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New-look Cavemen may seem familiar By Kris Henry Updated: Sep 02, 2022 12:41 PM A A First-year Grants Pass coach Page hopes returners can spark playoff push GRANTS PASS — Six months into his return to Grants Pass High and it all still seems surreal for first-year head coach Brad Page. A 2009 graduate and former offensive lineman for the Cavemen, Page said he’s not sure when it will sink in that he’ll be making his first run as a head coach for his hometown program. “Sometimes it’s just weird, like, I went to school here and had so many great memories here, it’s pretty surreal still this whole time,” said Page, who was hired in February after most recently serving as the director of football operations and quality control coach at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. “It’s awesome,” he added of being back in GP. “It’s been busy — it's a lot to run a football program — but it’s a good thing, it’s fun. We’ve got a good staff and I love the players and we have good community support, so I’m just excited to actually get into the season and play and focus on actual football.” That focus will be on trying to build the Cavemen back up to a conference title contender, something that has been a bit of a struggle in recent years with no more than two league wins in any of the last four seasons. Grants Pass last won a conference title in 2014, and the goal for this season is to be in the top half of the league to secure an automatic state playoff berth. “I think these guys have a lot of experience and they have some football IQ, which makes it easier for us to coach them obviously,” said Page. “They’re very hungry to compete and to win. I think they’ve kind of got a sour taste in their mouth, and rightfully so. I think they feel like they kind of underperformed last season and they’re hungry to prove themselves.” The Cavemen are coming off a 1-8 campaign that saw them go winless in the SWC but return the bulk of their roster that took the field in 2021, including all-conference players Trevor Reeves, Jackson Tunick and Parker Jarvis. “I think a lot of what I’ve seen on film,” said Page, “I don’t think the record reflected how good our team is and was (last year). Our senior and junior classes are full of talent. We don’t have a ton of depth necessarily, but that’s pretty standard once you start getting to those high classes where less and less kids are playing.” Often with a new coach comes a new approach to the offensive and defensive schemes, but Page said he isn’t out to reinvent the wheel, just hopefully give his players the tools they need to propel it a little better. An offensive lineman for GP back when the bulk of the offense — a successful one at that — was run Criss Bowen left and then Criss Bowen right, Page has that element close to his heart despite being part of some “air raid” attacks as a college and high school assistant (Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Arizona). “I like to use the whole field but I think that we need to get back to some of those roots with running because I think that’s what made GP so special was our ability to run the ball back in the day,” said Page. “That’s definitely going to be a focus, but I don’t want to be heavy one way or the other. I want to be as balanced as possible and force the defense to use the whole field. I think the way it’s designed, and as long as we’re doing it correctly and can stay healthy, our offense can be really explosive that way.” Reeves definitely gives GP a good place to start, with the 5-11, 170-pounder playing a big role down the stretch last season to finish with 579 yards and seven touchdowns on 103 carries. “When I watched the film I was really impressed by Trevor Reeves,” said Page. “He’s such a hard runner, and it's all been confirmed as I’ve seen him in person. He’s just all in with everything we’re doing. He’s the first one installing things on Hudl and leading our team. If he stays healthy, he’s going to have a great season.” Tunick was the third-leading receiver in the SWC with 563 yards and three TDs on 44 catches and expects to be a top target again for senior quarterback Jace Blanchard, who took