Coach Kevin Greene takes over the helm at Salem after a 12 year stint at Peotone. In those 12 years as the Blue Devils coach Greene was 52-63 (.452) in the Interstate Eight conference. He lead Peotone to the Class 4A playoffs five times and he comes to Salem looking to turn around the Wildcats current losing ways. The Wildcats under Coach Scott Steward went 108-92 (.540) in 21 years, but only won 11 games in the last four seasons including only one win in 2010.
Schedule Outlook
The schedule has seven Apollo Conference games in between opening non-conference games against larger South Seven Conference Centralia Orphans and the last regular season game against the Freeburg Midgets. Several long standing Apollo matchups might come to an end after three Apollo teams leave for the Little Illini Conference. We look for Salem to score a few wins this season in a tough Apollo Conference but it will take a few years to rebuild the Wildcats back to its winning ways. Toughest games in the Apollo this year will include the contests against Mt. Zion, Charleston and Effingham.
Team Profile
The Wildcats expect 40 varsity players with 4 returning offensive starters and 5 returning defensive starters. The squad has 12 returning seniors. Jace Hall (QB/DB 6'0 180) and Andy Meador (OL/DL 6'1 235) are two-year returning senior starters. Brandon Brushwitz and Bradley Richards are both returning starting receivers and linebackers and give good targets to Jace Hall in the Pro-I offensive set. The top Salem players also includes 2010 starter Matt Hahn (6'2 215), returning as a junior at RB and DL. The defensive unit will run a 4-4 defense.
