4A SIC football preview: Who will fill the power vacuum in the state’s toughest league?
Idaho’s latest classification shuffle created a power vacuum in the 4A Southern Idaho Conference this fall.
Gone is Kuna, the reigning state and league champ. The Kavemen joined the 5A classification, opening the door for a host of teams.
Perennial powers Bishop Kelly and Middleton top the preseason coaches’ poll. But no one can comfortably call themselves the heir apparent. The 4A SIC has proven itself as the state’s toughest league in recent years thanks to its depth from top to bottom.
So who will climb to the top? We broke down each team’s chances below.
1. BISHOP KELLY KNIGHTS
Last season: 7-3, 6-2 4A SIC
Playoffs: Lost to Nampa 35-28 in quarterfinals
Coach: Tim Brennan, 25th season
Career record: 215-75
Base offense (coordinator): Option (Chris Martineau)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (George Gamber)
The perennial power starts as the preseason favorite thanks to a deep roster with 145 players, 29 seniors and arguably the most returning talent in the conference.
The Knights bring back nine defensive starters from their always stout defense. That includes the entire defensive line led by Manu Lete (first-team all-conference) and Nick Smith. Brennan said this could be the deepest defensive line he’s had in years, allowing him to rotate fresh bodies into the game to wear down opponents.
The offense has more work to do to get up to speed with five returning starters. Jack-of-all-trades senior Keegan Croteau moves under center, and his playmaking ability gives BK a ton of options. The Knights will rely on him early as it gets a young backfield up to varsity speed.
2. MIDDLETON VIKINGS
Last season: 8-4, 5-3 4A SIC
Playoffs: Lost to Kuna 70-34 in semifinals
Coach: Bill Brock, 21st season
Career record: 228-111
Base offense (coordinator): Air Raid (Brock)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Rob Kiser)
Middleton looks to reload after graduating three all-state players and a first-team all-conference quarterback who threw for 3,000 yards.
The offense brings back just four starters, so finding a new signal caller in its Air Raid attack remains the top priority. Senior Ray Aguilar-Gallup and junior Ky McClure are battling for the spot. Aguilar-Gallup has more varsity experience as last year’s backup, but McClure brings more size and athleticism to the position.
Whoever emerges from the battle will have plenty of weapons to work with. The Vikings’ receiving corps ought to be the envy of the state with 6-3 senior Cash Cowdery, 6-7 junior Tyler Medaris and 6-0 senior Merrit Foote all lining up out wide.
The Vikings’ defense has a leg up with six returning starters. Foote, a second-team All-Idaho safety, anchors the secondary, and Brock said he has a strong linebacking corps.
3. NAMPA BULLDOGS
Last season: 8-4, 5-3 4A SIC
Playoffs: Lost to Blackfoot 35-14 in semifinals
Coach: Dan Holtry, fifth season
Career record: 19-23
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Danl Richards)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Zac Farnam)
Back-to-back trips to the semifinals changed the trajectory of the program. But now Nampa must keep it up without a talent-laden senior class responsible for most of those wins.
Program-changing players like quarterback Donavon Estrada (4,083 total yards, 46 TDs) and Jace Mann (a two-time, first-team All-Idaho selection) left massive holes to fill. And the Bulldogs have just four returning offensive starters and three on defense to rely on.
Colton Seable takes the helm of the offense at quarterback after attempting four passes last year. He and the rest of the Bulldogs will rely on an experienced offensive line that features three returning starters, including second-team All-Idaho guard Kaliopasi Niupalau. Issak Plew provides an experienced receiver on the outside. And Holtry said he’s excited about what Ryan Schuler brings to the backfield.
4. VALLIVUE FALCONS
Last season: 8-3, 6-2 4A SIC
Playoffs: Lost to Kuna 21-18 in quarterfinals
Coach: Layne Coffin, 15th season
Career record: 107-81
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Coffin)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Cody Heller)
The Lan Larison era is finally over after the four-year starting quarterback graduated with back-to-back 4A All-Idaho Player of the Year awards.
