, 7 p.m.

Falling Wolverines: This season started bright for Santiam (3-3, 0-2) with three straight wins, but a three-game losing streak and being in the heart of the tough Tri-River schedule isn’t doing the team any favors. St. Paul (3-2, 0-1) has been streaky, but the Buckaroos are coming off a bye week and still have state playoff potential.

Oakland at No. 9 Regis, 7 p.m.

Still highly respected: That a 3-3 team such as Regis is No. 4 in the OSAA’s power rankings is of no surprise. The Rams (1-1 TRC) have played a tough schedule thus far and have the athletes to go deep into the playoffs. This nonconference game against Oakland (2-3) is a chance for Regis to get back on track.

Class 1A

Game of the week

Falls City at Triangle Lake, 7 p.m.

Surprisingly high: For a team that is 1-5 this season, Falls City is No. 16 of 40 teams in the OSAA’s power rankings. The Mountaineers are still a long shot at making the state playoffs considering they’re 1-0 in 1A Special District 3, but they have played a tough schedule so far.

A budding star: Falls City senior Zac Labrado played huge in last week’s 36-32 loss to Siletz Valley, rushing for 128 yards and three touchdowns. You can bet that Triangle Lake (3-3, 3-1 1A Special District 3) will be watching him every time he gets the ball.

Cascade’s Cassie Smock and the Cougars defeat Stayton in an Oregon West Conference Match Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Turner.

Cascade defeats Stayton in an Oregon West Conference Match Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Turner.

TURNER – The play of Alyssa St. Peter mirrors what Cascade High School’s volleyball team has done this season.

The senior has seemingly always been there as a starting middle blocker through the recent run of success, but she is only now becoming a star.

It mirrors how Cascade was overlooked much of this season and is now proving it is a team to be reckoned with.

The 5-foot-11 St. Peter had 17 kills – those coming from nearly everywhere on the court – 15 digs and three aces in Thursday’s 3-0 sweep of Stayton.

“She always peaks at the end,” Cascade coach Cristina Williams said. “That’s exactly what she’s doing right now. She’s peaking and she’s amazing. She’s really shining through. She’s stepping up, being the leader.”

As with St. Peter’s rapid improvement, so too have the Cougars gotten stronger as the season progressed.

Cascade clinched at least a share of its third consecutive Oregon West Conference championship by improving to 8-1 in league with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-10 win against rival Stayton on Thursday night.

“It’s pretty awesome,” St. Peter said. “Not many people even get to see one league championship in their high school career, and to have three, that’s pretty amazing. I’m super proud of my team all three years.”

A Cascade (10-4) team that came into Thursday’s match No. 15 in the OSAA’s power rankings can clinch the outright league championship – and the right to host a state playoff match – when they play Tuesday at North Marion.

The Cougars had a glaring need for hitters – as well as at nearly every other position – this season.

The development of players with not much varsity experience such as setter Meriah Kindell, defensive specialist Marina Carroll, middle blocker Cassie Smock and outside hitter Tori Lewis has been key to Cascade continuing its run at the top of the Oregon West.

“Our actions prove that we are a good team and can come back stronger even losing some amazing seniors last year,” said senior outside hitter Lauren Hadley, who had 15 digs. I think it feels good that everyone knows at Cascade that we can come back from something like that. It’s just a nice feeling to know that we have those younger kids coming up each year that each year step up as seniors and lead this team.”

Cascade was overlooked early this season specifically because it didn’t have the experience at the key positions, much as how St. Peter was overlooked as a volleyball player.

An all-state outfielder in softball and a standout basketball player – she has never played club volleyball – and thus is overlooked at the sport.

Her athletic ability and determination to win carried her to the highest levels as a player, much as how Cascade’s overlooked younger players have carried the team to another league title.

“I like that because I want them to underestimate us and not see what we’re made out of,” Williams said. “We have a lot of girls that they’re not those big hitters that we had last year, but they work hard and they’re great.

“The girls get along really well this year, and that was the one thing that they really wanted to work on is just being a team and a family, and that’s what we’ve kind of strived for.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Cascade d. Stayton 3-0

Set scores: 25-17, 25-16, 25-10

At Cascade

Kills- Anderson (S) 8; St. Peter (C) 17. Digs- St. Peter (C) 15, Hadley (C) 15. Blocks- Anderson (S) 2, Smock (C) 2. Assists- Carroll (C) 25. Aces- Keim (S) 2; St. Peter (C) 3.

Cascade’s Garrett Coffey runs the ball as the Cougars take on Stayton in an Oregon West Conference game Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.

STAYTON – The Cougars stopped caring about where they are and found out who they are.

The No. 4-ranked Cascade High School football team showed it’s a team that can assert its will on opponents in all aspects of the game.

Whether it was running the ball heavily to wear down No. 6-ranked Stayton’s stellar defense Friday night, getting big plays in the passing game or locking down on defense, the Cougars proved to themselves that they are still the force they should be with a 31-7 win Friday night.

What they demonstrated to the rest of the state is that they’re a resilient bunch that belongs among the top teams in the state.

