Correspondent photo / Lowell Spencer Salem quarterback Cletis Monroy throws a ball during camp over the summer.

SALEM — The Salem Quakers were one of the hardest-luck teams in the tri-county area in the 2024 football season. Following a 1-2 start to the year, the Quakers dropped three consecutive games in the last possession of the contest.

A double-overtime loss to Canton Central Catholic started the streak, followed by a last-second touchdown pass by Beaver Local and a fourth-down run by the Quakers that came up inches short against Alliance, costing the Quakers three games by a combined 14 points. A gut-wrenching one-point, 35-34 overtime setback to Carrollton two weeks later added to the Quakers’ disappointment.

Unquestionably, the Quakers are looking to reverse that trend this year. The combination of motivation and veteran leadership should go a long way towards helping the Quakers win those tight games in the final moments.

“They were disappointed in their record, but they know how good a team we were. It comes down to a couple of things. We can’t let it come down to the last play, and if it were to happen again, we need to be the ones to make the play,” Quakers head coach Ron Johnson said. “I think that the experience that we gained last year by being in that situation and in those environments, will pay dividends for us this year.”

“We have things posted in our locker room, and the quote of the year is ‘more.’ We need to put more into the teamwork and the effort that we put into the field,” Junior running back and defensive back Brandon Kana said. “We have to put 100% into everything that we do.”

The burning disappointment of last season, combined with a drive to make history, has become a huge motivator for the Quakers as they enter this campaign.

“They want to make history,” Johnson said. “Salem has never won a league championship in the history of the school, in 133 years. They want to put themselves in a position to do that. We want to go 1-0 every week, and that will make week ten very special.”

“We made shirts last year as EBC champions, and I think our coaching staff really believes in us this year,” Kana said. “We have gotten stronger and faster, and hopefully we will win the EBC.”

Add to the equation that the 2025 edition of the Quakers’ football team returns a lot of experience with 16 seniors on the roster. They return seven starters on both sides of the ball.

“Two years ago, when these guys were sophomores, all of them were forced into a position to play, and they weren’t really ready,” Johnson said of his senior class. “These guys have been put into a position of leadership and responsibility, and they kept their heads above water and battled like crazy. We were a good football team last year, but we expect really big things to happen this year.”

And that leadership will be a big part of the team this year.

“Especially with me being a junior, I need to be close to these guys for this season, and we need to have full trust in one another,” Kana said.

OFFENSE

Johnson is high on his offense for this season. In their final five games from last year, they completed 80% of their passes for nine touchdowns and no interceptions. The running backs all return, and the offensive line has worked hard this offseason.

The offense will be led by their senior quarterback Cletis Monroy (785 yards passing with eight TD passes, 1,163 yards rushing, 13 TDs) as a two-year starter. Junior Adrian Gelonese will serve as Monroy’s backup at quarterback. Joining Monroy in the backfield will be Kana, along with junior Zavier Kinsey.

The Quakers will be deep in the receiving corps, as they will feature junior Owen Davidson, sophomores Bairon Exline and Mackston Ellis at the Y position, along with seniors Josh Mayhew, Lucas Adams and Will Harmon (13 receptions, 198 yards, three TDs).

Up front, the Quakers will be anchored by senior three-year starters at tackle in Caleb Cutlip and Matt Austin. Joining them will be seniors Vinny Yorlano and Anthony Lucci at guard, along with junior Zhane LaFleme at center. Other linemen looking for playing time are juniors Elijah Fredette and Damion Mathes.

DEFENSE

Johnson wants his defense to force turnovers, and with the speed, the strength, and the hard hitting, he feels that they will create more opportunities to take the ball away from opponents.

Junior Hunter Marcum and senior Damion Mathes will start at defensive end, while senior Devin Cecena will start at nose guard. Juniors Bailey Essick and Cooper Miller will also see a lot of playing time, with Lucci and Yorlano providing depth on the Quakers’ defensive line.

The linebacker corps will feature senior Lucas Horan, with juniors Kevin Blackburn and Zavier Kinsey also starting as inside linebacker.

In addition, the entire Quaker secondary returns as seniors: Adams, Harmon, Mayhew and Monroy return. Junior Gelonese and senior Sean Hoffman are battling to start at one of the corner positions. Sophomore Braydon Van Dyne will be the starting strong safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The graduation of Troy Gibson, who was an all-district kicker, leaves a big hole, but the Quakers have a couple of players battling for the kicking duties. Senior Gerson Samayoa and sophomore Ronin Sutter are trying to win the position.

Monroy will be the punter when the Quakers need to boot the ball, while Kana, Harmon, Adams, Mayhew and others may serve as returners.