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Salem gridders ready for season
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Salem linemen get a workout during practice earlier this month. The team, led by first-year coach Parker Salowich, host Pinckney in the season opener at 7 p.m. tomorrow.“So far, so good,” said Parker Salowich, head coach of the Salem Rocks football team.
The first week of practice is over and he said he likes what he sees, so far and hopes he can maintain that through this week and on opening night against Pinckney at home Friday.
“The kids are buying into what we are selling them,” he said. “Everyone is showing up and working hard.”
It hasn’t been easy, though. The Rocks have yet to practice at the high school, using Pioneer Middle School as a makeshift facility.
Salowich said he was pleased with the overall turnout for the program. The number rose to about 120 players on the three squads—varsity, junior varsity and freshmen—despite the slight decline in varsity numbers, he said. He also had to order 17 more helmets for this season.
The varsity teams stands at about 43 players and includes several returning as seniors in leadership roles.
Jon Wilson will take over the signal calling as the teams quarterback.
“He has good leadership ability, a nice arm, makes good decisions and has a really good presence out on the field,” Salowich said.“He was just one of those players that we saw and knew that he was going to be our quarterback.”
Salowich said the offense is an I-formation base package with some West Coast principles. Junior fullback Brandt Thomas will get the bulk of the load in the backfield while playing linebacker on the defensive end.“I don’t see him leaving the field…ever,” Salowich said, laughing. “I might even have him bring out the water. He’s one of those players you wish you had 20 more just like him.”
Wilson and Thomas will have a solid and experienced line to run behind and protect them. Leading on the line is 6-foot-6, 225-pound senior lineman Brian Baumgart.
“He’s everything you want an offensive tackle to be,” Salowich said. “He moves great for a big kid and he’s just a good kid—very authentic.”
Senior David O’Leary, who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 228, and senior center Andrew Kirby (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) will help push opposing defenses out of the way for Thomas and Wilson.
“We’re going to do a lot of different things with our center,” Salowich said. “Kirby is a wonderful kid. He’s smart, picks up offense right away and has nice command of the huddle. We’ve asked a lot of him and he’s stepped up to do it.”
Sharing time in at running back will be senior Royce Dickson and sophomore Anthony Mullins, Salowich said.Salowich said he is impressed most with the senior leadership on the team but they have to take the next step.
“The leadership is there,” he said. “Now we have to develop a culture of success. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Salowich is coming from a wining school. He was the offensive coordinator for the North Farmington Raiders that made the playoffs last year. Salem went 3-6 last year and didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
“These kids are ready to go,” Salowich said.
Salem kicks off the season at home against the Pinckney Pirates at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
