Century Diamondbacks

Schedule:

8/26 @ Burley

9/9 vs. Pocatello

9/23 @ Twin Falls

9/30 vs. Highland

10/6 @ Minico

10/14 vs. Idaho Falls

10/21 @ Preston
10/28 Great 8 Playoff or @ Skyline TBD

Head Coach Dave Spillett enters year number two at Century High looking to restore the program to past glories. The Diamondbacks won 3 State 4A Titles in the first 6 years of existence largely due to the great influx of good athletes and a stellar job done by then HC, Layne Coffin. Last year was a rough year for the D-Backs (1-7), as they suffered from lack of numbers and the graduation of a number of good players that had success the year before under former Coach Nate Borchert. Besides stellar athletes, Ty Ravsten and LB Nate Wall, who has moved on to play at Harvard, the cupboard was all but bare for Spillett and Co. No worries, Spillett won the job with a long-term plan, and a commitment to the program that hasn't been all the way there since Coffin left the school. Spillett developed the feeder program and had a very good Freshman group that will be looked to for great things by next year, if not sooner. With only a few real difference makers, the D-Backs struggled to put whole games together, although Wall and Ravsten provided a tandem that were as good as any in the State. The problem is, in football, 2 guys can't get it done in an 11-man team sport. The good news for Century is they return their QB Logan Burwell and he has a few guys that can make plays around him. If Burwell can keep his turnover numbers low, I think that Century can win a number of games just on coaching and game management, plus there is a wealth of talent in the sophomore and freshman class that might shine earlier than expected. This will be another building year for CHS, but expect them to be in most ball games and surprise a few teams. By next year and the year after, Century should be a force to be reckoned with in the whole 4A. Spillett has a very dedicated staff. They are young, have a good rapport with the kids, and all come from successful programs. I see Century returning to the upper echelon in 4A in the next few years.

Highland Rams

Shedule:
8/26 @ Skyview (UT)
9/3 vs. Carson City (NV)
9/9 vs. Woods Cross (UT)
9/17 vs. Vanden (CA) @ UofI Kibbie Dome
9/23 vs. Hillcrest
9/30 vs. Century
10/7 vs. Pocatello
10/14 @ Skyline
10/28 vs. Idaho Falls

2010 was a year to forget for the Highland Rams. Coupled with a daunting schedule, the Rams suffered from inexperience at too many vital positions, and slipped to a 4-6 campaign. The Rams were extremely young and inexperienced on defense, and it showed from the get go. As has become the norm with Head Coach Gino Mariani's squad, the 2010 schedule was grueling. They opened up getting stroked by Utah perennial powerhouse Timpview in Provo, and showed that they didn't have the ability to consistently stop opposing offenses. They still won a weak 5A East, but close losses to Eagle, Poky, Riverton HS (UT), and Centennial in Round 1 of the playoffs left everyone in the program with a bad taste in their mouths. A 4-6 finish is the first losing season at Highland in close to 30 years, so I expect them to bounce back in a major way. Fortunately for the Rams, there is a lot to look forward to and a lot of talent returning on both sides of the ball. To be sure, the loss of 2-year starting QB Tanner Nielson will hurt
along with the loss of OT Josh Cutler, now at Idaho State, but the Rams return a ton of playmakers and 3 OL, anchored by Montana Gessell and Jordan Ronk who both have excellent size and mobility. Those playmakers on O start with returning all-purpose star Kai Campbell. The SR returned a handful of kicks and punts for scores last year and is a legitimate threat to go all the way every time he touches the ball. The Rams will rely on his production and leadership, especially early against great competition from out of state teams. Assisting Campbell will be a number of playmakers, starting with new QB Neil Jewell. The junior will need to come on quick and play well early for Highland to weather the tough out of conference slate they face. Luckily, he is capable and has a live arm, but is unproven. At tailback, senior Andre Lopez and junior Michael Beseris possess good quickness and speed and will get the bulk of the carries, mixing in occasional touches from senior Ean Filiaga and Campbell. In the wide open, multiple set offense that Gino Mariani runs, there is a definite need for capable wide receivers. Besides Campbell, the Rams return seniors Cole Ashby and Kase Howell, and bring on junior Tanner Tingey, who is the last of group of siblings that have seen much success at HHS. Those 4 will provide the base for what is an almost always potent passing attack. They break in a new TE, junior Colton Shreve, who is 6'5" 220 lbs.

