6A SIC football preview: Ranking the preseason favorites, contenders and sleepers
A new high school football season kicked off Monday with its first practices, but judging from the 6A SIC preseason coaches’ poll, many expect it to end like last year’s campaign.
After meeting in the league championship game last fall, Rocky Mountain and Eagle finished atop the preseason rankings for the second straight year — with defending champ Rocky taking a comfortable finish at No. 1.
But the similarities end there. Three of the top seven teams in the poll hosted by the Idaho Statesman did not make the playoffs last fall, signaling a potentially chaotic season ahead.
We surveyed all 12 of the league’s coaches on their team’s prospects and the clubs to beat. Below are their answers.
1. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Division: Foothills
Last season: 10-1, 5-0 6A SIC Foothills
Playoffs: Lost to Rigby 21-18 in semifinals
Coach: Scott Criner, third season (seventh overall)
Career record: 55-14
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Andre Banks)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Quintin Mikell)
Key players: Jax Tanner, sr., OT/DT; Rowan Rupp, sr., DE; Rasean Jones, sr., WR/DB/P; Drew Byrd, sr., WR
Outlook: The Grizzlies lost seven Division I players from 6A’s top offense and defense to graduation. But with four more Division I commits entering camp, they start as the heavy favorite to reload and defend their SIC title, receiving eight of 12 first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Tanner headlines Rocky Mountain’s latest bumper crop of college prospects. The four-year starter and reigning Gatorade player of the year committed to BYU in July, and he’ll lead what Criner called an even more physical offensive line — a scary prospect for opponents.
Byrd (Washington State commit) and Jones (Boise State), a transfer from Baker City, Oregon, add a pair of explosive receivers on the edge. Rocky Mountain returns just five starters on both sides of the ball and lost most of its top offensive weapons, but the duo ought to give junior quarterback Kaelan Custer plenty to work with as he steps into the varsity starting lineup alongside new tailback Oakley Baxter, a junior.
The defense remains loaded. Rupp (Boise State) wreaks havoc along the defensive line, earning first-team All-Idaho honors with 10 sacks last fall. He’ll lead a defensive line Criner called special, and with two shutdown corners, they’ll have plenty of time to get to the quarterback.
2. EAGLE
Division: River
Last season: 9-2, 5-0 6A SIC River
Playoffs: Lost to Rigby 41-21 in finals
Coach: James Cluphf, third season
Career record: 19-3
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Cluphf)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Zac Farnam)
Key players: Noah Burnham, sr., RB; Austin Ramsey, sr., QB; Jaxson LeBeau, sr., LB; Zay Wright, sr., DB
Outlook: Conference and state titles remained just out of grasp last year for the Mustangs, who posted runner-up finishes in both races. But with 11 returning starters (six offense, five defense), Eagle enters the season as the clear favorite for a fourth straight River Division crown and has trained its sights on that elusive state trophy.
Burnham remains the name circled on every opposing scouting report. A two-time, first-team all-state selection, he led the 6A SIC in rushing yards (1,236) for the second straight year despite missing two-plus games. He and Ramsey (1,779 passing yards, 23 TDs) form a nightmare for defenses. And Cluphf said Ramsey, a former option specialist, has become more dangerous as a downfield threat in his fourth season on the varsity squad.
The defense features a few new players in key spots. Cluphf said the Mustangs will learn a lot about themselves the first couple of weeks. But Eagle can rely on a three-year starter at each level to smooth over some early growing pains. LeBeau tops that list as last year’s leading tackler (79). Jeremiah Minnett headlines the group in the trenches, while Wright (56 tackles) provides a shutdown option in the secondary.
3. TIMBERLINE
Division: Foothills
Last season: 6-4, 3-2 6A SIC Foothills
Playoffs: Lost to Kuna 45-37 in first round
Coach: Ian Smart, ninth season
Career record: 42-63
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Shawn Res)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Smart)
Key players: Hudson Lewis, sr., WR/S; Jack Brant, sr., QB; Nash O’Kelley, sr., TE/LB; Sam Haener, sr., TE/DL
Outlook: The Wolves find themselves in an unfamiliar situation with preseason expectations. A year after being picked 11th out of 12 teams, the Timberline took the third spot in the SIC’s preseason poll — the Wolves’ highest placement since their inaugural season in 1998, when they played at what’s now the 5A level.
