4A SRV football preview: Preseason predictions for the favorite, top challengers
Four 4A Snake River Valley teams qualified for the 12-team state playoffs last season, with Weiser and Homedale each advancing to the semifinals.
But an old power has emerged as the favorite in 2025.
Fruitland, which has five state championships to its name, received four of six first-place votes in the Idaho Statesman’s preseason coaches poll. The Grizzlies narrowly held off Homedale, which won five consecutive regular-season championships until Weiser upended the Trojans last season.
So which team will rise to the top? We broke down every contender and dark horse in the league below.
1. FRUITLAND
Last season: 8-3, 3-2 4A SRV
Playoffs: Lost to Kimberly 27-26 in quarterfinals
Coach: Jordan Gross, fourth season
Career record: 15-17
Base offense (coordinator): Shotgun 10 personnel (Mark Vidlak)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Russ Wright)
Key players: Kelvin Obot, sr., OL/DL; Titus Vidlak, jr., QB/DB; Spencer Tracy, sr., WR/DB; Rocky Weatherspoon, jr., OL/DL
Outlook: The Grizzlies return to the top of the 4A SRV, edging Homedale by one point, and garnering four of six first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll. Fruitland returns 11 starters (seven offense, four defense) from last year’s playoff team.
With more than 30 college offers and a commitment to the University of Utah, Obot will be the Grizzlies’ backbone. The four-star recruit earned first-team All-Idaho honors on both sides of the ball a year ago, posting 52 tackles with six sacks. Gross calls Obot a “generational athlete with incredible competitive spirit.”
Three returning offensive line starters will give reigning 4A SRV Offensive Player of the Year Vidlak plenty of time to work his magic. He amassed 2,065 passing yards, 577 rushing yards and 33 total TDs in 2024 to earn first-team All-Idaho recognition. He holds offers from Montana State, Sacramento State and Stephen F. Austin. Tracy (650 receiving yards, 9 TDs), junior Joel Philpot and senior Sutton Fitch will be Vidlak’s key targets.
While only four starters are back on defense, the Grizzlies have 15 returning lettermen to fill in the gaps. Obot, Weatherspoon and senior Evan Davis will provide strong experience on the line.
2. HOMEDALE
Last season: 10-1, 4-1 4A SRV
Playoffs: Lost to Sugar-Salem 28-14 in state championship
Coach: Matt Holtry, 17th season
Career record: 122-42
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Darren Uranga)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Tony Uranga)
Key players: Kade Hall, sr., RB/DE; Lukas Hall, sr., TE/K/P; Javid Blewett, sr., RB/LB; Xavier Uranga, sr., QB
Outlook: With a record of 46-2 on their home field over the last eight seasons, the Trojans are always in the mix for a league title, losing out by a single point to Fruitland for this year’s top spot in the preseason poll. Their hopes will be bolstered by the return of 17 starters (nine offense, eight defense).
Uranga begins his second year as Homedale’s starting quarterback, totaling 1,920 passing yards with 23 touchdowns to just four interceptions in 2024. He’ll get help in the backfield with the return of starting running backs Kade Hall (5.8 yards per carry) and Blewett (5.0 yards per carry). But the Trojans will need to replace the work of graduated receiver Luke Henry, a first-team All-Idaho pick, who collected 1,457 all-purpose yards and 19 TDs. Expect tight end Lukas Hall and receivers Chance Martell and Alec Campos to step up.
Homedale boasted the league’s top defense last season (11.1 ppg), and Holtry says many of his players have 6-7 years of experience in his system, starting in peewee ball. The Trojans have returners at all three levels and eight lettermen back to fill in the gaps. And special teams will get a boost with the return of All-Idaho first-team punter Lukas Hall (40.3 yards per punt).
3. WEISER
Last season: 8-3, 5-0 4A SRV
Playoffs: Lost to Homedale 27-7 in state semifinals
Coach: Tom Harrison, eighth season
Career record: 308-93
Base offense (coordinator): T-formation (Harrison)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Jason Bruce)
Key players: Cole Ingle, sr., RB/DB; Dylann Ashley, sr., OL/MLB; Klete Cook, jr., QB/DB; Ty Cobb, jr., RB/DE
Outlook: The Wolverines won their first regular-season league title since 2005 last season with a 5-0 mark in the SRV, but they’ll welcome a lot of new faces in 2025. Six starters return in all (three offense, three defense), opening the door for younger players to make their mark.
