By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After taking another step in the right direction with a 5-4 record in 2021, the Solomon Gorillas will look to retool and press on in their upcoming 2022 campaign.
Head coach Mike Kilgore returns for his third year at the helm, slowly and steadily building up his program.
“I think the football culture here is going to be better this year than it has been in a long time,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of kids that were bought into what we were doing in the weight room over the summer and we have a lot more involvement and excitement around the school as well.”
On the field, the Gorillas will get a boost from a sizable core of returning veterans who have helped get Solomon back to their winning ways.
“Our biggest strength will be in our unity,” Kilgore said. “Our upperclassmen are a tight-knit group and they do everything together. That’s really shown through the summer and through the first few weeks of practice. They’re eager to learn and they’re not afraid to fail.”
Junior signal-caller Spencer Coup will reprise his role under center, running the Gorilla's offense after an efficient 2021 campaign.
“Spencer has been a special kid since his freshman year,” he said. “He’s put in a lot of work to make himself better in the offseason and he’s a true student of the game. It’s nice as a coach to have a guy that’s always looking for ways we can improve what we do.”
Coup will be joined in the backfield by fellow juniors Porter Hynes and Mac Collins, who will look to fill the shoes of departed senior Dylan Hynes.
The Gorillas will look to test opposing secondaries once again with Jake Sommer and Spencer Krause lining up at receiver and will have a stacked line with seniors Evan Thompson, Kyle Ryan, and Lucas Newcomer returning for one final year.
“We’re going to throw the ball around this season,” Kilgore said. “We have some older folks up front that can control the line but we’re going to be running and gunning and we’re preparing physically for that.”
On the defensive side of things, the Gorillas will get two-way usage out of Evan Thompson who will be joined by Hayden Zerbe and Kegan Mackney in the trenches.
Mac Collins and Kolten Walker will take over in the linebacker corps with Spencer Coup, Scott Robinson, and Porter Hynes patrolling in the secondary.
“We want to get all eight hats to the football this year,” he said. “We’re going to play fast and physical defensively and our defensive coordinator has done a great job of putting some packages together this offseason.”
With expectations in Solomon on the rise, the Gorillas are holding fast to their commitment to slow and steady improvement throughout the year.
“We’re focused on taking one game at a time and one practice at a time,” Kilgore said. “We want to make the most of every opportunity to improve and to be 1-0 after every week. Even if we lose I want us to have improved and won smaller victories within the game.”
The Gorillas will kick off their 2022 campaign on September 2nd when they travel to Rural Vista for a date with the Heat.
For more on Solomon football all season long stay tuned to the Salina Post.