Pocatello Indians

Schedule:
8/26 @Madison
9/3 vs. Douglas HS (Minden, NV)
9/9 vs. Century
9/16 vs. Middleton
9/23 vs. Rigby
10/7 vs. Highland
10/14 vs. Preston
10/20 @ Box Elder (Brigham City, UT)
10/28 Great 8 Play-off

The Pocatello Indians are coming off an impressive 8-2 2010 campaign that finished in disappointment after having a lead for a good part of the game in the State Quarterfinals at eventual champion, Bishop Kelly. That was with a team full of underclassmen, who got hit by the injury bug late, notably losing QB/TE Jake Jardine, and do-everything ATH Jerron Batts. Both look to have made a full recovery, along with RB/LB Tanner Moore. Tom Harrison's team will be among the favorites to lift the 4A Title trophy at the end of November, and anyone associated with the program knows that anything but a title will be a big let down. The only loss to my knowledge in the offseason is that of QB Bodie Miller, who has opted to play fall baseball. The junior had the potential to be a college-caliber signal caller, but if the desire isn't there, they are probably better off anyway going with Jardine and/or the super athletic Chris Randall. The senior caused opposition fits all over the field with his deceptive speed and excellent moves. The offense as a whole has a bevy of playmakers, notably, RB Tanner Moore, RB Jerron Batts, QB/TE Jake Jardine, ATH Chris Randall, TE/WR Kade Teter, WR Jordan Christensen, and Varsity newcomer ATH Seiji Wood. Besides Wood, all these athletes accounted for a large percentage of Poky's overall offensive output last year, and their numbers should be even more productive in '11. The Offensive Line returns a number of starters across, and are bolstered by above average height and weight. The line should average 6'1" 250 lbs. across which is more than enough to get it done at the HS level. Harrison-coached teams are always pretty sound in the trenches, so I look for steady, if not great play from the Indians' OL this fall. As a whole, the Indian offense, with the return of so many productive playmakers, and a backfield of two 215 lbs. backs, should put up huge numbers this year. If they will limit the penalties and turnovers that have plagued them the last couple of years, I see Poky rolling up a lot of teams. Now to the Defense. I'm not totally familiar with the returnees on the D Line, but they do return 2 LB, in the aforementioned Batts, and Moore. There are a few hole to fill most notably left by the graduating LB Tyson Hoffman, LB Richie Te'O, and a good DB, Sean McClellan. Poky should be able to plug those holes and look for big things as well from ATH Carson Robbins. Overall, the D has some sorting out to do, but Harrison & DC Willie Walker always put a pretty sound product on the field. On Special Teams, Poky returns everyone. Scotty Lyons returns to assume kicking duties and has a very powerful, and adequately accurate leg. He routinely put the ball in the end zone for an automatic touchback in Idaho HS football, which is a weapon in and of itself. The punting should again be done by Randall, and the return game should be by committee. This is an area I'd really like to see Poky excel and focus on. Overall, this is a class that Poky supporters have circled to return to former glories. The offense is loaded, the D should be formidable as the season progresses, and their special teams should be sound. Overall, I see Poky winning the 4A 5th District and being among the top 2-3 in all of 4A. Will it culminate in a State Title in Holt in late November?

Finally..! Football is here!

Maybe it's just me, but it seems as the years go by, the local media coverage on Prep Sports has diminished to where it has become close to nothing.. I remember when I was in High School here in Poky, and all three news stations (KPVI, KIFI, & KIDK) and the Idaho State Journal were at practice everyday leading up to the annual Black & Blue Bowl between Poky & Highland. Not only that, the stories done by the news were informative, provided stats, and analyzed match-ups. You can't find that anymore.                                            

 So here I am, trying to re-introduce that a little bit. My main focus will be the 4A and 5A schools from East Idaho, but won't be limited to those schools. I'll try to cover other intriguing match-ups, but my focus due to personal interest will be mainly the bigger schools. Last year, I became so irritated by the lack of coverage and such a weak job done covering the Poky High Schools during the football and basketball seasons, that I decided to create a Blog. I don't want this to sound like I am bitter or have an axe to grind with any one entity in the media, in fact, I know many news stations and newspapers have had budget cuts and lack of funding, so the coverage falls off. Please bear with me, in that this is my first time taking something like this on, so it will be a work in progress and hopefully become better as time goes on and gives people something that many feel has been lacking in E. Idaho for some time.. I appreciate constructive criticism and would encourage anyone to leave comments and feedback, hoping that this can become an interactive site that is enjoyable for people looking for something new in E. Idaho. Over the next 10 days leading up to Zero Week (Aug. 26) I'll be featuring a few 4A and 5A teams each day.