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Veteran Challengers loaded for bear By Tim Trower for the Mail Tribune Updated: Sep 02, 2022 11:19 AM A A 9 View all photos Cascade Christian buoyed by huge group of returners in expanded league Cascade Christian has dominated conference play for years, but this season, in the wake of realignment across the Oregon football landscape, the Challengers will have an uncommonly large number of league opponents coming after them. Fortunately, Cascade Christian has an uncommonly large number of players returning from its state quarterfinal squad of 2021. Thirteenth-year head coach Jon Gettman brings back nine of 11 starters on each side of the ball, setting his team up for a serious run at not only the championship of the swollen Far West League, but the whole of Class 3A. “I can’t think of a group of kids where we’ve had this many returning starters,” said Gettman, noting that the Challengers welcomed back a large contingent in 2017, the last time they won state. “But it wasn’t nine on both sides of the ball,” he added, “so it’s a good thing.” The Far West League, or Special District 3, has ballooned to 10 football teams and includes in-city rival St. Mary’s and nearby Phoenix, formerly of the Class 4A Skyline Conference. North Valley, another Skyline school, is also in the FWL. Every regular season game will be a league contest. Last year, Cascade Christian played only three league games and filled out its remaining slate with a brutally difficult collection of nonleague opponents. The Challengers went 5-4 overall – with all of the setbacks coming against state finalists – and were 2-1 in league. Their FWL loss was to South Umpqua, 28-26, and was only the second defeat in Cascade Christian’s past 42 league games. The other losses were twice by a total of nine points to a Siuslaw team that beat South Umpqua for the 3A crown, and 41-16 to Marist, the 4A runner-up. There are pros and cons to a robust league, said Gettman. “We enjoy playing out of league,” he said. “It just gives you some different matchups that you wouldn’t otherwise get. For us, we’ve always enjoyed those types of situations, but we’ve done it before (played a healthy league schedule). Obviously, you’ve got to get ready to go from the beginning. “It comes down to, it’s football. It’s a good opportunity, you still get nine games in.” While the final record wasn’t as sparkly as past seasons and the end of the road, a 28-23 loss to Siuslaw in the quarterfinals, came earlier than the Challengers are accustomed to, they weren’t things Gettman lamented. He’s guided Cascade Christian to a 110-28 mark over a dozen seasons. Four times the campaigns culminated in title game appearances, resulting in two championships. The Challengers made the semifinals two other times. “There’s nothing really where you can look back and say, man, we really blew our opportunity here or there,” he said. “You look back, and we got a lot of kids a lot of experience, so we come back this year with nine returners on offense and defense, a junior class of 10 kids and a senior class of 10 kids. Those kids know the program.” As with last year, the interior lines figure to be Cascade Christian’s strength. Four of five offensive linemen return, led by seniors Liam Benade (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) and Matthew Moses (6-2, 320). They were first-team all-league selections on offense and defense, respectively. Center Daniel Nering (6-3, 250) and tackle Jaxon Turituri fortify the offensive front. “They’re really strong,” said Gettman. “Again, that’s going to be the foundation of what we do, using their physicality and experience. Those four have been starting since their sophomore years. It’s fun to see the change and difference in confidence they have entering their senior year.” Most of the skill players they paved the way for last season will again benefit from their work. Senior quarterback Keith Reed made his debut as a starter in 2021, throwing for 1,585 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. He also contributed with his legs, sharing the team lead with 10 rushing scores. One of Reed’s best performances came in the first meeting against eventual champion Siuslaw, when he completed 20 of 29 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also ran for a team-high 58 yards. “Keith is great,” said Gettman. “He desires to understand the game. He’s always asking questions, and he meets with me on Thursday mornings. He started it: ‘Hey, coach, can I meet with you?’ So he has that experience and that desire to grow and get better.” Reed has the arm to get the ball downfield, and there awaiting his launches will be returning receivers Tyler Almasy and Peyton Maurer. Almasy led Cascade Christian last season with 538 receiving yards on 34 catches, including four touchdowns. Leading rusher Triston Wallace returns. He ran for 661 yards, including 16 times for 114 yards and a score in the season-ending loss to Siuslaw. Brody Sample was a dual threat carrying and catching the ball and returns in that role, while Cole Shields and Kameron Rague, returning starters on defense, will regularly factor into the ground attack. The rotation will keep the players fresher on both sides of the ball. “That’s what we were able to do toward the end of last year,” said Gettman, “and it really helped them perform better.” Linemen Benade, Moses and Turituri, along with linebackers Wallace, Shields and Brendon Vanwart, will form a stiff front wall for opponents. Almasy and Rague will key the secondary. “If you can win at the line of scrimmage,” said Gettman, “that makes a world of difference. Defensively, it could be a very strong group up front that we’re looking to build from.” The Challengers begin the season with two home games. They don’t meet defending league champion South Umpqua until the regular season finale. CHALLENGERS HEAD COACH Jon Gettman (13th year, 110-28) GENERAL INFORMATION ASSISTANTS: Mike Schaan (defensive coordinator/linemen), Jeff Olson (linebackers), Sam Carpenter (defensive backs), Joe Hagler (running backs), Matt Hagert (receivers), Andy Scaglione (JV head coach/defensive backs/receivers), Steve Furst (quarterbacks), Ryan Sample (JV assistant/receivers), Darren Turituri (linemen/JV defense), Marty Maurer (tight ends), Jim Lockwood (running backs/linebackers), Tony McDougal (linebackers). 2021 LEAGUE RECORD: 2-1 (second, FWL). 2021 OVERALL RECORD: 5-4. PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: First. 2021 RESULTS Cascade Christian Opponents at La Pinecanceled 44Yreka (CA) 0 16Marist 41 34Siuslaw 38 35St. Mary’s 7 28Springfield 0 26South Umpqua 28 68Sutherlin 6 State Playoffs 40Junction City 30 23Siuslaw 28 RETURNING STARTERS OFFENSE (9): Receiver Tyler Almasy (5-8, 170, sr.), guard/tackle Liam Benade (6-2, 245, sr.), guard Matthew Moses (6-2, 320, sr.), center Daniel Nering (6-3, 250, sr.), quarterback Keith Reed (6-3, 185, sr.), receiver/running back Brody Sample (5-10, 170, sr.), tackle Jaxon Turituri (6-4, 215, sr.), running back Triston Wallace (6-0, 195, sr.), receiver Peyton Maurer (6-3, 170, jr.). DEFENSE (9): End Liam Benade, nose tackle Matthew Moses, end Jaxon Turituri, safety Tyler Almasy, cornerback Brody Sample, linebacker Triston Wallace, linebacker Cole Shields (6-1, 210, sr.), safety Kameron Rague (6-2, 180, so.), linebacker Brendon Vanwart (5-10, 170, jr.). OTHER NOTABLES Linebacker Bryson Jackson (6-2, 160, sr.), receiver/defensive back Kristofer Fralich (5-11, 165, jr.), receiver/lineman/linebacker Mason Hoffman (6-2, 180, jr.), receiver Kellan Kleker (6-0, 140, jr.), lineman Jack Knips (6-3, 185, jr.), quarterback/linebacker Ashton Moody (5-11, 165, jr.), receiver/defensive back Dylan Westlake (5-8, 135, jr.), receiver/defensive back Luke Wilson (5-6, 130, jr.), lineman Zack Cook (5-7, 245, so.). 2022 SCHEDULE Sept. 2at Douglas, 7 p.m. Sept. 9SUTHERLIN, 7 p.m. Sept. 16at Brookings-Harbor, 7 p.m. Sept. 23COQUILLE, 7 p.m. Sept. 30at North Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 7PHOENIX, 7 p.m. Oct. 14at Lakeview, 7 p.m. Oct. 21at St. Mary’s, 7 p.m. Oct. 28SOUTH UMPQUA, 7 p.m. Tim Trower is a freelance writer. To comment on this article, write to [email protected]. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian senior quarterback Keith Reed threw for nearly 1,600 yards during his first season as the Challengers' signal-caller last season. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian's Kameron Rague runs the football during a recent practice. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Players huddle up during a recent Cascade Christian football practice. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian football practice. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian football practice. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian football practice. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian's Kameron Rague is one of the many playmakers the Challengers have back as they look to claim the Far West League title. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian football practice. Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune. Cascade Christian football practice.