PAGE B14, KEIZERTIMES FOOTBALL PREVIEW, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
SPRAGUE OLYMPIANS
KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings
The 2019 Sprague Olympians team will be striving for a better year, despite having one of the most diffi cult schedules in the state.
Sprague hoping for bounce-back season
By MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Since Jay Minyard took over
the Sprague football program
in 2012, the Olympians have
consistently been one of the
best teams in the Salem area,
making three appearances in
the state-quarterfi nals over the
last seven years.
Last year, however, Sprague
suffered one of their worst
seasons in recent history.
The Olympians lost their
fi rst six games of 2018 for the
fi rst time since 1986 before
fi nishing the season with a 2-7
record.
Part of the reason for
Sprague’s lack of success last
season was their brutal non-
conference schedule. The
Olympians took on Liberty,
Lakeridge, Central Catholic
and Tigard in the fi rst month
of the 2018 season — all four
teams fi nished with a top 11
state ranking. Sprague also had
a ton of youth and experienced
numerous injuries over the
course of the season.
Sprague still has a limited
amount of seniors as they
head into the 2019 season,
but after winning two of
their fi nal three games to end
2018, Minyard is encouraged
about the the crew that he has
coming back.
“We’re
really
excited
right now. It’s been a great
offseason,” Minyard said. “We
have had one of, if not the
best, summers we’ve had since
I’ve been here when it comes
to attitudes and efforts.”
As far as their schedule is
concerned, Sprague will have
their work cut out for them
once again in 2019, playing in
four non-league road games
that will come against teams
that are projected to fi nish
in the top 15 — Liberty,
Sherwood, Central Catholic
and Tigard.
The Olympians will also
have to take on defending
Mountain Valley Conference
champion McNary in their
fi rst league contest of the
season.
“I want to make sure the
kids understand that our
schedule is tough and we
could have a season where
we go through some ups and
downs. Either way, we’re going
to continue to get better each
week and see where we’re
at by the end of the season,”
Minyard said. “It’s not about
the win necessarily. In the big
picture, you’d like to win, but
it’s really about teaching kids
how to give their best effort
at all times and feeling good
about themselves because
RE_habilitate
RE_dedicate
RE_develop
#whatsyourRE ?
This all-new state of the art program in West Salem is the region’s
only REsource for all things injury prevention and athletic
performance: Physical Therapy, personal training, and
professional-sport caliber performance assessment.
The RE_Building by NWRA
1025 2nd St NW
Salem, OR 97304
503.371.0779
www.rebuildingsalem.northwestrehab.com