SPRINGFIELD – After a 2-7 season in which they finished seventh in Special District 4 and missed the postseason, it might appear the odds are stacked against the Millers making a return to the playoffs.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that Springfield opens its 2025 season against Mountain View – a team that’s lost only two games in two years, both in the state championship game.
Frank Geske, a decorated veteran coach entering his third season with Springfield, isn’t too rattled.
“The emotional claim is there now,” Geske said. “There’s more confidence, a growing enthusiasm, and better communication. There was so much uncertainty last year with the players. Sophomores shouldn’t necessarily be playing against seniors, and we were forced into that.”
Youthful inexperience in ’24
Geske’s team struggled with inexperienced, youthful personnel last year, starting eight sophomores, including three on the defensive line. The 2024 team had lost its senior star power and Geske found himself starting from scratch. Many of the sophomores had to be moved to the front line after having experience only playing away from the line of scrimmage.
“Last year, we had our finger in the dike too much. There were some injuries, but many of our aspects of play were just a Band-aid – we’re not in that mode this year,” Geske said.
Geske
With the full strength of a more refined and proficient roster now, he said he is looking to maintain consistency with the offensive and defensive schemes, which will be dependent on the performance of the front linemen.
Top returners such as Coltrane Nelson, Brady Lo’ser, Adam Hernandez, and, of course, dual-threat quarterback Noah Solo are expected to dominate the stage. Nelson, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound standout, is a threat on both sides of the ball. Lo’ser stood out for his kicking and punting abilities.
This is Geske’s third year at the helm with a current 10-9 coaching record.
ADON ECCLES / THE CHRONICLE
Solo, an explosive multi-sport athlete, just finished a successful track and field season where he took the Midwestern League title in discus at 14.65 meters.
“They’re all going to be better at their jobs,” Geske said about the top returners. “They get to become a technical expert, and that’s huge for high school football.
“I’m not big on changing schemes up. I’d rather they become a master of their skills, and that’s what we’re doing right now. We’re playing above our talent level.”
Geske said the Millers are refining their skills and prowess rather than changing up the schemes this year. ALL PHOTOS BY ADON ECCLES
Geske said that with “everyone being better at their jobs this year,” it will open up the scheme and “make a basic play look better.”
“Using the kids, a lot of it is on them too,” he said.
Jumping into the fire
Similar to Thurston, Springfield will forgo a jamboree game and instead open the season with its first game against a non-league opponent on Friday, Aug. 29. That’s how Springfield got paired up with lofty opponent Mountain View.
Geske is well aware of the challenge this poses, especially since the Millers fell 55-20 to the Cougars last year. He is more confident knowing the Millers won’t “hand it to them this time.”
“We’re still worried about us,” he said. “It’s a matter of us doing our jobs right now. But I will say, last year we went there, and we had pass protection breakdowns. We had fumbles. Noah was getting smacked and we dropped the ball on the ground three times. They beat us, no doubt, and they were good, but we helped them out. This year, we won’t hand it to them.”
SPRINGFIELD MILLERS 2025
HEAD COACH
■ Frank Geske in third year at Springfield with a 10-9 coaching record; 258-126 career record
2024 SEASON
■ Recap: 2-7 overall, 2-6 in conference play … 6th in Special District 4 … missed playoffs … No. 29 in Class 5A
GAME INFO
■ Stadium: Silke Field
■ Tickets: $6
TOP THREE GAMES
■ vs. Mountain View, Aug. 29
■ vs. Churchill, Sept. 19
■ vs. Thurston, Oct. .3
Senior night
■ vs. Eagle Point, Oct. 17
TEAM BREAKDOWN
■ Varsity returners: 25
■ Returning starters: Offense (8), Defense (8)
TOP RETURNERS
■ Noah Solo, QB, No. 6, 6-foot, 220 lbs, Sr.
Notes: Second team all-league in ‘24 season with 1000 rush and 1000 passes as a junior. Geske said, “He’s our guy.”
■ Cooper Collier, OL/DL, No. 72, 6-foot-1, 240 lbs, Jr.
Notes: A dual-threat starter.
■ Kai Brusaco, OL/DL, 6-foot-1, 270 lbs, Sr.
Notes: Brusaco was a second-team all-league and two-way starter last season. He recently played in the Les Schwab Bowl.
OTHER RETURNERS
■ Coltrane Nelson, 6-foot-3, 250 lbs, Jr.
■ Henry Bock, 6-foot, 225 lbs, Sr.
■ Khamani James, RB/LB, 6-foot, 190 lbs,
■ Saul Teo, 5-foot-8, 180 lb, Jr.
■ Elijah Hebert, DB, 5-foot-10, 155 lbs, sr
■ Brady Lo’ser, WR/DB/P/K, 6-foot-1,190 lbs, Sr.
■ Jackson Rich, WR, 5-foot-9, 150 lbs, Jr.
■ Adam Hernandez, WR/DB 5-foot-10, 180 lbs, Jr
■ Ethan Townes, WR, 5-foot-10, 160 lbs, Jr.
■ Ethan Swan, OL, Sr.
■ Gage Schaaf, OL, Jr.
■ Jose Mancado, DL, Jr.
■ Caden Lee, DE, Sr.
■ Anthony Mirialo, DB, Sr.
■ Colby Kasperek, RB, Jr.
■ Amare’ Viquelia, WR/Db, So.
TEAM STRENGTHS
■ Third year in the system
■ Communication
■ Attitude and energy
DID YOU KNOW?
■ Frank Geske, a veteran coach, has been coaching in the area for decades. He’s most known for his success at Marist Catholic, where he went 120-46 in 15 seasons, with a Class 4A title in 2009. He’s familiar with Cottage Grove coach Steve Turner after facing him in the 2011 state playoff run back when Marist was Class 5A. Both coaches spoke fondly of each other in their preseason interviews and reminisced about Oregon football history.
