Sports B1 Appeal Tribune, www.silvertonappeal.com Wednesday, November 29, 2017 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SETTING A NEW STANDARD Santiam team impresses doubters with its first state playoff run since 1994 Santiam's Dustin Keys (55) holds up the OSAA 2A second-place trophy after the championship game against Monroe on Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium. Monroe won the title 36-22. PHOTOS BY MOLLY J. SMITH / STATESMAN JOURNAL “Basically with all this, BILL POEHLER SALEM STATESMAN JOURNAL we’re just getting our school USA TODAY NETWORK HILLSBORO – For a couple decades, people looked past boys sports teams from Santiam High School. There were a bunch of 4-5 football seasons, some two-win boys basketball teams and the most notable happening was when the 2012 baseball team forfeit- ed the rest of its season three games into the season. A group of athletes is changing the conversation about the sports teams from the Mill City school. Santiam’s football team significantly exceeded expectations this season by go- ing from the No. 5 seed in the OSAA Class 2A state playoffs to the state champion- ship game for the first time since 1994. The Wolverines lost to Monroe 36-22 Saturday afternoon at Hillsboro Stadi- um, but when the season is looked at through the prism of Santiam football teams and boys basketball teams playing in state championship games in the same calendar year, it marks a remarkable turnaround. “I definitely think it’s a good impact on our school,” said sophomore quarter- back Colin Thurston, who was 8 of 11 passing for 142 yards and two touch- downs. “Basically with all this, we’re just get- ting our school on the map again. It’s been a while since it’s been this success- ful, and it’s definitely been a pleasure.” Over the years, Santiam has had spo- radic success in boys sports, and has been known more for its prowess in girls sports. The football team won state champi- onships in 1971 and 1972 and was last in the state championship game in 1994 pri- or to Saturday. The boys basketball team won the 1974 state championship and was in the title game in 1976. Santiam’s current football success on the map again. It’s been a while since it’s been this successful, and it’s definitely been a pleasure.” COLIN THURSTON SANTIAM SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK Top: Santiam's Trevor Tinney (16) carries the ball in the first quarter of the OSAA 2A State Championship match. Bottom: Santiam's Trevor Whitmire, right, celebrates as Brody Davidson (33) runs in for a touchdown in during the game. has coincided with Dustin McGee’s ten- ure as head coach. The team went 4-5 in his first year at the school in 2015 and in 2016 went 7-4, made the state playoffs for the eighth time in school history and made it to the quarterfinal round. To go 11-2 and make it to the state championship game in 2017 is remark- able after a lot of 4-5 seasons. “Santiam athletics are on their way back up, boys and girls,” junior lineman Dustin Keys said. “Coach McGee, I got to give him all the credit in the world. He’s brought big things and great things to the community.” When McGee arrived at the Mill City school from Arkansas from the first time in 2015, outsiders warned him about what he was in for. They told him that Santiam hadn’t had much success and the athletes don’t give much effort. He was determined to change that by changing the culture. And his team that made the state championship game had just five seniors and was loaded with juniors and sopho- mores. “There is no reason that Santiam High School can’t been good for years to See STANDARD, Page 2B State parks pass is a sweet deal OUTDOORS HENRY MILLER If you or your friends visit Oregon Parks and Recreation Department sites that have day-use parking fees more than five times during a year, this is a sweet deal. During December, the department is knocking $5 off the regular $30 price tag on an annual state parks pass. Just 25 state park recreation sites re- quire the fee out of the 197 administered by the department, from lighthouses and viewpoints to scenic corridors and way- sides. But the pay-to-play park sites are among the most popular, and many are handy to Salem, such as Detroit Lake State Recreation Area, Silver Falls State Park, Champoeg State Heritage Area and Willamette Mission State Park. And the pass is transferable if your family has more than one vehicle. Although if you’re like me, you forget to transfer it between the truck and the SUV. Or back again for that matter. The passes are available at most state parks, or by using your credit card and purchasing by phone (800) 551-6949 or online at the State Parks Store secure website at https://store.oregonstateparks.org/ Annual passes, along with gift certif- icates for state parks, also are available at department headquarters, 725 Sum- mer Street NE, Suite C in Salem. Now I’ll let you in on a little secret, The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is offering a discount on the annual state parks pass. Willamette Mission State Park is one of the parks that charges day use fees. ZACH URNESS/STATESMAN JOURNAL RE: Those gift certificates. The department also offers a two- year day-use permit. The cost is $50, and you get that price no matter when you buy it. So you get the equivalent of the $5 one-year discount for each of the two years. The kicker is that if the recipient is a See PARKS, Page 2B