Statesman Journal Game of the Week: North Salem football to battle Sprague
Sprague and North Salem are looking for a win after losing last week.
The Olympians are 1-5 overall and 1-3 in Special District 1 in head coach AJ Robinson's first season.
The Vikings are 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the league but have lost two of their past three games and hope to correct their course.
This matchup, which kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday at North Salem, is the Statesman Journal Game of the Week.
The Vikings started the season 3-0 by outscoring opponents 129-19.
They lost to North Medford (56-21), beat McNary (48-20) and lost at Grants Pass (29-22) in their next three games.
"We need to get healthy to even compete. I've never seen so many injuries on our team in the four years I've been here,” North Salem senior quarterback TC Manumaleuna said. "I can tell you all of our impact players are playing with injuries. I know it's part of the game, but it's definitely affecting how we play on Fridays. At this point, we just need to play out the season and see where it lands us."
The Vikings are scoring 36.6 points per game and allowing 20.6.
The Olympians are scoring 23.5 points per game and allowing 39.3.
Sprague's win this season (40-36) came at Roseburg on Sept. 22.
After this week, the Olys have two games left — 7:15 p.m. Oct. 20 at home against South Salem, and 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at McNary.
"This week the focus needs to be on our defense and special teams; we need to be able to give our defense better field position than weeks past," said Sprague junior running back Kenya Johnson, who has scored 11 touchdowns this season. "Defensively, we need to put up big stops and get off the field so our offense can go to work."
Statesman Journal high school football coverage
For high school football score updates of games across the Mid-Valley on Thursday and Friday, go to StatesmanJournal.com.
On Saturday, check out Statesman Journal sports reporter Pete Martini's five key takeaways for high school football.
This week's Mid-Valley high school football schedule
Thursday's games
McKay at Silverton, 7 p.m.
Dallas at South Albany, 7 p.m.
Lebanon at Central, 7 p.m.
Corvallis at Woodburn, 7 p.m.
Willamina at Gervais, 7 p.m.
St. Paul at Perrydale, 7 p.m.
Friday's games
Sprague at North Salem, 7 p.m. (KBZY)
West Salem at McNary, 7:15 p.m. (KYKN)
Roseburg at South Salem, 7:15 p.m.
Junction City at Cascade, 7 p.m.
Cottage Grove at Stayton, 7 p.m.
Jefferson at Salem Academy, 7 p.m.
Kennedy at Valley Catholic, 7 p.m.
Scio at Newport, 7 p.m.
Dayton at Santiam Christian, 7 p.m.
Amity at Taft, 7 p.m.
Regis at Blanchet Catholic, 7 p.m.
Colton at Santiam, 7 p.m.
Sheridan at Gaston, 7 p.m.
Eddyville Charter at Falls City/Kings Valley Charter, 7 p.m.
Statesman Journal reporter Pete Martini covers college and high school sports. He can be reached at pmartini@StatesmanJournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem-area high school football: North Salem to battle Sprague
