2A WIC football preview: Can Melba repeat? Or will one of these contenders rise up?
Melba made history last fall, winning its first 2A Western Idaho Conference football title since 2004. But repeating as champions is always more difficult.
The Mustangs enter fall camp as the slight favorite to repeat. But a target also hangs from their back in a league full of teams capable of rising to the top — as Melba proved last year.
We surveyed the league’s coaches to bring you scouting reports and players to watch for each team.
1. MELBA MUSTANGS
Last season: 6-2, 4-0 2A WIC
Playoffs: Lost to Declo 50-14 in quarterfinals
Coach: Juan Colunga, fifth season
Career record: 36-35
Base offense (coordinator): Delaware Wing-T (Colunga)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-3-5 (Colunga)
Key players: Dillon Stosich, sr., WR/S; William Vail, sr., TE/DE; Cody Dickard, jr., C/DT; Cache Beus, so., QB/S
A historic season last fall put Melba back on top of the WIC. But Colunga isn’t resting on that accomplishment. He wants to build Melba into one of 2A’s top programs and hang a state championship banner, noting that means rising to the toughness and physicality played at that level.
The Mustangs return 15 starters (eight offense, seven defense) to chase that goal. That includes four starters along the offensive line, who will help clear the way for Gabe Shaffer and first-team all-conference running back Trace Stimpson, two players with big expectations.
Graduation cost Melba several key players, including conference player of the year Henry Clark. But sophomore Cache Beus (6-4, 210 pounds) steps in under center as one of the top athletes in the league.
2. NAMPA CHRISTIAN TROJANS
Last season: 4-5, 2-2 2A WIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Daniel Jenkins, second season
Career record: 5-12
Base offense (coordinator): West coast spread (Jenkins)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-3-5 (Chris Glenn)
Key players: Landon Cheney, sr., QB/LB; Dane Bradshaw, sr., RB/LB; Caleb Johnson, sr., RB/LB
After fielding a young roster the past two seasons, the Trojans get to reap the benefit of experience, with 10 starters back on offense and 11 returning on defense.
Nampa Christian averaged 34.3 points per game, the second most in 2A. The Trojans should keep rolling offensively with Cheney, the conference’s co-offensive player of the year, and a bounty of returning talent.
But contending for a playoff spot or a league title will require the Trojans to shore up their defense. They allowed 36.2 points per game last fall, the third most in 2A. Jenkins said he’s preaching consistency to improve his defense. And the team is much more comfortable with his system in his second year at the school.
T-3. COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHARGERS
Last season: 3-4, 1-3 2A WIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Mark Moreno, second season
Career record: 3-4
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Shea McClellin)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Dustin Kamper)
Key players: Carter Fortin, sr., QB/LB; David Howlett, sr., QB/DB; Lincoln Gee, jr., RB/WR/DB; Levi Traxler, so., WR/LB
After finishing fourth in the 2A WIC last year, the Chargers return 17 starters (eight offense, nine defense) and believe they can contend for their first league title since 2013.
Fortin is a big part of that belief. He returns under center for the third straight year and owns an offer from Whitworth (NCAA Division III). He’ll team with a bounty of athletic weapons like Howlett, Gee and Ben Beglinger to create an offense that can light up the scoreboard.
All those weapons translate into a solid back seven on defense. But finding the right combination on both the offensive and defensive lines remains the missing piece.
T-3. NEW PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS
Last season: 5-3, 3-1 2A WIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Dallan Rupp, ninth season
Career record: 43-31
Base offense (coordinator): Double wing (Rupp)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Rupp)
Key players: Casey Arritola, sr., QB/DB; Hunter Williams, jr., OL/DL; Joel Campbell, sr., OL/LB
New Plymouth didn’t need to look far to find motivation in the offseason after getting snubbed by Idaho’s new MaxPreps-seeded playoffs. The computer rankings awarded Malad, which was 2-6 and finished last in its conference, the final playoff berth over New Plymouth, the second-place team in the WIC.
Seven starters on both sides of the ball return looking to avenge that slight. That experience is doubly beneficial as the Pilgrims move into the second year of a double-wing offense. Rupp said that allows him to showcase more wrinkles and versatility than he could last fall.
New Plymouth lost all of its top ball carriers to graduation. But it returns four starters along the offensive line and Arritola at quarterback, who should take on a bigger role as a passer.
5. MARSING HUSKIES
Last season: 2-5, 0-4 2A WIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Mike Nunnelee, second season
Career record: 7-16
Base offense (coordinator): Wing-T (Nunnelee)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Justin Freeman)
Key players: James Hance, sr., FB; Ryan Orndorff, sr., OL; Trayton Jacobi, sr., LB; Kail Wyman, so., OL
The Huskies won multiple games last fall for the first time since 2013. But heavy graduation losses leave Marsing young and light on varsity experience.
Only four starters (three offense, one defense) return. But two of them come on the offensive line (Orndoff, Wyman), and Hance returns at fullback. Nunnelee said they will ensure the running game remains a cornerstone despite the graduation of first-team all-conference running back Isai Arriaga.
Nunnelee added the Huskies have a better grasp of fundamentals and his system in his second year. That should help cut down on the turnovers and penalties that plagued Marsing at times last year.