“It wasn’t about Stayton tonight,” Cascade coach Steve Turner said. “It was about ourselves. We had some things to prove to ourselves, and that was the theme. We needed to walk the talk. I think we did tonight.”

Since a loss to Philomath early in the league season, Cascade has been playing like it has something to prove.

The Cougars proved that they can run the ball at will and dominate the time of possession.

Senior running back Garrett Coffey rushed for 277 of Cascade’s 329 yards and a touchdown on a staggering 39 carries.

“We came in with a chip on our shoulder so we’re not really worried about rankings,” said senior cornerback James Baxter, who had an interception. “That’s not important to us anymore.

“It was until the Philomath game, which I think it was good for us to lose to Philomath. I guess we were a little overconfident and so it actually helped us a lot because we’re playing to how we’re supposed to play so that’s good.”

Cascade moves into a tie with Stayton for second place in the Oregon West Conference at 3-1 – both teams are 6-1 overall – and Cascade becomes Stayton’s biggest fan.

While Cascade hosts North Marion (2-2 Oregon West) in next week’s regular season finale, Stayton plays at Philomath (4-0 Oregon West) and can create a three-way league championship if the Eagles can pull off an upset.

“We have to learn from losing, and that’s one thing we haven’t done this year, and we’re going to find out what kind of character and what kind of moxie we have on the inside, what we’re built of,” Stayton coach Andy Campbell said.

“Philomath is a solid football team and we’re going to have to be ready to get in a street fight again, just like we were this time around, but we have to capitalize.”

It was the big plays that staked the Cougars a big lead.

Cascade’s Garrett Coffey runs the ball as the Cougars defeat Stayton 31-7 in an Oregon West Conference game Friday.

Lucas Bjorklund kicked a 33-yard field goal and on the next drive caught a 60-yard bomb of a pass from John Schirmer, and Cameron Molan’s run for a 2-point conversion put Cascade up 11-0.

But Stayton is a team with big-play potential whenever strong-armed senior quarterback Kyle Schwarm is on the field.

Schwarm hit Everett St. Clair down the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown three plays later to cut the Eagles’ deficit to 11-7.

“We just needed to keep (Schwarm) off the field pretty much on offense for just as much as we could,” Schirmer said. “I have all the respect for him in the world.

“I’ve played him since I was fifth grade, sixth grade, whatever. We just had to keep them contained as much as we could.”

Schirmer hit Molan for a 15-yard touchdown and an 18-7 lead, but a 50-yard pass from Schwarm to St. Clair gave Stayton the ball on the 5-yard line with under a minute left in the first half.

Cascade’s Hunter Thomas intercepted Schwarm at the 1-yard line to keep it a two-possession game at halftime.

“All turnovers sting,” Campbell said. “There’s never a good time for one. Sometimes those are 14-point swings. We got to do a better job of handling adversity. They’re just a winning program that does those things right.”

Cascade set the tone coming out of halftime.

After holding Stayton to a three-and-out, Cascade went on a 16-play, 75-yard drive that drained more than eight minutes off the clock before Coffey ran for a 5-yard touchdown.

As the game progressed Coffey’s two- and three-yard runs turned into six- and seven-yard runs and Stayton had no answer for him.

“I think he’s got that mindset coming in that he’s going to do good, but it’s such a feel of the game, and he’s such a gamer,” Schirmer said. “He’s so competitive.

“He sees something once and he’s going to make them make a mistake the next play. He just reads so well and then just keeps it going and gets going harder and harder.”

As important as extending its winning streak to three games for Cascade was the confidence the Cougars earned in defeating its rival.

“We haven’t been playing our best football lately and we did not want to lose to Stayton,” Coffey said. “It’s our rivalry. Our line did great tonight, everyone worked their butts off and we played Cougar football.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Cascade’s Garrett Coffey runs the ball as the Cougars defeat Stayton 31-7 in an Oregon West Conference game Friday.

Cascade 31, Stayton 7

-Second quarter

CAS– Bjorklund 33 field goal 9:51.

CAS– Bjorklund 60 pass from Schirmer (Molan run) 6:06.

STA– St. Clair 67 pass from Schwarm (Hernandez kick) 5:22.

CAS– Molan 15 pass from Schirmer (Bjorklund kick) 1:29.

-Third quarter

CAS– Coffey 5 run (Bjorklund kick) 3:25.

-Fourth quarter

CAS– Schirmer 2 run (pass fail) 11:16.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing– Cascade: Coffey 39-277-1, Schirmer 5-31-1, Roninger 3-9, Thomas 2-8, Schnepp 1-6, Baxter 1-0, Team 1- -2. Stayton: Schwarm 14-52, Dailey 4-32.

Passing– Cascade: Schirmer 8-11-89-2. Stayton: Schwarm 10-21-2-227-1.

Receiving– Cascade: Bjorklund 1-60-1, Molan 2-23-1, Braff 1-9, Thomas 1-6, Baxter 1- -2. Stayton: St. Clair 2-117-1, Diehl 5-73-1, Hill 1-16, Weeks 2-3.

West Salem junior Stuart Aeschliman

Sprague senior Emily Schmelling

OSAA assistant executive director Cindy Simmons (right) presents a check to Willamette Valley Christian for winning the OSAA Sportsmanship Award.

