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Signs still pointing to improvement for Salem

Tuesday, September, 04 By Matt Jenkins
Staff writer

SALEM | All the signs are there for Scott Connolly and the Salem High football team.

Five wins last season, following a three-year record of 3-30, have the Witches thinking about taking the next step. Salem returns several starters from last year's club, and there isn't a coach in the Northeastern Conference who would leave the Witches out of a conversation about the teams to watch in 2007.

The Salem students, teachers, and administration have all taken notice, too. Athletes who may have passed by the opportunity to play football the last few years are at least considering it now.

Senior Chris Maxson, a talented basketball player for the Witches, showed up at camp this summer and ended up earning a spot as a starting receiver and defensive back.

It's not like Connolly is raising a championship banner just yet, but he knows his team has become competitive again. "Last year we took some big strides as a program. We had a lot of sophomores who are juniors now," Connolly said. "These guys are hungry. They got a taste of winning last year."

Melikke Van Alstyne was a breakthrough player for the Witches last fall. A virtual unknown heading into the season, Van Alstyne shredded defenses for an average of more than 100 yards per game. He finished with 1,177 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Van Alstyne reported to camp bigger and stronger this year. "He's got another year of maturity behind him," Connolly said. "There wasn't a harder worker in the weight room or track in the offseason."

Van Alstyne will not be the only weapon on offense. Maxson has shown promise as a receiver, and the Witches have received a boost from North Shore Tech transfer Colby Boulay. A 5-foot-10, 175-pounder, Boulay brings a new dimension to the Salem offense.

Senior strong safety Kevin Holding is expected to be the leader of the defense, while linebacker Billy Butner and Tyler Mason have looked solid in camp.

Junior Chris Dunston might be Salem's best all-around player. Dunston started every game last year and played some varsity ball as a freshman. He can play guard, defensive end and tight end.

Salem got off to a strong start last season, winning its first three games against Danvers (14-12), Revere (28-12) and Swampscott (21-7). That will be difficult to duplicate this season as the Witches don't play at the friendly confines of Bertram Field until early October.

The Witches open on the road tomorrow against Danvers, then travel to Connecticut to play Fitch High School next Saturday night. Road tilts against Marblehead and Swampscott follow before the home opener Oct. 5 against defending NEC champ Winthrop.

"We got started (preparing) with all three of our scrimmages on the road, just trying to make that homecoming sweeter," Connolly said.

The only real concern for Salem at the moment is how it will play against Danvers. "We set weekly goals, then game-by-game," Connolly said. "In the back of our minds, everybody has goals of where they want the team to stand. But we've set camp goals, scrimmage goals, and this week we set goals for Danvers."

Last year's record: 5-5

Head coach: Scott Connolly (4th year, 8-24)

Captains: Chris Al-Nabulsi, Matt Paine, Taylor Charlton and Garrett Cauley

Style of offense: Multiple

Style of defense: 4-3

Last winning season: 1999 (10-1)

Last league title: 1999 (won Division 3B Super Bowl)

Did you know?: Salem opens its season with four straight road games; going back half a century, the most away contests the Witches have played is only three (in 1981 and 1989).