No one will single-handedly replace him. Instead, the Falcons will have to become more balanced to keep challenging for a conference title.
Junior Casey Cope will start at quarterback after taking a handful of snaps there last year in special packages. He’s part of a young skill position group. But a beefy offensive line will be the Falcons’ top weapon as Dominick Conlon (first-team All-Idaho) and Matt Bolton (first-team all-conference) return to grind up defenders.
The state’s top defense (16.1 ppg) returns more weapons with five starters back. That includes 4A’s reigning sack leader in Braydon Ary (15.5) and inside linebackers Tanner Buckley (10.4 tackles per game) and Josiah Sims (9.0 tackles).
5. EMMETT HUSKIES
Last season: 3-6, 3-5 4A SIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Rich Hargitt, third season
Career record: 16-39
Base offense (coordinator): Power spread (Brandon Young)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Chris Roeper)
The Huskies return a trio of decorated players in running back Westyn Smith, quarterback Caden Young and linebacker Axel Sanchez. But varsity experience remains in short supply after them.
Smith remains the heart of the offensive game plan after leading the state with 250 carries and finishing with 1,142 yards and eight TDs. Five senior offensive linemen will clear the way for him, and Young, a junior, returns for his second year under center.
Sanchez, a two-time, second-team all-conference linebacker, anchors the defense again. That big senior group of linemen should help keep his jersey clean. But he’ll have a host of new linebackers around him trying to adjust to the varsity game.
6. COLUMBIA WILDCATS
Last season: 1-8, 1-7 4A SIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Greg Asbury, second season
Career record: 106-56
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Colton Sweesey)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-4 (Asbury)
The Wildcats fell back toward the bottom of the standings after winning their first playoff game in 2018. Asbury, a two-time state champion coach, will have to rely on a young lineup as he tries to get Columbia back into contention.
Five starters return on both sides of the ball, including four two-way starters. Junior offensive lineman and middle linebacker Nico Rodriguez is one of them and stands poised for a breakout season. He earned second-team all-conference honors on defense last year, then won a state wrestling title at 220 pounds. Asbury said he’s only gotten bigger and stronger, and he’ll lead a more aggressive front seven.
The Wildcats will have to find a new quarterback and options at receiver. But Adrian Martinez returns in the backfield after leading the team in rushing yards (573).
7. RIDGEVUE WARHAWKS
Last season: 2-7, 2-6 4A SIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Tom DeWitz, fifth season
Career record: 8-28
Base offense (coordinator): Two-back spread (Ryan Andreason)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-5-3 (Ryan Beason)
After fielding one of the state’s top passing offenses last year (246 yards per game, fourth in the state), the Warhawks will turn to a more run-oriented attack this year.
Graduation cost Ridgevue a talented receiving group and a two-year starting quarterback, leaving just two returning starters (both offensive linemen). Junior Cole McDonald takes over under center and will call the shots in the option offense. But DeWitz is excited about three senior running backs, including Jesus Valdivia, a big-play threat with a couple varsity starts under his belt.
An experienced linebacking corps leads the defense. Seniors Zander Mallard and Kolton McKie are entering their third year as starters, and Treyson Hoagland is back for his second season. They will make sure everyone lines up in the right spot and have plenty of range to make plays all over the field.
8. CALDWELL COUGARS
Last season: 0-9, 0-8 4A SIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Steven Fleshman, second season
Career record: 0-9
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Anthony Marin)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Fleshman)
The Cougars hit the reset button after graduating 27 seniors, allowing a state-high 46.3 points per game and posting a winless season.
Just two starters return on both sides of the ball. But Caldwell expects its offensive and defensive lines to lead the way. Fleshman said they may be young, but the group brings plenty of size and athleticism to the field.
Junior tight end Cameron Morales adds another big body to the group, one with the hands and speed to pose a threat in the passing game. Who will get him the ball remains unsolved though. Fleshman said he has several options with talent, but all of them are raw and must prove themselves.