Willamette Valley Christian was awarded the OSAA Sportsmanship Award at it match Oct. 13 against Falls City and given a $1,000 check.

The award is based on behavior by students, coaches, administrators and fans at OSAA events.

Clinics

The Willamette Valley Boys Volleyball Club is hosting a clinic for boys interested in playing volleyball from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at West Salem High School.

The cost is $5. To attend the clinic players must be registered with CEVA and athletes can register at http://www.cevaregion.org, though no experience is necessary.

The organization has been in existence for three years with a high school team and hopes to add a middle school age team this year.

For more information contact coach Peter Piexoto at ppiexoto@yahoo.com or club director Julie Ann Suderman at wvboysvolleyball@gmail.com. Players planning on attending should RSVP with Suderman.

Athletes of the week

The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club honored Emily Schmelling and Stuart Aeschliman as its athletes of the week Oct. 16.

Schmelling, a senior goalkeeper for Sprague’s girls soccer team, had nine saves in a win against South, 13 saves in a loss to West Salem and 17 saves in a 1-1 tie with Forest Grove.

Aeschliman, a junior forward and midfielder for West Salem’s boys soccer team, scored two goals and had two assists in a win against Sprague, an assist in a 2-2 tie with South Salem and has six goals and five assists this season despite missing three games due to a broken thumb.

The group meets Friday mornings at Willamette’s Goudy Commons and the public is invited to attend.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

District cross country meets

Greater Valley: 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at Bush’s Pasture Park.

Mid-Willamette: 2 p.m. Wednesday at Crystal Lake Sports Park, Corvallis.

Oregon West: 11:50 a.m. Saturday at Willamette Mission State Park, Brooks.

3A/2A/1A Special District 2: 3:40 p.m. Thursday at Bush’s Pasture Park.

3A/1A/1A Special District 3: 3 p.m. Thursday at Bush’s Pasture Park.

Salem Academy hosts Blanchet for their football game on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, in Salem, Ore.

Cascade quarterback John Schirmer rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown against Stayton.

Cascade High’s football team showed a new wrinkle Friday night.

Senior quarterback John Schirmer has been a pocket passer throughout his years, but he showed a different dimension in Friday’s 31-7 win against Stayton.

The 6-foot-4, 157-pound Schirmer showed he can run the ball, too.

He rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown on five carries to go along with his 8 of 11 for two touchdowns and 89 yard passing performance.

“He has so many responsibilities in the huddle, at the line of scrimmage, getting guys in the right spot, making checks,” Cascade coach Steve Turner said. “That’s what you expect out of a second-year starter, but he played JV’s as a freshman.

“He has a tremendous amount of experience. We have a lot of faith in John. We used his legs (Friday night), and he showed that he’s an all-around quarterback, not just a guy that throws or hands off.”

In Cascade’s run-heavy game, Schirmer does a number of play-action passes, but he’s never been known as an option quarterback.

Schirmer’s running ability adds in a new dimension for the Cougars, and one opponents will have to prepare for.

“If he separates his shoulder, we don’t have anybody to go to,” Turner said. “You got to be careful.”

Central’s Marlon Tuipulotu becoming a ball hawk

Mid-Willamette

While South Albany (5-2, 4-1) leads the conference with two games left and has the inside line on winning the league championship, the race for second place is much more complicated.

Central, Crescent Valley, Corvallis and Lebanon are all tied for second place in the conference at 3-2, while Silverton and Dallas are tied for sixth at 2-3.

Four teams from the conference qualify for the state playoffs, meaning it will be a tight race in the final weeks of the regular season.

4A postseason

Friday’s games are the final of the regular season for team in Class 4A.

League champions automatically qualify for the Nov. 6 state playoff round as does the next highest ranking No. 2 team.

As of now that team would be Cascade (6-1, 3-1 Oregon West), which is No. 3 in the power rankings.

If Stayton (6-1, 3-1 Oregon West) upsets Philomath (6-1, 4-0 Oregon West) it could change, but if Stayton doesn’t win, the Eagles would be in line to play in the Oct. 30 play-in round.

Willamette Valley Christian wins OSAA sportsmanship

Scio

With senior running back Anthony Johnson, Scio’s football team has been prolific in running the football this season.

Without him the team is impressive in another way.

Johnson missed Friday’s 72-0 win against Gervais due to an injury, but the Loggers (7-0, 4-0 PacWest Conference) showed they have depth at the position.

Senior Logan Gray rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, sophomore Dru Cook rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns on four carries and Henry Smith, Tristan Haines, Nathan Yoder, Reise Medez and Dillon Robison rushed for touchdowns in the win.

Santiam

Santiam’s 37-28 win at St. Paul on Friday night accomplished multiple tasks.

For one, the Wolverines (4-3, 1-2 Tri-River) ended a three-game losing streak after late-game heroics in the form of a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Peyton White.

What’s more important is that if the season were to end today, Santiam would make the state playoffs by virtue of a No. 8 position in the OSAA’s power rankings that would put the team in line for one of the state’s four at-large postseason berths.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler