1A football preview: These are the teams to beat, players to watch at the 8-man level
Some of Southwest Idaho’s most exciting football comes at the 8-man level. And this year figures to be no exception.
Notus returns as the unanimous favorite for a fourth straight title in the 1A Division I Western Idaho Conference. But a tighter battle looms in the 1A Division II Long Pin Conference, where Council edged Garden Valley by a single point in the Idaho Statesman’s preseason coaches poll.
We broke down the region’s 8-man teams, their top players and their postseason chances below.
1A DIVISION I WIC
1. NOTUS
Last season: 7-2, 4-0 1A D-I WIC
Playoffs: Lost to Carey 46-16 in quarterfinals
Coach: Joe Woodland, sixth season
Career record: 28-17
Base offense (coordinator): I-formation (Woodland)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-4 (Brad Huter)
Key players: Grayson Benitez, sr., RB; Benny Guevara, jr., QB; Easton St. Germain, sr., OL/DL; Adrian Avila, sr., RB/DE
Graduation hit the three-time defending league champs hard. Add in injuries to two key returners, and Notus returns just five starters (three offense, two defense). But the Pirates still finished as the unanimous preseason favorite thanks to their mix of speed, size and experience.
Benitez headlines the speed category. He led the league in receptions and receiving touchdowns last fall. He moves into the backfield, where he should get even more touches, after Gunner Campbell went down at camp with a knee injury.
Guevara provides the steady, experienced hand as returning first-team all-conference quarterback, with 19 touchdowns and just one interception a year ago. His decision making, arm and legs will be key for a young lineup.
And St. Germain leads the offensive and defensive line as a two-time, first-team all-conference pick. He returns for his third year in the starting lineup.
T-2. IDAHO CITY
Last season: 3-6, 3-1 1A D-I WIC
Playoffs: Lost to Carey 70-6 in first round
Coach: Jason Roeber, 13th season
Career record: 52-53
Base offense (coordinator): Power I (Roeber)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-2 (Roeber)
Key players: Dax Olvera, sr., OL/DL; Tell Jewel, sr., UTIL/CB; Rauri Mulrey, sr., TE/LB; Trey Martini, jr., QB
The Wildcats outperformed expectations last year, going from fourth in the preseason rankings to second in the final standings. But a blowout loss in the playoffs left Idaho City hungry for more.
Four starters return on both sides of the ball, including two in the trenches. Roeber said those big men will allow the Wildcats to develop some new weapons in the backfield. But one constant remains Martini, who impressed as a sophomore quarterback and proved himself as a natural leader.
T-2. RIMROCK
Last season: 3-4, 2-2 1A D-I WIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Samuel Ward, third season
Career record: 6-8
Base offense (coordinator): Wishbone (Ward)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Ryan Theodozio)
Key players: Ronaldo Gomez, jr., QB/DB/K/P; TJ Gonzalez, sr., OL/DL; Trevor Carothers, jr., RB/DB/DE
The Raiders ought to remain potent on the ground, and they have 12 returning starters (six offense, six defense), including all three offensive linemen.
Gomez stands as the primary beneficiary of all that beef up front as a dual-threat quarterback who made the all-conference first team at three positions (quarterback, defensive back, kicker). But look for a loaded backfield led by a versatile Carothers to rack up yards and force defenses to play Gomez straight.
4. WILDER
Last season: 2-6, 1-3 1A D-I WIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Jeremy Bailey, first season
Career record: 0-0
Base offense (coordinator): Shotgun (Isaac Lopez)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-1-4 (Eric Lopez)
Key players: Noe Anguiano, sr., RB/MLB; Bryan Jove, sr., TE/S; Julian Neri, jr., RB/QB/CB; Isaac Rodriguez, sr., RB/CB
Former coach Kyle DalSoglio left after 14 years to join the Rocky Mountain coaching staff. But don’t expect wholesale changes from the Wildcats. Bailey said their identity is still based on running the ball, and they have 11 returning starters (six offense, five defense).
A loaded backfield returns with Anguiano, a first-team all-conference pick, Neri and Rodriguez. Neri moves over as Kyven Gephart returns from an ACL tear to reclaim the starting quarterback spot he staked out as a freshman. But Bailey said the offensive and defensive lines will have to improve, as they start the year thin on experience and bodies.
5. GEM STATE-GREENLEAF
Last season: 2-6, 0-4 1A D-I WIC
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Jeremy Perkins, second season
Career record: 2-6
Greenleaf-Gem State did not respond to the Idaho Statesman’s preseason survey.
1A DIVISION II LONG PIN
1. COUNCIL
Last season: 7-3, 5-0 1A D-II Long Pin
Playoffs: Lost to Castleford 6-0 in quarterfinals
Coach: Andy Glenn, third season
Career record: 12-6
Base offense (coordinator): Wing (Dan Shumway, Glenn)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2 (Shumway)
Key players: Dahlton Bingham, sr., RB/DB; Mason Roberts, sr., LB; Jaxon Thomas, sr., OL/DL; Nathan Jordan, sr., OL
The Lumberjacks bring back first-team all-conference selections at key positions like running back, linebacker and center, making them the favorite to repeat as league champs.
