Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Salem senior Dominic Maniscalco catches a pass during a 7-on-7 passing tournament at Salem High School earlier this summer. Maniscalco will see time in the backfield this season as the Quakers look to replace quarterback Jackson Johnson.

SALEM – A big question for the Salem Quakers heading into the 2023 season will be if there is life after Jackson Johnson.

Johnson is the former Salem quarterback who holds almost every offensive record in the Quakers’ record book except for receiving yards and touchdowns after starting at quarterback the previous four years.

“We will be different, that’s for sure,” Quakers head coach Ron Johnson admitted. “We will need to do things a bit differently than we have the past few years. But when you get your program to where you want it to be, you have new guys step in and carry on. They have had a great example of what it looks like and what to follow.”

But it isn’t just Jackson that the Quakers will need to replace. They also lost their top four wide receivers and four of their five starting offensive linemen. So, the offense will see quite a bit of an overhaul.

“We have a lot of work to do, but we have had a great summer so far,” Johnson remarked. “Guys have done a great job right through minicamp, so we are really excited.”

With Jackson, the son of coach Johnson and essentially a coach on the field, gone along with the big turnover in starters, coach Johnson admittingly knows he will need to coach the team differently this fall. He will also need to have a more hands-on approach which, he didn’t necessarily need to do the past three years.

“I have always said that I have been on a sabbatical the past three years,” Johnson joked. “I haven’t called a play in three years. I would give Jackson a formation and an idea and he would call what he saw on the field. But now we have to get back to doing that but building in to teach our next line of guys to be able to take the same responsibility that Jackson had. We can’t just pick up where we left off because Jackson had the experience.”

With so many new receivers and linemen, the Quakers might have a different look to start the season with more of a focus on establishing a running attack then using the play-action passing game to hit on some big plays.

“We’re breaking in four new wide receivers, so we will need to see how well they develop and how quickly they come around,” Johnson said. “We think we have the ability to rush the football and shorten games a little bit. And if we play good defense, that might be our mode of operation the first couple of weeks.”

Johnson will also rely heavily on special teams early this year while his offense gains experience. It will be important for the Quakers to win the field position battle early on.

“It is a big part of our game,” Johnson said. “We know we are going to work on some things in the other two phases, but we think we have it most controlled in our special teams. We are going to put our best guys out there for our special teams.”

Although the 2022 season ended on a bit of a disappointing note, with losses to both West Branch and in the first round of the OHSAA playoffs, Johnson stated that the group of returners have high hopes and lots of enthusiasm.

“Our guys are really excited and anxious to make their mark and the next step in their development,” Johnson said. “The next step we want to take is to win a championship. A hundred and thirty years of football at Salem and we have never won a conference championship. So, we are anxious to do that and that is the next step that we are trying to take, and our kids are really looking forward to battling and being the first ones.”

OFFENSE

With the loss of Jackson Johnson, the Quakers still will be talented, but inexperienced on offense. The program runs the same offensive schemes from pee-wee through their middle school football program, but now they will need to be able to perform on Friday nights under the varsity lights.

Sophomore Cletis Monroy looks to be the heir apparent at quarterback. Johnson has been impressed with his development and talents in the summer workouts. Junior Derek Oesch is an H-back that had previously played quarterback, so he could serve as an emergency signal-caller if needed.

Junior Marcus Phillips returns but moves from a slot receiver position to the tailback spot with Monroy in the backfield. Senior Dominic Maniscalco will also see some playing time as a running back. As mentioned, Oesch will start at the H-back position with senior Davey Watson also seeing some playing time at the H-back spot.

When Monroy goes to the air, one key receiver he will be counting on is the lone returner, senior Ross Davidson. Johnson pointed out that senior Hunter Prendergast has had a great summer, along with sophomore Will Harmon.

Junior James Cibula may also see some time at receiver.

