NEW FACES ABOUND
The 4A Southern Idaho Conference is guaranteed to have a different feel this season, as four of the nine teams have new coaches.
Michael Schroeder, Emmett: Schroeder moved to Gem County about two months ago from Hemet, Calif. Among his career highlights are a 2004 state championship at Hamilton High in Anza, Calif. Schroeder’s overall coaching record is 98-55-1.
Lee Leslie, Kuna: Leslie’s name will look familiar to fans, as he has previously coached in the Treasure Valley. He arrived in Boise in 2006 to coach the now-defunct Boise Burn of the arenafootball2 league. He spent two seasons at Bishop Kelly from 2009-10, leading the Knights to a state title in 2010. He did not coach last season.
Aaron Rodney, Mountain Home: From 2009 to 2011, Rodney was the offensive coordinator at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla., but he jumped at the chance to coach at Mountain Home. He is a 1994 graduate and his parents still live in the city. “This is my hometown,” Rodney said.
Jon Choate, Nampa: Choate most recently served as the defensive coordinator at Meridian, and is the brother of former Boise State special teams coach Jeff Choate (now at Washington State). Prior to joining the Meridian staff in 2008, Choate was a defensive coordinator and baseball coach at Caldwell.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
OFFENSE
POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL
QB (1st) Austin Schaffer Sr. Columbia
RB (1st) Mario Jenkins Sr. Columbia
RB (1st) Andrew Spangler Sr. Bishop Kelly
TE (1st) Walker Ray Sr. Skyview
WR (1st) Eric Cotton Sr. Columbia
WR (1st) Turner Simmons Jr. Bishop Kelly
OL (1st) Nick Edenfield Sr. Columbia
RB (2nd) Victor Dias Sr. Middleton
WR (2nd) Lane Robbins Sr. Skyview
OL (2nd) Hunter Montgomery Sr. Skyview
K (2nd) Tylan Tullock Sr. Middleton
OL (HM) Luke Hildebrandt Sr. Middleton
OL (HM) Neal Murphy Sr. Bishop Kelly
DEFENSE
POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL
DB (1st) Skyler Ellsworth Sr. Middleton
DB (1st) Cory Brady Sr. Bishop Kelly
DL (2nd) Nick Edenfield Sr. Columbia
DL (2nd) Hunter Larson Sr. Emmett
LB (2nd) Joshua Poole Sr. Bishop Kelly
LB (2nd) Kyle Cothern Sr. Skyview
DB (2nd) Max Foote Sr. Middleton
P (2nd) Bowen Ogata Jr. Bishop Kelly
LB (HM) Shea Siegert* Sr. Bishop Kelly
* Siegert is injured and out for the season
RETURNING ALL-IDAHO PLAYERS
OFFENSE
POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL
WR (2nd) Eric Cotton Sr. Columbia
DEFENSE
POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL
DB (2nd) Skyler Ellsworth Sr. Middleton
2011 REGULAR-SEASON LEADERS
PASSING
Jake Hennessey, MH, 136-of-243, 2,246 yards, 14 TDs, 5 Int
Austin Schaffer, Columbia*, 109-of-202, 1,553 yards, 15 TDs, 6 Int
RUSHING
Josh Bostrom, Nampa, 157 carries, 1,941 yards, 22 TDs
Andrew Spangler, Bishop Kelly*, 158 carries, 1,033 yards, 14 TDs
RECEIVING
J.T. Cristobal, Mountain Home, 42 rec., 685 yards, 6 TDs
Eric Cotton, Columbia*, 29 rec., 624 yards, 8 TDs
SACKS
AC Sesay, Columbia, 7
Kyle Cothern, Skyview*, 4
Derek Thompson, BK*, 4
INTERCEPTIONS
Spencer Salinas, Columbia, 6
Cory Brady, Bishop Kelly, *3
* Top returning player in 2012
Note: Stats do not include playoffs
