5A SIC football preview: The favorites, challengers and sleepers for the league title
The universal start of high school football practice this week marks the return of some normalcy after last year’s anything-but-universal season.
But the upcoming 5A Southern Idaho Conference season still features a lot of changes.
Chief among them is the addition of Owyhee, the newest high school in the West Ada School District. Its arrival also allows the league to return to its original two-division format, with the Foothills and the River divisions — a reshuffle from the divisions used last season.
Change may also extend to the conference’s pecking order. After winning three straight league titles, Rocky Mountain did not finish atop a preseason coaches’ poll. Instead, its rival, Mountain View, stands as the clear favorite.
But the Mavericks will have plenty of competition from Rocky Mountain, upstart Meridian, reloaded Eagle, resurgent Capital and the state’s deepest conference.
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s prospects this fall.
1. MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
Division: River
Last season: 5-4, 2-3 5A SIC West
Playoffs: Lost to Rigby 26-19 in semifinals
Coach: Judd Benedick, 15th season
Career record: 107-41
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Brian Compton)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Benedick)
Key players: Aiden Whipple, sr., S; Brayden Garrison, sr., LB; Quintez Evans, sr., RB; Austin Schultsmeier, sr., OL
The perennial power began last season 0-3, the worst start in program history. But the young Mavericks rallied to win five straight and make the state semifinals.
That momentum and plenty of returning talent have Mountain View atop the preseason rankings.
It all starts on defense, which made the greatest strides last fall and returns seven starters. The Mavericks return their top three tacklers in Garrison (11.9 per game), Whipple (7.9) and linebacker Mason Chiles (7.9). All that big-game experience will pay off as Mountain View tries to climb back atop the conference and state pecking order.
More questions remain on offense with just four returning starters. Evans proved to be a revelation in the backfield late last year after starting as a wide receiver, showcasing lightning-quick feet and toughness. Benedick said he’ll rely on Evans and a physical offensive line to set the tone.
Mountain View has some experience under center in junior quarterback Dawson Wahl, who started one playoff game and rode to the rescue off the bench in another because of injuries last year.
2. ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRIZZLIES
Division: Foothills
Last season: 9-0, 5-0 5A SIC West
Playoffs: Beat Rigby 17-14 for 5A state title
Coach: Chris Culig, fifth season
Career record: 40-4
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Tim Souza)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Culig)
Key players: CJ Jacobsen, jr., WR; Jackson Mason, sr., WR/TE; Art Williams, jr., RB/WR; AJ Edwards, sr., OLB
Bad news for anyone hoping for a drop-off from the reigning state champions. Culig said the Grizzlies are bigger and longer than they have ever been.
Rocky Mountain must replace 10 All-Idaho players from last season’s undefeated team. But the perennial power also returns six returning offensive starters and five on defense.
Jacobsen (6-5, 215 pounds) owns an offer from Nevada and Mason (6-6, 225) holds one from Idaho, giving Rocky Mountain two Division I talents in the passing game. That will give whoever wins the quarterback battle (junior Tegan Sweaney or senior Hunter Steacker) great options. And expect a breakout season from Williams as a hybrid running back/receiver, similar to Jacob Erickson’s role last season.
The defense will remain one of the state’s best, with Edwards and senior middle linebacker Gage Tanner leading the way. But Rocky Mountain must replace its entire secondary, a unit key to the Grizzlies leading the state in turnovers forced each of the past three seasons.
3. MERIDIAN WARRIORS
Division: Foothills
Last season: 4-3, 3-2 5A SIC West
Playoffs: Lost to Highland 42-28 in first round
Coach: John Zamberlin, third season
Career record: 7-9
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Troy Gleave)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Rob Rathbun)
Key players: Malakai Martinez, sr., QB; Quentin Riley, sr., WR; Davis Thacker, sr., WR; Nathan Reynolds, jr., LB
The Warriors flirted with a breakthrough season last fall, making it back to the playoffs and snapping a 12-game losing streak to rival Mountain View. With 15 returning starters (seven offense, eight defense) and one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Martinez, this could finally be the year for Meridian’s first playoff win since 2007.
Martinez remains a nightmare to defend with his big arm and ability to scramble. He’ll have a pair of long, dynamic receivers to work with in Riley (6-3) and Thacker (6-4), a four-year starter. Add in Kross Antonnacchi, last year’s leading rusher, and Capital transfer Marco Del Rio at running back, and the Warriors have weapons all over the field.
They may have even more potent weapons on defense. Reynolds (6-4, 220) leads the unit after proving himself as a sophomore. And the Warriors field a bounty of fast, physical athletes in the secondary.
The concern remains the offensive line, where Meridian has plenty of size but not a single senior slated for a starting position.
4. EAGLE MUSTANGS
Division: Foothills
Last season: 6-2, 4-1 5A SIC West
Playoffs: Lost to Rigby 35-28 in quarterfinals
Coach: John Hartz, third season
Career record: 13-6
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (James Cluphf)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Nathan White)
Key players: Ethan Mikita, sr., RB; Gage Jones, sr., CB; Brock White, sr., S; Tyler Ball, sr., LB
The state’s top rushing offense (353 yards per game) needs to rebuild after losing the state’s leading rusher (Jackson Stampfli) and the all-class player of the year (Ben Ford) to graduation. But expect the Mustangs to reload on the fly.
Even with just three returning starters on both sides of the ball, Eagle remains loaded with talent. Mikita takes over in the backfield after leading the team in receiving last year. And the Mustangs received a boost with the addition of junior Ian Duarte, who moved in from California and holds offers from Arizona, Fresno State, San Jose State and Idaho.
Jones, a returning second-team All-Idaho corner, leads the defense. But with so many open positions, Hartz said he will have to spend some time early in camp figuring out where to fit all the pieces on both sides of the ball.
5. CAPITAL EAGLES
Division: River
Last season: 4-2, 4-0 5A SIC East
Playoffs: Lost to Mountain View 21-14 in quarterfinals
Coach: Todd Simis, 18th season
Career record: 132-102
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Simis)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-5-3 (Matt Jacobsen)
Key players: Max Clark, sr., QB; Kody Walk, sr., WR/TE/DE; Ethan Castillo, sr., WR/DB; Nate Cherry, sr., WR/DB
A promising 2020 campaign ended with back-to-back losses after Clark suffered a broken collarbone. But the playmaking quarterback returns healthy for his senior season.
Capital lost a pair of All-Idaho players and Division I athletes in Jackson Reed and Justus Del Rio. But the Eagles have plenty of talent around Clark to make it back to the 5A SIC championship game.
Capital brings back five starters on defense and six on offense, including three explosive receivers. Walk enters the year with three Big Sky offers and poses a matchup problem with his size (6-4, 225). Castillo provides a long, speedy option down the field. And Cherry mans the slot, where he’s a threat over the middle and to get to the edge on fly sweeps.
Expect to see a lot of the same faces starring on an undersized but athletic defense. Depth remains a concern, so Capital will need to play many of its best athletes both ways.
6. TIMBERLINE WOLVES
Division: Foothills
Last season: 3-4, 2-2 5A SIC East
Playoffs: Lost to Coeur d’Alene 56-7 in quarterfinals
Coach: Ian Smart, fifth season
Career record: 30-38
Base offense (coordinator): Pro spread (Matt White)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Smart)
Key players: Taylor Marcum, sr., RB; Garrett Lavin, sr., WR; Wade Zenner, sr., QB; Jameson Kocian, sr., OL/DL
The Wolves continue to surprise, winning a playoff game in each of the past two seasons — the first playoff wins in program history. Timberline can still play the underdog card in a loaded conference, but it likely won’t sneak up on anyone this fall.
The Wolves bring back loads of talent, including seven offensive starters and six on defense. But all opponents will have their eyes on Marcum. The Montana State commit led the 5A SIC in rushing yards as a sophomore (1,117). A broken wrist limited him in 2020. But once the playoffs rolled around, he put the Wolves on his back, racking up 226 rushing yards and four TDs in a road win at Skyview.
Add in Lavin, Timberline’s top receiver the past two years, and the Wolves have plenty of firepower. But Smart said the key to another postseason run remains the offensive line. All those weapons really shined once Timberline figured out the right combination up front last fall.
7. SKYVIEW HAWKS
Division: Foothills
Last season: 4-3, 3-1 5A SIC East
Playoffs: Lost to Timberline 27-20 in first round
Coach: David Young, 19th season
Career record: 97-83
Base offense (coordinator): Pistol power spread (David Robinson)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-3-5 (Young)
Key players: Atonio Fifita, sr., RB/LB; Camden Young, sr., WR/CB; TerRyek Pennington, sr., WR/S
The Hawks’ senior class suffered through some dark days, watching their junior varsity season get canceled two years ago as the team battled injuries and academic issues. But they quickly changed the narrative last season, leading Skyview back into the playoffs. Now, 11 returning starters (five offense, six defense) get to write a final chapter.
Fifita takes the top billing after serving as the Hawks’ No. 1 running back each of the past two seasons. Skyview will lean on the tough-as-a-tank senior to carry the load again. And he’ll serve as the heart of the defense.
Young and Pennington give the Hawks two weapons on the outside to work with junior quarterback Max Cutforth. But depth remains a concern for one of 5A’s smaller programs, Young said.
8. CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
Division: River
Last season: 0-6, 0-5 5A SIC West
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Matt Greene, second season
Career record: 0-6
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Spencer Beale)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Jeffrey Zerfas)
Key players: Kyle Schabot, sr., TE/DB; Keyon Horton, sr., QB; Jacob Carney, jr., CB; Kai Twaddle-Dunham, so., OT
The Patriots enter on a 12-game losing streak and haven’t posted a winning season or made the playoffs since 2010. But signs point to a possible turnaround this fall.
