A new-look Salem High School football team will begin preparations for the upcoming season in earnest next week.
The Salem Football Team Camp, for kids entering grades 9-12, will be held July 18-22 and July 25-29 at Schuchardt Stadium. Camp times will be from 7-10 a.m.
In addition, the middle school camp, for kids entering grades 7-8, will be from 6-8 p.m. July 18-22.
Campers should bring their own water bottles. Equipment will be handed out for the high school camp. No equipment will be needed for the middle school camp.
Cost is $30 per camper. Persons can stop by the high school for a camp form. For more information call 573-729-6641 and ask for Salem football head coach Bryson Barnes.
The first practices for the high school fall season will be the week of Aug. 8, from 7-10 a.m. Monday through Friday. The Tiger Blue-White Scrimmage is slated for Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at Schuchardt Stadium.
Salem will participate in the Sullivan Jamboree Aug. 19 on the turf field at Sullivan High School.
The Tigers open the 2022 campaign by playing at St. James Aug. 26 (7 p.m. kickoff). Salem’s home opener will be against Knob Noster Sept. 2.
Barnes, entering his second season as Tiger head coach, lost most of the starters from last season’s 2-7 squad to graduation.
From June through early July Barnes said an average of 34 players have been attending summer workouts from 6:30-8 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. The squad also competed in the Rolla 7-on-7 passing league in June.
“We start in the weight room for 45 minutes to an hour,” Barnes said. “Then we do about 30 minutes of conditioning on the field. It’s going really well. The energy and effort across the board has been good. It’s not easy for them to get up that early. Our max (lifts) have been good. We have shown improvement in strength.”
The squad held an install camp for the instillation of offense and defense three weeks ago and then observed the school’s first dead week two weeks ago.
After the team camp there will be another dead week prior to the start of fall preseason practice.
Among the few varsity returners are senior linebacker/running back Easton May, senior safety/running back Josh Owen and junior safety/receiver Wyatt Campbell.
Expected to replace four-year starter Garrett Connell at quarterback is junior Kaiden DuBois, who is also a linebacker.
“Ultimately we only have about four players who has varsity time; everyone else will be someone new,” Barnes said. “DuBois was the JV quarterback last year and also played against Thayer and Liberty some on varsity. He’s not too experienced on the varsity, but showed a lot on JV last year. He’s very good about letting things create in front of him. He takes time in his decision-making, throwing and running. And he’s a tough runner. At running back, we have Easton May and Owen. Owen is very good working laterally, sideline-to-sideline. He’s very quick on his feet. And Easton is the bruiser, running between the tackles and getting the tough yards.
“(Junior) Jamel Metcalf will be another young wide receiver and safety who will be a great playmaker for us. He’s a physical and tough football player. Caleb Ingram will be a senior at cornerback and tight end. He’s a tall, lengthy player who brings maturity to both positions and is a very smart football player. I’m excited to watch him and others make plays.
“In the line play we’ll see a lot of new faces. (Junior) Wyatt Martin got some playing time last year and Cole Coursen will be a senior. They will be the two main presences on the line, with competition for the other spots. Taking the time in practice; the reps…that’s the best training there. We’ll be a lot younger and the good thing is this group is coachable, and that will make a difference.”
Salem’s 2022 schedules:
Varsity
(7 p.m. kickoff)
Aug. 26 – at St. James
Sept. 2 – Knob Noster
Sept. 9 – Houston*
Sept. 16 – at Thayer*
Sept. 23 – Ava*
Sept. 30 – at Willow Springs*
Oct. 7 – at Mtn. Grove*
Oct. 14 – Mtn. View Liberty*
Oct. 21 – Cabool*
Oct. 28 – District 1st Round (tba)
*-South-Central Association game
Junior Varsity
Aug. 29 – at St. James, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 – Cabool, 6 p.m.
Sept. 12 – Houston, 6 p.m.
Sept. 19 – at Thayer, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 – Ava, 6 p.m.
Oct. 3 – at Willow Springs, 6 p.m.
Oct. 10 – at Mtn. Grove, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 – Mtn. View Liberty, 6 p.m.
