Two of the top running backs in the state of Oregon are set to face off this Friday, Oct. 10.
West Salem football (3-1) will visit North Salem (3-2) in a 6A Special District 1 showdown in the Statesman Journal high school football Game of the Week. Spearheading the attacks are running backs West Salem's Koen Campos and North Salem's Jakai Phillips.
“We’re really excited about the matchup in general,” North Salem coach Caleb Singleton said. “We’re super excited about Jakai and what he’s been able to do all season.”
“If we can turn them into a one-dimensional team, which I think is going to be really hard to do … that’d be the gameplan,” West Salem coach Shawn Stanley said, “And they’d probably say the same thing of us.”
Campos, as of OSAA’s statistical leaders through last week, was fifth in the state at the 6A level for rushing yards. His 662 yards, on top of his joint fifth-best rushing touchdown tally (nine), have provided West Salem with a consistently dangerous and physical running presence.
“He’s the cornerstone of our offense,” Stanley said. “We go as Koen goes, and as our offensive line goes. The thing about him is he’s super versatile; he runs hard, he runs fast, he can make you miss, he can catch … He’s been impressive for sure.”
Phillips was fourth in rushing yards in the state and tied for second in rushing touchdowns through last week's games. His 773 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns are a testament to his development and hard work on the field, Singleton said, and it’s reflected in some major wins for North Salem.
“As we have challenged our kids to continue to be the best versions of themselves, Jakai is still playing in a way that he has a lot to prove,” Singleton said. “He has the same mentality as if it’s still week zero and there’s still a chip on his shoulder.”
The two senior backs will undoubtedly play a role in deciding which program will emerge victorious Friday night.
Mutual respect on the football field
“They have talent all the way around,” Singleton said of West Salem. “It’s going to be a challenge, but we’ve shown a lot of upside on our defense in a bend-don’t-break mentality. So we’re really (working on) putting together a full game.”
Singleton recognized and complimented West Salem’s stout defensive front, too, and the impact that it will have. Stanley pointed out the difficulties of turning North Salem into a one-dimensional offense, with the talents of Phillips and all-state receiver Braxton Singleton wreaking consistent havoc.
Off the field, coach Singleton graduated from West Salem High School in the class of 2006 and played under Stanley in the football program. Both coaches had successful careers at Western Oregon University, and now both are at the helm of football programs in the Salem-Keizer area.
This connection has developed a level of respect throughout these programs and has impacted the quality of talent and people on both sidelines.
“I love the job he’s done there, they’re obviously well coached and talented,” Stanley said of coach Singleton and North. “I’m just proud of him … he’s made himself the coach he is and I’m proud that he does it the right way.”
“I’m glad those kids have a man of character like him who’s also a talented coach,” Stanley said.
Taking it one game at a time, despite playoff prospective
There are just four remaining games in the regular season, meaning playoff seeding and qualification are (secretely) climbing to the top of Oregon high school football’s collective mind.
West Salem, currently boasting a 3-1 record and third place in the conference, is in a positive position to solidify its playoff hopes. West Salem was recently voted the No. 8 team in Oregon at the 6A level, according to a recent OSAA coaches poll, so earning a good seed in the state playoff bracket could play a major factor in the success of the season.
“We don’t bring up the playoffs until it’s playoff time,” Stanley said. “We’re strictly one week at a time, sticking to the process and respecting our opponents.”
North Salem, currently fourth in the conference at 3-2, knows that the postseason is on the horizon. There’s an emphasis on not getting distracted though, and to not overlook the immediate opponent at hand.
“The kids are willing and very encouraging and they know that the postseason is definitely something that we can look at,” coach Singleton said. “But we’re really focused on a week-to-week basis and kids buying in on goals. We’re excited for the opportunity, but we know it’s a week-to-week conversation.”
The most important thing is to focus on effort, execution, tackling and everything else it takes to win a singular football game, the coach said.
Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at or on X or Instagram @bartlelo.
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