Not bad for a program with two playoff wins in 27 years.
That forecast is well-founded, though. The Wolves bring back 13 starters (six offense, seven defense), and five prospects have committed to a Division I program. Brant (UC Davis) and Lewis (Washington State) lead the decorated group as a pair of three-year starters and the state’s top returning quarterback-receiver duo. But senior offensive lineman Andrew Price (Hawaii), O’Kelley (Idaho) and Haener (UC Davis) prove Timberline is more than just a flashy passing game.
Smart said the Wolves’ offensive line took big steps in the offseason, and the defensive front seven led by O’Kelley (93 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss) remains a veteran and savvy group. But depth remains thin at wide receiver and corner. Timberline needs a few young players to step up at those positions.
4. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Division: River
Last season: 3-6, 2-3 6A SIC River
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Brian Compton, fourth season
Career record: 23-34
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Compton)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Andrew Bothke)
Key players: Hank Nelson, sr., QB; Brody Munson, sr., WR; Val Gomez-Ricks, sr., RB; Gavin Drawe, jr., OLB
Outlook: The perennial power tumbled down the standings last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and tying the program low with a 3-6 record. But few expect the Mavericks to struggle again, not with a league-high 17 returning starters (eight offense, nine defense) and loads of offensive talent.
Nelson stands atop that list of offensive firepower. The three-year starting quarterback threw for 1,543 yards and 12 TDs last fall, and he brings back a pair of experienced running backs in Gomez-Ricks (523 rushing yards, seven TDs) and Logan Pichardo. His top wideout also returns in Munson (44 catches, 630 yards). But his largest present comes in the form of a healthy Tyler Weaver, who impressed as a sophomore (700 receiving yards, 10 TDs) before losing his junior season to an ACL injury.
The Mavericks’ defense gave up an uncharacteristic 32.6 points per game last fall. But after getting thrown into the fire as a junior-heavy group, nearly the entire unit returns, looking to restore Mountain View’s place as one of the state’s most feared defenses. Compton added that a tough early-season schedule provides the Mavericks with the chance to prove they are back and ready to contend again.
5. MIDDLETON
Division: Foothills
Last season: 6-5, 3-2 6A SIC Foothills
Playoffs: Lost to Coeur d’Alene 35-21 in quarterfinals
Coach: Bill Brock, 26th season
Career record: 259-132
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Brock)
Base defense (coordinator): 6-2 (Mark Woodall)
Key players: Drew Holman, sr., QB/RB/LB; Jake Perez, sr., RB; Gavin Mortensen, sr., FB/TE/DL/LB; Ryan Lewis, sr., LB
Outlook: The Vikings voluntarily chose to stay in the state’s top classification. They’ve more than proved they belong, making the playoffs all three years in the division. That success breeds respect. And with 12 returning starters (five offense, seven defense), Middleton starts the season expected to contend into November again.
Holman remains a wrecking ball no matter where he lines up. The future University of Portland catcher led 6A with 148 tackles last fall, earning first-team All-Idaho honors. He’ll lead a loaded defensive front seven alongside Lewis (91 tackles) and Mortensen (90 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss). Brock called that group smart and savvy — it helped Middleton rack up 24 turnovers a year ago, the third most in 6A.
Holman’s role on offense remains undefined at the moment. He’s one of four options battling for snaps at quarterback. But whoever wins the job gets the luxury of a returning tailback like Perez. He ranked among the 6A state rushing leaders before a season-ending injury, posting 732 yards and 10 TDs in six games.
6. OWYHEE
Division: River
Last season: 5-4, 2-3 6A SIC River
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Jason Burton, third season
Career record: 37-29
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Travis Stuart)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Matt Greene)
Key players: Ryan Brekke, sr., TE; Logan Haustveit, sr., DB; Mason Perkins, sr., OL; Zach Eason, sr., OL
Outlook: A one-point overtime loss and the MaxPreps computer rankings kept the Storm out of the playoffs last year. Now Owyhee looks to turn that heartbreak into fuel this fall with nine returning starters (six offense, three defense) and a new identity.
Burton said to expect a physical offense committed to the ground game. That change stems from what he called his best offensive line in his time with the Storm. Mason Perkins leads that group as a three-year starter with an offer from Eastern Washington. He and Eason will clear the way for Asher Gaudet, the team’s second-leading rusher last fall (330 yards).