The only returning starter from last year on the offensive line is junior David Manges, so he will be relied upon heavily at his starting tackle position to provide some leadership in the trenches. Sophomore Caleb Cutlip will play at guard with junior Mickey Eckman at center. Senior Alec Turnbull will start at the other guard spot after getting a few starts last year, with senior Trenton McCoy at the other tackle position on the line.

Sophomore Matthew Austin is also battling for a starting spot on the line giving the Quakers six solid offensive linemen.

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes
Salem wide receiver Will Harmon reels in a pass during a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage at Salem High School against Valley Christian. The sophomore will record snaps on the outside this season as the Quakers look to replace their top four wide receivers.

DEFENSE

Unlike the offense, the Quakers return experience on the defensive side. They will rely on their speed and quickness to make plays. They will also implement multiple fronts to take advantage of the talents of a depth of experienced players on the defensive side of the ball.

Two juniors in Owen Spatz and Ayden Patchin will look to start for the Quakers as defensive ends that Johnson cites as being very athletic receiver/defensive end type guys that are big, strong, and fast. Watson, McCoy, and Manges will see a lot of action on the defensive line.

Both inside linebackers, Maniscalco and junior Aidan Lucci, return. Davidson, Monroy, senior Chase Poffenberger, and junior Joey Kana will play outside depending on how the offensive lines up in front of them as they may slide back to the safety positions.

Senior Cyle Burt and D’Andre Smith return their cornerback spots. Sophomore Gavin Colbert will add some depth to the backfield.

SPECIAL TEAMS

In addition to his quarterback duties, Monroy will also drop back to punt the ball when needed. Junior Troy Gibson has taken over the placekicking duties this year.

No return specialist has stepped up yet in summer practice, something Johnson will decide once scrimmages give them some tests.

2023 Schedule

Aug. 18 vs. Poland Seminary 7 p.m.

Aug. 25 vs. Beaver Local 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 at East Liverpool 7 p.m.

Sept. 8 at Canton CC 7 p.m.

Sept. 15 vs. Padua Franciscan 7 p.m.

Sept. 22 at Alliance* 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 at Minerva* 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 at Carrollton* 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 vs. Marlington* 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 vs. West Branch* 7 p.m.

*Conference game

2022 Results (6-5)

Vs. Crestview (4-5) W 17-7

At Beaver Local (9-3) W 40-27

vs.East Liverpool (2-8) W 38-6

Vs. Central Catholic (7-5) L 31-35

At Padua Franciscan (8-6) W 23-21

Vs. Alliance (8-3) L 30-41

Vs. Minerva (0-9) W 48-13

Vs. Carrollton (7-4) L 34-39

At Marlington (1-9) W 41-7

At West Branch (12-2) L 38-48

# at Canton South (9-4) L 21-28

# OHSAA playoffs

Coaching staff

Head coach: Ron Johnson, 12th season with Salem, 61-55; 129-126 overall

Staff: Jason Swiger, Daryl Kurtz, Rob Little, Austin Noel, Jake Carner, Derek Frederick, Tim Taafe, Jason Lude, Cory Wonner, Matt Seidel, Barry Long, Lance Newburn, Cooper Gottschling, Niko Drayer, Bill Cowgill

Team facts

Division IV, Region 13

Eastern Buckeye Conference

Players on roster: 60

Returning letterwinners (23): Ross Davidson, D’Andre Smith, Cyle Burt, Chase Poffenberger, Dominic Maniscalco, Davey Watson, Julian Gomez, Trenton McCoy, Alec Turnbull, Hunter Prendergast, Joey Kana, Derek Oesch, James Cibula, Marcus Phillips, Owen Spatz, Ayden Patchin, Aiden Lucci, Mickey Eckman, David Manges, Cletis Monroy, Will Harmon, Matthew Austin, Gavin Colbert

2022 season: The Quakers fell in the first round of the OHSAA playoffs. After winning their first three, they split their next six before losing to West Branch in their regular season finale.