8-man football preview: The teams to beat in Southwest Idaho’s 2A, 1A leagues

Two 8-man football leagues call Southwest Idaho home. But the two conferences could not start the year with more different story lines.

Notus returns as the unanimous favorite in the 2A Western Idaho Conference for the fifth straight year. Meanwhile, it looks like a hotly contested three-team race between Garden Valley, Tri-Valley and Council in the 1A Long Pin Conference.

It’s also worth noting the name change. Idaho ditched its 1A Division I and 1A Division II classification names this season. Now they are called 2A and 1A.

Check out every 8-man team and the top players in the region below.

2A WESTERN IDAHO CONFERENCE

1. NOTUS

Last season: 5-3, 3-0 1A Division I WIC

Playoffs: Lost to Oakley 70-6 in quarterfinals

Coach: Joe Woodland, seventh season

Career record: 33-20

Base offense (coordinator): I-formation (Woodland)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-3-2 (Brad Huter)

Key players: Benny Guevara, sr., QB; Kyler Morriss, sr., OL/DL; Ian Hill, sr., RB/LB; Gunner Campbell, sr., RB

Outlook: Injuries decimated the Pirates last season, as they started the year without two running backs and lost their quarterback midway through the campaign. But Notus still rolled to its fourth straight league title, and now it starts the year loaded and healthy with 11 returning starters (five offense, six defense).

Guevara returns under center for the third straight year as a dual-threat option and former first-team all-conference pick. Graduation cost Notus an explosive running back in Grayson Benitez (1,864 rushing yards, 28 TDs). But Campbell returns after an injury cost the projected starter and physical runner his entire 2023 season, while Hill provides a change-of-pace option.

All three also return as key pieces on defense, too. But one advantage of last season’s injury bug was the development of experience and depth on a senior-heavy roster.

2. RIMROCK

Last season: 2-6, 1-2 1A Division I WIC

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Sam Ward, fourth season

Career record: 8-14

Base offense (coordinator): Wishbone (Ward)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Ryan Theodozio)

Key players: Ronaldo Gomez, sr., QB/DB; Trevor Carothers, sr., WR/LB; Morgan Field, jr., OL/DL; Kas Bachman, jr., WR/DB

Outlook: The Raiders lost just one starter to graduation, leaving them with a wealth of experience as they strive for their first playoff berth since 2014.

Gomez leads the group once again as Rimrock’s do-everything weapon. The dual-threat quarterback racked up 2,115 yards of offense and 27 touchdowns last fall. But the nine-time all-conference selection returns loads of weapons around him, including Bachman, who set a school record with 26 catches last fall.

All that experience makes Rimrock flexible on both sides of the ball. It can adjust to what opponents give it. But tackling remains a worry after giving up heaps of explosive plays and 52.3 points per game last fall.

3. WILDER

Last season: 0-6, 0-3 1A Division I WIC

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Josh Duty, first season

Career record: 0-0

Base offense (coordinator): Pistol (Kass Rivera)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-2-3 (Nick Hanks)

Key players: Julian Neri, sr., RB/QB/LB; Alonzo Zamora, sr., WR/DB; Brandon Perez, sr., TE/DE; Shaun Fleming, sr., OL/TE/DL

Outlook: The Wildcats hit the reset button after a winless campaign. Duty steps in as Wilder’s third head coach in the past three seasons, bringing a new offense and defense with him. But he starts the year with the luxury of 12 returning starters (six offense, six defense).

Neri headlines that list after first-team all-conference honors last season on both sides of the ball as a utility player. Expect him to continue getting his hands on the ball all over the field. But with an improved offensive line, Duty said Wilder plans to reestablish its running game.

Tackling on defense remains a focus after the Wildcats gave up 44.7 points per game last fall. Duty said Wilder fields a strong group of linebackers and defensive backs, but limiting big plays remains a key to contending again.

4. IDAHO CITY

Last season: 2-6, 2-1 1A Division I WIC

Playoffs: Lost to Kamiah 56-22 in first round

Coach: Jason Roeber, 14th season

Career record: 54-59

Base offense (coordinator): Power-I (Roeber)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-2 (Roeber)

Key players: Rocco Olvera, jr., C/NT; Charlie Culver, sr., QB/CB; Michael Kaczmarek, jr., TE/DE; Jon Green, sr., TE/CB

Outlook: The Wildcats stepped up when it mattered last year, winning two conference games to make the playoffs for the fourth time in six years. Idaho City will eye another late-season run this fall with just four returning starters (two offense, two defense), zero all-conference selections back and limited depth.