Bingham leads the way as an explosive weapon out of the backfield. He produced 1,327 total yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago for first-team all-league honors at running back and defensive back. He’ll run behind a big, athletic offensive line led by Jordan and Thomas (6-4, 320). “We are going to ride those big horses,” Glenn said.
Roberts (12.1 tackles per game) returns as the heart of Council’s defense, which Glenn called Council’s best in years. But the battle to replace a four-year starting quarterback remains open heading into fall camp, and the Lumberjacks will remain young there no matter who wins it.
2. GARDEN VALLEY
Last season: 9-2, 4-1 1A D-II Long Pin
Playoffs: Lost to Dietrich 72-20 in semifinals
Coach: Jason Yearsley, 13th season
Career record: 57-55
Base offense (coordinator): Spread option (Yearsley)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-3 (Ben Fackrell)
Key players: Tacoma Kelly, sr., QB/DB; Kaden Zimmer, sr., WR/DB; Trevor Corn, jr., RB/DE; Tyler Easterday, sr., OL/DL
A lifelong relationship between Kelly and Zimmer puts the Wolverines just a hair behind Council in the preseason rankings. The two have played together since kindergarten, and both earned major awards last fall. Kelly, a dual-threat quarterback, was the league’s offensive player of the year, while Zimmer was a second-team All-Idaho selection.
Add in Corn in the backfield, and Garden Valley starts with loads of athletic playmakers. But the Wolverines remain young on the offensive line. How the group matures remains the key to another long postseason.
3. HORSESHOE BEND
Last season: 6-4, 3-2 1A D-II Long Pin
Playoffs: Lost to Dietrich 54-20 in first round
Coach: Craig Elliott, eighth season
Career record: 39-24
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Elliott)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2 (Richard Beyers)
Key players: Kaelun Jones, sr., RB/LB; Nic Cooper, sr., OL/DL; Carson Drake, sr., QB
Blayne Meyer, a two-time, first-team All-Idaho running back, often drew the bulk of attention last year before graduating. But four returning starters on both sides of the ball leave the Mustangs well prepared to make another playoff run.
Jones (1,211 yards, 13 TDs) gets the chance to shine as the primary running back. Drake (1,295 passing yards, 15s) morphs from a game manager into a primary weapon. And Cooper leads an experienced offensive line as a four-year starter and a “coach on the field,” Elliott said.
4. TRI-VALLEY
Last season: 4-4, 2-3 1A D-II Long Pin
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Tyler Waggoner, first season
Career record: 0-0
Base offense (coordinator): Wing-T (Waggoner)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Zach Baity)
Key players: Jace Waggoner, so., QB; Gage Warren, sr., RB/LB; Claytin Harper, sr., WR/DE; Trevor Farrens, sr., RB/LB
Thirteen starters (six offense, seven defense) return, making the Titans a potential sleeper in the Long Pin. But speed remains Tri-Valley’s calling card. Harper was the 100-meter state champ in the spring. And Warren and Luke McHenry both return after second-team all-conference honors in the backfield as two more speedy weapons.
Sophomore Jace Waggoner takes over at quarterback. He impressed as a freshman athlete, finishing as a state runner-up wrestler at 132 pounds and being a starter at safety before a season-ending injury.
5. SALMON RIVER
Last season: 2-7, 1-4 1A D-II Long Pin
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Ty Medley, fifth season
Career record: 8-25
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Derek Wilson)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Medley)
Key players: Cordell Bovey, sr., WR/LB; Gabe Zavala, sr., QB/DB; Devon Herzig, jr., G/LB
The squad from Riggins brings back six starters on both sides of the ball, including several key weapons to a turnaround. Zavala returns at the head of the offense as a dual-threat quarterback, and he’ll have an improved receiver group to spread the field with and open up the running lanes, Medley said.
Herzig also returns as a three-year starter on the offensive line and a first-team all-conference pick, one who may see some time in the backfield, too. But depth remains a major concern: Salmon River started fall camp with just 11 players.
6. CASCADE
Last season: 1-4
Playoffs: Ineligible
Coach: Keala Hoe, second season
Career record: 1-4
Base offense (coordinator): Option (Hoe)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2 (Pal Sartori)
Key players: Tyler Thurston, sr., QB; Hayden Hull, jr., OL/DL; Cole Olson, jr., TE/DE; Stuart Derek, jr., RB/DB
After playing as an independent last fall, the Ramblers return to a full Long Pin schedule for the first time since 2018. They bring back 13 starters (six offense, seven defense) with a year of varsity experience under their belt as Cascade tries to re-establish the program.
Veterans still remain in short supply. Hoe said the Ramblers will field plenty of athletes who can run, thanks to their involvement in other sports.