Brekke, a Boise State commit, remains one of the state’s top tight ends and a mismatch every time the ball goes into the air. He forms part of three returning options as pass catchers. But Owyhee enters the season with a five-man quarterback battle, and all five bring limited varsity experience at the position.
The defense also must find a new identity after the graduation of Gage Haws, the team’s leading tackler for four years. Burton said a young group will get baptized by fire. But he said he likes the defense’s physical edge, and Haustveit (44 tackles) serves as the safety valve and a playmaker on the back end.
7. BOISE
Division: River
Last season: 5-4, 1-4 6A SIC River
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Mike Altieri, sixth season
Career record: 19-24
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Joel Clark)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Aaron Asaro)
Key players: Trevor Schoolfield, sr., QB; Eli Rich, sr., WR/DB; Will Gebert, sr., WR; Ashilo Machu, sr., DL
Outlook: A promising 3-0 start to the 2024 season slipped away as the Brave lost their first four River Division games, eliminating Boise from the playoffs. But a second straight season above .500 and 10 returning starters (six offense, four defense) proves the Brave are no longer a pushover.
Boise remains an explosive offensive club with Schoolfield returning for his third season as the starting quarterback. He brings back two of his top three receivers from a year ago. Rich (45 catches, 618 yards) will play a key role on both sides of the both with his speed after winning a state title in the 200 meters and finishing second in the 100. And Gebert (40 catches, 507 yards) poses a mismatch with his 6-3, 195-pound frame.
The offensive line traditionally poses Boise’s weak link. But the Brave bring back three of five starters in the trenches. And they added Baitian Li, a 6-8, 280-pound transfer originally from China, to the group.
Altieri said Boise remains fast and physical in the defensive front seven. Machu (12 tackles for loss, five sacks) leads the group as a disruptive force on the line. But Boise also needs a host of new faces to step into some big shoes left by last year’s graduating class.
8. CAPITAL
Division: Foothills
Last season: 3-7, 2-3 6A SIC Foothills
Playoffs: Lost to Madison 42-7 in first round
Coach: Kevin Hastin, third season
Career record: 67-54
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Hastin)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Rob Rathbun)
Key players: Elliot Schrack, jr., WR/FS; Zander Grow, sr., FB; Cooper Myers, sr., RB/S; Brayden Dudley, sr., QB
Outlook: The former powerhouse took a step forward last fall, winning its final two regular-season games to return to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Now with nine returning starters (five offense, four defense), the Eagles look to continue their climb back up the standings.
Hastin pointed to a bounty of returning offensive talent as a building block, adding Capital features more speed all around the field. Dudley (1,800 passing yards) returns for his third season under center. Schrack remains a blazing threat to take the tops off of defenses, and Grow steps into a featured role into the backfield and has become a weapon in the passing game, too.
The defense remains a work in progress after giving up 34 points per game, the second most in 6A. Graduation cost Capital the state’s sack leader and its entire defensive line. But five experienced and athletic defensive backs return, a group that should limit opponents’ explosive plays.
9. KUNA
Division: River
Last season: 5-6, 2-3 6A SIC River
Playoffs: Lost to Rocky Mountain 35-7 in quarterfinals
Coach: Beau Smith, second season
Career record: 5-6
Base offense (coordinator): I-formation (Scott Schultz)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Jeremy Ferguson)
Key players: Mason Pollard, sr., LB; Geno Salas, sr., RB; Lino Senio, jr., QB; Hyrum Heindel, sr., OL;
Outlook: The Kavemen shocked the league last season, scoring their first playoff win in the state’s top classification after finishing 10th out of 12 teams in the preseason coaches’ poll. That victory didn’t lead to much more respect this fall. But that fits a program that thrives with a chip on its shoulder.
Only six starters (five offense, one defense) return to try to prove those predictions wrong again. Smith said Kuna will stick with its run-first, throwback offense that gave opponents fits last fall. That street-brawl identity fits the Kavemen with Heindel, a first-team River Division pick, setting the tone and Salas pounding defenders as a fullback.
Look for the passing game to continue to evolve with Senio (1,212 passing yards, 10 TDs), now a three-year starting quarterback as a junior. The Kavemen started to loosen the reins last fall, and he’ll punish defenses that pack the box too much.
