For a team breaking in a new quarterback and five sophomore starters, it's hard for Silverton to ask for more from a football season opener than in last week's 21-14 win at Coeur d'Alene, a semifinalist in Idaho's big-school classification in 2024.
The Foxes were far from perfect – committing three turnovers -- but they refused to buckle each time the Vikings seized momentum.
“That's a great win,” coach Dan Lever said. “We're very young. We made some really young mistakes in the first half, turning the ball over and missing assignments. The nerves were in play. But we kind of settled down and got it done.”
Now Silverton, No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 5A coaches poll, will get a taste of top 5A competition Friday at 7 p.m. when it plays host to No. 5 Thurston (1-0), which is coming off a 48-17 win at Caldera. The Foxes and Colts haven't met since the 2021 state final, won by Silverton 26-20.
“I know it's going to be a physical game,” Lever said. “We're not going to be able to make as many mistakes as we did on Friday. There's not a glaring weakness for Thurston that stands out. It's a pretty solid football team from top to bottom.”
Silverton senior quarterback Chase Dominguez, a transfer from North Salem, had a solid debut. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He threw scoring strikes of one yard to junior Lincoln Teeney and 23 yards to senior Sutton Kuenzi, the latter breaking a 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter.
Lever said Dominguez overcame early nerves and settled into a groove.
“As a play-caller, him and I were adjusting to each other,” Lever said. “In the second half, he did an awesome job and really kind of got us going. He put together some really nice drives and finished them. I'm really pleased with his development. He's got a really good football IQ.”
Dominguez is filling the spot vacated by the graduation of Sawyer Teeney, a 5A second-team pick in 2024. Like Teeney, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Dominguez is a dual threat, although he hurt Coeur d'Alene primary with his arm.
“He keeps his eyes down field,” Lever said. “He's got a great pocket presence. He has that escape-ability with that internal clock. It's hard to teach that.”
Silverton's receivers -- Kuenzi (three catches, 55 yards) and seniors Gavin Aguero (six catches, 54 yards) and Logan Uitto (five catches, 65 yards) – came through against Coeur d'Alene. Uitto returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Sophomore tailback Keysean Davis rushed for 62 yards on 16 carries. He was bottled up in the first half, but found some running room in the second half behind a line that returned one starter (junior center Kane Mack) and starts two sophomores (left guard Mark Bailey, right tackle Cal Kofstad).
“Keysean did a great job of being patient,” Lever said. “It's hard sometimes when you get tackled at the line of scrimmage. You get frustrated.”
Silverton graduated all but three starters on each side of the ball from a team that reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual champion Wilsonville 32-29. Among the new starters are five sophomores in Davis, Bailey, Kofstad and linebackers Ryder VanDeweghe and Zach Purdy.
“Some years, you're starting five sophomores and you're terrified, and I'm not terrified,” Lever said. “These guys can all play. They're going to be really good. Really high ceiling.”
The Foxes also have a sophomore kicker in Eli Little, who can “kick it a mile,” according to Lever.
Thurston, which went 7-3 and lost in the first round of the playoffs last year, also had a promising start by routing Caldera.
Colts junior quarterback Emmit Distefano completed 13 of 24 passes for 213 yards and four touchdown with one interception. He tossed two scoring passes each to sophomore Bodie Bonar (eight catches, 146 yards) and senior Caleb Jones.
Thurston rushed for 228 of its 441 yards. Senior Justin Fisher rushed for 159 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries. Senior Cruz Gray had 11 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns and had three of the team's nine sacks.
Other top matchups in Week 1:
Friday
6A No. 8 Sheldon (0-0) at 6A No. 1 Lake Oswego (1-0), 7 p.m.: The Lakers supplanted Three Rivers League rival West Linn atop the 6A coaches poll this week after pummeling South Medford 40-3 in their opener, without star tailback LaMarcus Bell (hamstring). They hope Bell is back to take on the Irish, semifinalists last year, in a rivalry with lots of playoff history.
6A No. 4 Tualatin (1-0) at 6A No. 6 Jesuit (0-0), 7 p.m.: Jesuit looks to avenge a 54-19 loss at Tualatin in the season opener last year. The Timberwolves dominated Clackamas 49-14 last week as quarterbacks Owen Hagerman and Carter Powers combined to pass for 407 yards and four touchdowns.
5A No. 7 Churchill (1-0) at 5A No. 8 Dallas (0-0), 7 p.m.: Churchill is riding the momentum of a 34-7 win over reigning 4A champion Marist Catholic. Lukas Babbitt, an all-state linebacker, shined in his debut as primary ball carrier by rushing for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
4A No. 3 Marist Catholic (0-1) at 4A No. 5 Tillamook (1-0), 7 p.m.: Last week, Tillamook paid back Estacada for last year's season-opening loss by downing the Rangers 24-6. Now, the Cheesemakers get a chance to do the same against the Spartans, who rolled them 42-13 a year ago.
3A No. 2 Banks (0-0) at 3A No. 6 Santiam Christian (0-0), 7 p.m.: Banks, which featuers the explosive combination of quarterback Lane Gilbert and receiver Jarrett Martin, meets the Eagles in the opener for both teams. Last year, Banks defeated Santiam Christian 35-9, the most points the Eagles gave up all season.
2A No. 1 St. Paul (1-0) vs. 2A No. 2 Heppner (1-0) at Dufur HS, 7:30 p.m.: Reigning state champion St. Paul beat Oakland 28-22 last week in a rematch of last year's state final. This week, the Buckaroos take on the Mustangs, a team they defeated 18-12 in the semifinals in 2024.
2A No. 6 Lowell (0-0) at 2A No. 3 Oakland (0-1), 7 p.m.: Oakland outlasted Lowell 42-35 in a shootout in last year's opener, avenging a 32-18 loss in the 2023 semifinals. The Oakers will try to bounce back from a tough 28-22 loss to St. Paul.
1A-6 No. 5 South Wasco County (1-0) at 1A-6 No. 1 Harper Charter (0-0), 2 p.m. MT: Harper Charter was the state runner-up last season, beating South Wasco County in two regular-season meetings, including 53-20 for the top seed in Special District 1. The Redsides went on to make the semifinals.
1A-6 No. 4 Powers (1-0) at 1A-6 No. 3 Eddyville Charter (0-0), 3:30 p.m.: The reigning state champion Cruisers are shorthanded this season with eight players, but found a way to overcome Alsea 45-40 in the opener. Eddyville started 8-0 last season before losing to Powers 51-6 in a Special District 2 crossover playoff.
Saturday
1A-8 No. 2 Crosspoint Christian (0-0) at 1A-8 No. 1 Adrian (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: Adrian, the state champion last season, extended its winning streak to 13 last week by dropping Tri-Valley (Idaho) 44-14. The Antelopes must contend with Crosspoint Christian receiver Trey Johnston (1,006 receiving yards, 20 touchdown catches in 2024).
jerryu@osaa.org
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