Despite only returning five starters (three offense, two defense), Greene said he returns a much more experienced squad. That’s largely due to players entering their second year in his system, eliminating much of the steep learning curve when a new coach takes over.
Centennial showed it can compete with the best this summer, finishing second at the Potato Bowl 7-on-7 Tournament. Horton, a three-year starter, will hurt teams with both his arm and his legs. And Greene said he’ll have plenty of speed and athleticism around him.
But any revival starts with cutting down on turnovers. Centennial gave the ball away 16 times in six games last year, finishing with a -9 turnover margin.
T-9. BORAH LIONS
Division: River
Last season: 0-5, 0-4 5A SIC East
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: J.Q. Kenyon, first season
Career record: 0-0
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Kevin McCarthy)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Kenyon)
Key players: Bradly Toth, sr., WR/DB; Crispin Simbaragje, sr., DE; Parker Rushton, jr., RB/LB; Trevor McKenna, so., OL/DE
The Lions took a step back with last year’s winless season. Borah will turn the page this season with a new coach and loads of new faces.
Kenyon takes over the program from Jason Burton, who won two SIC coach of the year awards in five seasons. But Kenyon had a hand in the Lions’ resurgence as their defensive coordinator and worked hand-in-hand with Burton, easing the transition.
He will have a few key players back. Rushton led the team in tackles (7.8 per game) as a sophomore and will anchor the defense while taking on a bigger role as a running back. And Toth led the team in receiving and will captain the defense from his free safety spot.
But inexperience remains the theme around the field, with just three returning starters on both offense and defense. Rebuilding the offense line remains the top goal after a rough season, Kenyon said.
T-9. OWYHEE STORM
Division: River
Last season: 0-0
Coach: Sherm Blaser, first season
Career record: 38-35
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Blaser)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Zac Farnam)
Key players: Beau Jaques, jr., DL; Titus Bailey, jr., WR; Spencer Lake, sr., OL
The West Ada School District’s latest high school opens a year later than originally planned. But Owyhee joins the 5A SIC looking to buck the trend of first-year struggles.
Owyhee pulls players from the previous boundaries of Rocky Mountain, Eagle and Meridian. But seniors were allowed to finish and graduate at their previous school, leaving the Storm light in that area. Only five participated in summer workouts, but turnout was strong in lower classes, and Blaser said he may pick up a few more seniors as practices start.
The offensive line proved itself a bright spot over the summer, and Blaser said he liked his team’s energy and passion. But starting from scratch is a tough mountain to climb. Seven new schools have joined the 5A or 4A SIC since 1995. Only one, Mountain View, made it to .500 in its first season.
11. KUNA KAVEMEN
Division: River
Last season: 1-6, 1-4 5A SIC West
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Jeff Schank, first season
Career record: 0-0
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Charlie Malouf)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-3-5 (Zach Randolph)
Key players: Iziak Kelso, sr., DB; Cole Luekenga, jr., QB; Gus Austin, jr., ILB; Isaac Garcia, jr., RB
Fresh off an undefeated season and 4A state title, the Kavemen received a rude welcome back to the 5A level last fall. Then they lost their state title-winning coach, Sherm Blaser, to Owyhee, and a Division I quarterback, Sean Austin, to Montana State.
The Kavemen return only seven starters (three offense, four defense), leaving them to make a fresh start under Schank, the team’s former defensive coordinator.
Luekenga shined at quarterback on the junior varsity team last fall, giving Kuna confidence it will remain potent under center. But expect Kuna to make a running game led by Garcia and a young offensive line its identity.
Any rebuilding, though, starts with a defense that allowed 41.1 points per game last fall, the second most in 5A. Gus Austin and Logan Blades anchor the defense as inside linebackers, and Kelso led the team in pass breakups last year. But youth is a concern on the defensive line and at the outside linebacker positions.
12. BOISE BRAVE
Division: Foothills
Last season: 3-3, 1-3 5A SIC East
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Mike Altieri, second season
Career record: 3-3
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Joel Clark)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Aaron Asaro)
Key players: Colten Smith, sr., FS; Zach Hess, sr., WR; Parker Fish, sr., SS; Braden Anderson, sr., QB
Boise turned a corner last fall, winning its final three games to post its best record since going 5-4 in 2008. That — and nine returning starters (five offense, four defense) — gives the long-struggling program a new sense of optimism.
Smith and Fish return as safeties to lead a defense that made leaps last season, allowing 32.8 points per game, down from 51.1 the year before. Boise will need the duo to continue making plays all over the field to keep adding to the win column.
Boise also brings back two of its top three receivers in Hess and Ford Songer. They will team with Anderson as the new quarterback after Jack Payne transferred to Owyhee.
But no matter how many wins Boise racks up, it remains ineligible for the playoffs. It operates as a quasi-independent team in the SIC and will not play Rocky Mountain or Eagle in its division. That allows Boise greater freedom in scheduling as it tries to rebuild.
This story was originally published August 10, 2021 at 12:41 PM.
