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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2018)
PAGE C12, KEIZERTIMES FOOTBALL PREVIEW, AUGUST 31, 2018 McKAY ROYAL SCOTS KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley McKay will have many new faces in 2018 after graduating 35 players off of last season’s team. McKay must replace large chunk of varsity players By HERB SWETT Of the Keizertimes Head coach Josh Riddell sounded optimistic about McKay’s football season in this fi rst year of realignment. For football only, the Royal Scots will drop to 5A classifi cation, playing in the Mid-Willamette Conference. They will be in the 6A Mountain Valley Conference for their other sports. Riddell, in his third season as McKay’s head coach, had a 1-8 season in 2017 but before joining McKay had several winning seasons as an assistant coach at West Salem. There are many new Scot faces, 35 of last year’s varsity players having graduated. They included most of the fi rst string. This year, Riddell said he is fi nding “decent depth with the up-front guys.” He sees his biggest problem as the lack of Friday night experience but says the players who have been playing Mondays on the junior varsity seem to be catching on well. While McKay has an open competition at most positions, Riddell expects Zair Ku-Beiza to start on the defensive line and at tight end and Rafael Aguilar to be a fi rst-string linebacker. Senior Jose Camarena, an All-Greater Valley Conference honorable mention selection last season at linebacker, also returns. Riddell called the switch to 5A “a good deal for us.” He said that in football, the Mid-Willamette Conference is the best 5A league in the state. Four of its schools, he noted, were in the state semifi nals last season. Riddell is his own offensive coordinator and Caleb Singleton the defensive coordinator. Darrell Hall, who coaches receivers, is also the JV head coach. Coaching the offensive line is Duane Riddell, the head coach’s father, who was a head coach for many years. Greg LaFountaine coaches tight ends and wings and Marvin Mason running backs. Defensive coaches are Kenny Ramirez, linebackers; Steve Baker, linebackers; Bryan Huber, cornerbacks; and Singleton, safeties. For the freshmen, Adam Vasas is head coach and offensive coordinator, and Juan Cervantes is defensive coordinator. The varsity depth chart was still changing every day but Riddell plans to play many juniors and seniors this year. The Royal Scots have about 130 football players in their program between the varsity, JV and freshman teams. “I like the intensity, the efforts the guys have been showing,” Riddell said. He noted that his players showed their commitment during the off-season. The other schools in the Mid-Willamette Conference are Central, Corvallis, Crescent Valley, Dallas, Lebanon, North Salem, Silverton, South Albany, and West Albany. North Salem, which also was in the 6A league last year, will play its entire sports schedule in the 5A league. SCHEDULE Aug. 31 vs West Albany Sept. 7 at Central Sept. 14 vs South Albany Sept. 21 at Lebanon Sept. 28 vs North Salem Oct. 5 at Corvallis Oct. 12 vs Dallas Oct. 19 at Silverton Oct. 26 at Crescent Valley WE SUPPORT OUR CELTICS! WHAT’S MY HOME WORTH? Is now the best time to sell? Call Ken and Carolyn for a FREE home valuation. If selling, we help you paint, pressure wash, move you, and help you with staging your home! If buying, there are two of us always available to meet your needs and help you throughout the buying process. We go above and beyond what most Realtors do! Ken Ream 503 - 881- 5335 Carolyn Ream 503 -551-3656 FIND OUT MORE. PLEASE CALL, EMAIL US AT kenream@johnlscott.com Expect the unexpected We’ll fi nd the right auto, home, life and commercial insurance to meet your personal needs BEST OF LUCK McNARY CELTICS! LET OUR FAMILY HELP YOUR FAMILY — CALL US AT 503.588.0095 — 2735 Liberty St NE NOW SCHEDULING seasonal furnace & heat pump maintenance “Technicians were very polite, professional and on time. Had the right meters, tools and experience. They explained in detail what they were doing, and why. I am very pleased and satisfied with the work. I highly recommend this service.” — Angie’s List Reviewer CALL US TODAY 503-304 -1320 3816 River Rd. N - Keizer CCB #193064