some lumps in his first year as a starter but has already made a good impression on his new coach. Blanchard completed 139 of 257 passes (54%) for 1,450 yards with six TDs against 10 interceptions. “Jace Blanchard has been really awesome,” said Page. “His mechanics have improved a lot and he’s understanding our concepts and reads and progressions. He’s been such a great leader and impressive this summer.” “I give him a lot of credit,” the coach added of Blanchard. “He’s learning a whole new offense and he’s embraced it and jumped right in and is excited and wants more. He doesn't just know his position, he knows every position on the field, and that’s what’s really important. He has a strong desire to be great.” The front-line blocking of returning senior linemen like Jarvis, who sets a formidable tone at 6-3 and 300 pounds, and Kain Robinson (6-2, 242) and senior tight end JT Davis will help with that road-grader mentality near and dear to Page’s heart. Seniors Aiden Dietz and Malachi Kinyon and junior Luke Morgan offer perimeter options, with junior Troy Osborne also expected to make a big impact this year after recently committing to play baseball at Sacramento State. A strong defensive line crew, led by Jarvis, Robinson and Davis, will be taken advantage of as GP utilizes a 4-3 scheme. Niko Madamba, Bruxton Leair, Griffin Davis, Osborne and Gage Blay (also slated as backup RB) pace the linebacker corps, with Raiden Takahashi at safety complementing the speedy Tunick, Dietz and Kinyon. “I think we have a good culture we’re building here and the guys are buying into that,” said Page, who was a senior when GP snapped Sheldon’s eight-year, 57-game conference win streak. “I want us to be a tough team and a team that plays with class, I think those kinds of intangibles are important. How much players want to step up and lead will be what makes us go from an average to a great team.” CAVEMEN HEAD COACH Brad Page (first year) GENERAL INFORMATION ASSISTANTS: Scott Wakefield (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Wes Cox (offensive line), Jameson Davis (defensive line), John Tunick (receivers), Chris Martinez (quarterbacks), David Zauher (defensive backs), Nate Scott (JV head coach/running backs), Tyler Amaral (linemen), Josh Merritt (JV defensive coordinator), Tanner Marval (freshman head coach), Brian Richard (freshman), Ben Davis (freshman), Brandon Montez (freshman), Chad Guthrie (freshman). 2021 LEAGUE RECORD: 0-4 (fifth, SWC). 2021 OVERALL RECORD: 1-8. PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: Tenth. 2021 RESULTS Grants PassOpponents 7Bend 27 20West Salem 42 0McNary 41 28Shasta 20 14Roseburg 56 19South Medford 31 18Beaverton 36 7North Medford 51 10Sheldon 38 RETURNING STARTERS OFFENSE (7): Quarterback Jace Blanchard (6-1, 160, sr.), running back Trevor Reeves (5-10, 190, sr.), receiver Jackson Tunick (6-0, 170, sr.), lineman Parker Jarvis (6-4, 290, sr.), lineman Kain Robinson (6-3, 255, sr.), lineman David Hang (5-11, 215, sr.), receiver Troy Osborne (6-3, 182, jr.). DEFENSE (6): Lineman Parker Jarvis, lineman JT Davis (6-3, 190, sr.), cornerback Jackson Tunick, linebacker Troy Osborne, defensive back Raiden Takahashi (5-11, 165, sr.), cornerback Malachi Kinyon (5-8, 151, sr.). OTHER NOTABLES Receiver/defensive back Aiden Dietz (6-4, 175, sr.), receiver/linebacker Niko Madamba (5-9, 155, sr.), running back/linebacker Gage Blay (5-11, 180, jr.), tight end/linebacker Luke Morgan (6-4, 185, jr.), lineman Connor Johnston (6-2, 200, so.), receiver/defensive back Hayden Kiser (6-0, 150, so.), running back/linebacker Pete Amatoi (6-0, 205, jr.), receiver/defensive back Cole Carnes (6-2, 175, jr.), linebacker/fullback Bruxton Leair (5-10, 167, jr.), linebacker/running back Griffin Davis (5-9, 157, jr.). 2022 SCHEDULE Sept. 2at Shasta (CA), 7 p.m. Sept. 9CALDERA, 7 p.m. Sept. 17at South Salem, 3 p.m. Sept. 23WEST SALEM, 7 p.m. Sept. 30NORTH MEDFORD, 7 p.m. Oct. 7at North Salem, 7 p.m. Oct. 14SOUTH MEDFORD, 7 p.m. Oct. 21at Sheldon, 7 p.m. Oct. 28at Roseburg, 7 p.m. Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or via Twitter @Kris_Henry Senior Jace Blanchard returns at quarterback to help guide Grants Pass this season. MT file