By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– It’s been a while since the McKay Football team has been competitive.
Between 2021 and 2023, McKay reached the postseason twice in a stacked 5A Classification and was just outside looking in during the 2022 season when they went 3-6 and finished 22nd in the rankings. McKay went 13-16 over that three year span as well. The last two years in that span were in the juggernaut Mid-Willamette Conference in that span that had powerhouse’s like Silverton and West Albany in it.
Since then, over the course of the last two seasons, the Scots have won once. A 28-27 victory over Woodburn on October 10, 2024.
McKay enters this season with a 12-game losing streak. But their schedule is favorable for the Scots to not break that streak, but maybe build up their resume enough to get back into the postseason.
“It’s teaching these kids how to be successful, they don’t know what it feels like. It’s been awhile. It’s getting them to know what it feels like and knowing how to compete week-in and week-out and take pride and ownership and get addicted to being competitive. Getting addicted to sacrificing for your team to get a win at the end of the game.”
Ramirez spoke highly of those returning from last year’s squad.
Mateo Garcia returns, he was the vocal leader of the squad last year.
“He’s one of our team captains, he’s the voice of our team. Plays both sides of the ball, same with Gabe Gonzalez,” starts Ramirez.
Gonzalez was an All-League Player on both sides of the ball for his senior year. Brandon Lee enters this year and has stepped up into an offensive line role.
“He stepped up more into an offensive line role, saying, ‘I want to make sure we can score, Coach, so put me on the line,” Remirez said of Lee.
August Taimanao, one of McKay’s leading receivers from last year, returns at Tight End .
“He should have a really big season this year,” Ramriez said of Taimanao.
Christian Rosas, a new player to the program for the Scots coming from Arizona was named captain his senior year. Chase Mosgrove and Abraham Garcia are currently battling it out for the starting QB role for McKay this Fall. But that’s where this week with the jamboree will help in determining the battle going into Week 1 against Eagle Point.
The jamboree at Corvallis High School will not just help with the QB Battle that the Scots have, but to help save their depth in a sense as they get to go up against someone that isn’t themselves.
“I think it’s the kids getting to hit other kids for the first time. Our numbers aren’t big, so our depth is low, so it’ll be nice to beat up on other kids and not just beat up on ourselves day-in and day-out,” said Ramirez.
The Scots open the season September 4 against the Eagles at home at 5:30pm. It’ll be one of three home games for McKay this Fall.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