Pollard, another first-team River Division pick, is the only returning starter on defense. Despite that limited experience, Kuna will continue to bring pressure and try to attack offenses, betting its high-risk, high-reward strategy will create more mistakes than it surrenders.
10. BORAH
Division: River
Last season: 5-5, 3-2 6A SIC River
Playoffs: Lost to Post Falls 49-21 in first round
Coach: JQ Kenyon, fifth season
Career record: 18-21
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Kevin McCarthy)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-5 (Kenyon)
Key players: Mason McKenna, sr., OL/DL; Colton Poste, sr., LB; Brennan Earley, jr., OL; Dayton Wolverton, jr., QB
Outlook: The Lions made their third straight playoff appearance last fall. But heavy graduation losses, including quarterback Dylan Luekenga (second in 6A with 2,707 passing yards), leave new faces all over the field and temper preseason expectations for Borah.
The Lions started camp with just four returning starters (two offense, two defense) and just four letter winners on each side of the ball. Kenyon cautioned most of the team will play its varsity snaps in the season opener vs. Timberline. All that raw talent comes with a new identity, too.
After throwing the ball 35 to 40 times a game last fall, the Lions will play with a new physical edge thanks to a pair of three-year starters on the offensive line. McKenna was a second-team all-state selection last fall, and Earley provides the brains as someone who’s started since his freshman season. The duo will pave the way for running back Joel Trejo-Marin and give junior quarterback Dayton Wolverton time to create after missing last season with an injury.
Kenyon said his fresh-faced defense will field the most speed in his five years leading the program. But a league loaded with returning offensive talent will challenge that young group mentally prior to the snap.
11. MERIDIAN
Division: Foothills
Last season: 3-6, 2-3 6A SIC Foothills
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Christian McAlvain, first season
Career record: 0-0
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Austyn Carta-Samuels)
Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Jason Distefano)
Key players: LaGary Mitchell Jr., sr., LB; Holden Coy, sr., WR; Braden Gaustad, sr., DB; Jackson Seaver, sr., LB
Outlook: Twelve short months ago, the Warriors were riding a streak of three state semifinal appearances and stood as one of the state’s top programs. But a 3-6 campaign and two offseason coaching changes sent Meridian tumbling down the rankings.
McAlvain, a former Mountain View assistant, inherits a young squad with just six returning starters (three offense, three defense). The group includes one of the state’s top recruits in Mitchell, a Utah commit. He’ll lead a stacked linebacking group that will pair with Gaustad to shore up the back end of the Warriors defense.
The rest of the team remains filled with question marks going into the season. Quarterback stands at the top of the list as Meridian must replace a four-year starter, Zeke Martinez, at the position. The Warriors also need someone to step up as the top option in the backfield.
McAlvain said Meridian has plenty of talent in the skill positions to choose from. But whoever wins those jobs faces a tough early test with a trip to Eagle slated for the season opener.
12. CENTENNIAL
Division: Foothills
Last season: 0-9, 0-5 6A SIC Foothills
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Steve Sosnowski, first season
Career record: 64-85-1
Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Braden Young)
Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Joel Segraves)
Key players: Aiden Tilby, sr., DE; Tucker Warren, jr., DT; Nick Garcia, sr., RB/SS; Charlie Farris, jr., WR/S
Outlook: The Patriots’ struggles are well documented. Centennial last posted a winning record and made the playoffs in 2010, the longest active drought in 6A. It fielded the worst offense (11.3 ppg) and defense (45.2 ppg) in the classification last year. And the program is just 15-81 (.156) since legendary coach Lee Neumann retired 11 years ago.
But Centennial made a splash in the offseason by luring Sosnowski out of retirement. The member of four halls of fame comes with a reputation of rebuilding struggling programs. He did it at Meridian in the ’90s, snapping a 22-game losing streak in 1994. Now he looks to do the same for the Patriots, who enter on a 14-game skid.
He starts the rebuild with eight returning starters (five offense, three defense). Tilby and Warren provide a pair of building blocks on the defensive line, and look for Garcia to star on both sides of the ball. No one promises immediate results, but Sosnowski noted that the turnout at summer workouts impressed him.
This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 2:18 PM with the headline "6A SIC football preview: Ranking the preseason favorites, contenders and sleepers."
