PAGE 6, MCNARY FALL SPORTS PREVIEW, SEPTEMBER 2016
Local broadcasters make predictions
KBZY broadcaster Mark Gilman and Craig
Spivey of CCTV give their take on what to
expect this upcoming football season.
Keizertimes: What are you most looking
forward to this season?
Gilman: This marks the start of the
fourth decade of prep football broadcasts for
me personally—a milestone of sorts. Call me
sentimental. The game has changed a lot in
that time, but still generates the same sort of
excitement that it did when I first started.
Spivey: The thing that is fun about
high school football in general, and the
Greater Valley Conference in particular, is
the unpredictability. If you go in to a season
thinking you know exactly how things are
going to shake out, you’re wrong. That said,
one of the things I am really looking forward
to is watching Josh Riddell coach the McKay
Royal Scots. Josh’s first head coaching job at
his alma mater. The former all-league offensive
player of the year comes from a great coaching
heritage from his dad Duane, and had exposure
to some great football minds during his college
playing career. McKay is a program that could
use a spark, and I think Josh is going to bring
some great energy to the league.
KT: What’s the biggest question you have
losing so much
talent at the skill
positions? Is this the
year North Salem
can take that next
step? Which team
outside of Salem/
Keizer will make
an impact? I think
for me, it’s can
a team from the
GVC get back to
prominence on a
state level. Last year
three league teams
were ousted in the
first round of the
Mark Ginman
Craig Spivey
playoffs, the other
two were bounced
in the second round. While West Salem has
about the upcoming season?
had success outside of the league, the balance
Gilman: The favorites, as they have been
of the league has not been as strong. At one
the last few years, are South Salem, West Salem,
point, not long ago, the league was very deep.
and Sprague. The question is still: which one
I look forward to see if that kind of depth can
will ultimately win the GVC title? Every
be realized once again.
season, it is a horse race. South Salem has
KT: Look into your crystal ball. Who are
worn the crown most recently, but there are
some of your favorites to win Greater Valley
no guarantees.
Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of
Spivey: Most every program in the league
the Year?
has questions. Can South Salem respond after
Gilman: He missed last season due to
injury, but West Salem running back Manny
Bravo could surprise a lot of folks and be
the offensive player of the year. I like him
and South Salem running back Francisco
Ramirez-Perez as the favorites to compete for
that honor. Both run hard and normally have
fundamentally sound blockers out in front of
them. On defense, McNary’s Kolby Barker is a
blue chip player who has the potential to take
home the DPOY honors.
Spivey: There are several very good
returning defensive players. As for potential
defensive players of the year I think you have
to start with Kolby Barker of McNary. He
has the size and speed that has college scouts
drooling. He is a real game changer. Behind
Barker you have to like Junior Sandoval at
North Salem, a very gutsy player that is very
good in run support from his safety position.
And finally, both Matthew Jarding from
McKay and Anthony Zellner of West Salem
are returning all-league performers.
On the offensive side, the league lost some
incredible talent from a year ago. But I like
Francisco Ramirez-Perez from South Salem.
He is that tough single back that runs with
great balance. The kind of back Coach Scott
Pnease see BROADCASTERS, Page 6