Cook takes over at quarterback after largely playing on junior varsity last season. He’ll hand off to Ingle, who totaled more than 800 rushing yards a year ago to earn first team all-conference honors and is also a receiving threat. Cobb started at defensive end last season but will assume a larger role at running back. Offensive lineman Ashley (all-conference first team on both sides of the ball) and tight end KJ Lachapele are the other returners on offense.
Ingle, Ashley and Cobb are the Wolverines’ lone returning defensive starters. Harrison says his defense is defined by “toughness” and will benefit from the return of Weiser’s entire coaching staff.
4. MCCALL-DONNELLY
Last season: 6-4, 2-3 4A SRV
Playoffs: Lost to Snake River 17-15 in play-in round
Coach: David Joyce, first season
Career record: 88-87
Base offense (coordinator): Wishbone (Joyce)
Base defense (coordinator): 6-1 (Joyce)
Key players: Joker Joyce, sr., WR/DB; Colt Value, sr., RB/LB; Gunnar Newman, sr., QB/DE; Carson McMindes, sr., WR/OLB
Outlook: Coming off a playoff appearance, the Vandals will have a new look under a first-year coach. Joyce will have plenty of experience to work with, including the return of 16 starters (eight offense, eight defense).
McCall-Donnelly transitions from the WestCoast offense the past two seasons to the wishbone, and they’ll have a new quarterback under center. Newman was a first-team all-conference selection at tight end a year ago, and Joyce hopes Newman’s height and ability to use his legs will give the Vandals a head start.
Newman will be able to lean on all-conference first-team running back Value, who Joyce described as a “big, physical, fast player who has a compact build and does not avoid contact.” The biggest offensive question mark will be the Vandals’ offensive line.
The Vandals had the second-best defense (14.9 ppg) in the SRV last season and return a load of experience. Joyce says his defense is “tall, long and physical,” but will need time to settle into a new scheme.
5. COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN
Last season: 1-8, 0-5 4A SRV
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Jordan Henslin, first season
Career record: 0-0
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Tyler Bode)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Kamalei Correa)
Key players: Ethan Minegar, jr., WR/RB/LB; Brady Sautebin, sr., LT/DE; Tyler Harr, jr., C/DT; Aiden Shanks, sr., RB/S/LB
Outlook: The Chargers took their lumps in their first season in the 4A SRV, the highest classification in program history. But excitement is high with a new coach taking the helm. Henslin will need to revive a team that ranked last in the league in offense (14.9 ppg) and defense (36.9) a year ago.
Minegar will be a spark plug on both sides of the ball for the Chargers, earning second team all-conference recognition on offense and honorable mention on defense in 2024. They’ll move him all over the field to take advantage of his speed (second at state in the 200 meters) and bump up his numbers from last season (406 receiving, 110 rushing). Shanks adds another element of speed to the offense after placing second in the state 100 meters.
Harr, a 4A SRV honorable mention pick, is the Chargers’ top returning tackler (60) and is joined by fellow returning starters Minegar, safety Jesse Hager and cornerback Noah White. Cole Valley’s defensive scheme will be led by Correa, a Boise State graduate and former NFL linebacker who was drafted 42nd overall (second round) by the Baltimore Ravens in 2016.
6. PAYETTE
Last season: 4-5, 1-4 4A SRV
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Marty Avila, second season
Career record: 4-5
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Tracy Bratcher)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Daniel Pencunia)
Key players: Darrien Pecunia, sr., QB/DB; Michael Ocampo, sr., WR/DB; Eli Lopez, sr., OL/DL; Calvin Shaffer, sr., OL/DL
Outlook: Outside expectations may not be high based on the preseason coaches’ poll, but the Pirates have one of the most experienced rosters, with 18 returning starters (eight offense, 10 defense).
Darrien Pecunia is back at quarterback, earning honorable mention recognition in the 4A SRV last season. He’ll have a stable of targets to throw to, including returning tight end Jesse Baker and receivers Ocampo, Ethan Chase and Anthony Fugate. Lopez and Shaffer will anchor the line, and Jahzyon Sylva is slated to start again at running back.
Defense was the Pirates’ problem last season, giving up 32.4 points per game. They’ll try to right the ship with nearly their entire starting lineup back. Avila says Payette is deep at defensive back, but a potential weakness will be a lack of depth elsewhere and the stamina of its two-way starters.
This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM.
