Overcoming a rough start and the traumatic injury of a key player, the GHS Varsity football team managed to find its footing and rally as one, finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2012 and even advancing to the state playoffs.
“We’ve worked hard all season,” said quarterback Liam Arnold, who racked up 11 touchdowns in the regular season. “The energy in the locker room has never been better.”
The season didn’t start that way. GHS football has struggled for years. Their first two non-league games both ended in a loss. Then came the traumatic night in September. Gophers were playing away at David Douglas and were already leading 21-O when standout junior Tucker Santanilles got hit hard and went down, and didn’t get up. The coaches and medics that rushed to help were soon followed by an ambulance that drove onto the field and took Tucker away on a stretcher–the drama unfolding in front of players, cheerleaders, and bleachers of family, friends, and fans. Rushed to the hospital, Tucker endured five hours of high-stakes surgery, and in the morning, began a long road to recovery.
The Gophers, meanwhile, were shaken. Their future was uncertain. “It was rough seeing him go down — that was my guy,” Center Ronald Menyfield later told Katu 2 News. “It kind of lit a new fire under me to work harder. Now I’m playing the game not just for me, but for him too.”
Menyfield was not alone. They still had a season of football to play: every practice, every game from then on was focused and dedicated to Tucker. A grassroots movement rose up. Players and fans wore special wristbands, patches, or shirts emblazoned with “#TuckerStrong. There were moments of silence, reminders of Tucker’s drive and determination. The players wanted to embody Tucker’s spirit of resilience and determination. From then on the team played with a drive and focus unseen in over a decade. “We’re doing this for Tucker,” Menyfield said. “Every win is dedicated to Tucker. Every practice, every rep, every minute — everything. It’s changed ever since he got hurt.”
Their next match, against Hood River Valley, ended in a loss, but something else lit fire. The Gophers found their mojo and began an epic five-game winning streak, beginning with a 49-8 victory against Putnam. Then a 20-0 win against Parkrose, 27-21 against Milwaukee, 14-7 against Centennial, and 34-16 against Lasalle. They played with intensity and laser-focused drive, pushing themselves harder than they thought possible both at practice and under the Friday night lights.
As the wins stacked up, key players emerged across both offense and defense.“Our defense is stronger than ever,” noted Samuel Krueger, who leads the team in tackles per game. “We know what’s at stake and we’re ready to keep Gresham’s tradition alive.” Leading receiver Avery Lo averaged 42.7 receiving yards per game, while defensive powerhouse Gavin Knobbs tallied nine sacks, and defensive player Hezekiah Schab boasted three interceptions.
Their reward: Gresham not only grasped their first winning season in thirteen years, but even made it to the state playoffs.
This is a team that went 1-9 last season. 1-9 the season before.
Granted, the move from 6A to 5A might have helped them out, but playing against smaller schools doesn’t mean playing against lesser players.
The Gophers went into the playoffs feeling confident, though they ultimately came up short, losing to Summit High School. But making it farther than anyone thought possible, transforming themselves almost overnight from a luck-starved bunch of players into a focused, hard-hitting team, is the real victory and the story that will be shared for years to come. Santanilles, meanwhile, has been fighting hard where he’s at and making progress towards recovery. This year’s juniors are next years’ seniors, and the #TuckerStrong campaign will not be ending anytime soon.