Culver steps in as a leader at quarterback after playing a key role in the secondary a year ago. Kaczmarek and Green provide him two weapons to throw to at tight end. But Idaho City starts the season looking for someone to take the running back job by the horns.

Olvera anchors the defense at nose tackle after a breakout summer in workouts. Roeber said the future of the program remains bright, but a slew of young players will need to grow up quickly this season.

5. CENTENNIAL BAPTIST

Last season: 0-1

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Jeff Roberts, first season

Career record: 0-0

Outlook: The Mustangs did not respond to the Idaho Statesman’s preseason survey.

1A LONG PIN CONFERENCE

T-1. GARDEN VALLEY

Last season: 7-4, 3-2 1A Division II Long Pin

Playoffs: Lost to Camas County 70-13 in quarterfinals

Coach: Jason Yearsley, 14th season

Career record: 64-59

Base offense (coordinator): Single back (Yearsley)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-3 (Ben Fackrell)

Key players: Trevor Corn, sr., RB/LB; Rex Fackrell, sr., TE/DL; Trustin Brown, sr., TE/DL; Maxon Yearsley, jr., WR/DB

Outlook: Graduation cost the Wolverines a first-team all-conference quarterback in Tacoma Kelly (2,190 total yards, 30 TDs). But Garden Valley remains largely intact after that position, with 13 returning starters (seven offense, six defense).

Corn is still one of the state’s most feared players with or without the ball in his hand. He led the classification with 150 tackles and 23 tackles-for-loss for a spot on the all-state second team last year. Fackrell (64 tackles) and Brown (76 tackles, seven sacks) return along the defensive front to keep him free of blockers. Both hold offers from College of Idaho.

Junior Tyler Rowland steps into the starting quarterback spot, and Yearsley said the Wolverines ought to remain balanced with plenty of weapons around him all over the field.

T-1. TRI-VALLEY

Last season: 7-2, 4-1 1A Division II Long Pin

Playoffs: Lost 70-12 to Rockland in semifinals

Coach: Tyler Waggoner, second season

Career record: 7-2

Base offense (coordinator): Wing (Waggoner)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Zach Baity)

Key players: Jace Wagoner, jr., QB/LB; Elias DeVries, jr., FB/DE; Wyatt Moura, jr., C/DE; Eli Noah, jr., RB/LB

Outlook: Graduation left the Titans with just seven returning starters (three offense, four defense). But after surprising the league last season and with a boatload of speed returning, no one is overlooking Tri-Valley this fall.

Waggoner (1,793 total yards, 21 TDs) remains the trigger man for an offense that scored 47.3 points per game last fall. Tri-Valley lost a second-team all-state running back, Gage Warren (1,354 rushing yards, 20 TDs). But Noah impressed in the offseason with his physical streak and playmaking abilities in the backfield.

Waggoner (94 tackles) remains the building block on defense, too, with Moura (six sacks) and DeVries (six sacks in 2.5 games) providing the Titans plenty of ways to get into the backfield.

3. COUNCIL

Last season: 6-4, 5-0 1A Division II Long Pin

Playoffs: Lost 50-28 to Dietrich in first round

Coach: JC Tucker, first season

Career record: 0-0

Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Tucker)

Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Randy Nichols)

Key players: Wade Vining, sr., OL/LB; Decker McClinn, sr., RB/LB; Tucker Laine, sr., WR/LB

Outlook: The two-time defending league champs hit the reset button with an entirely new coaching staff. The Lumberjacks’ cupboards aren’t totally empty as nine starters return (four offense, five defense). But Tucker cautioned it’ll take time for him and his staff to get to know players, and for players to learn a new system.

Vining remains the cornerstone of the program after 105 tackles and second-team all-state honors last season. His leadership and versatility remain a weapon as he transitions into a linebacker role.

Junior Owen Hatfield returns for his second season under center, while McClinn and Garrison Zielinski (10 interceptions) will battle for carries. Both were first-team all-conference picks last year, but the honors came at different positions.

4. CASCADE

Last season: 5-3, 2-3 1A Division II Long Pin

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Keala Hoe, third season

Career record: 6-7

Base offense (coordinator): Option (Hoe)

Base defense (coordinator): 4-2 (Pal Sartori)

Key players: Hayden Hull, sr., C/DL; Cole Olson, sr., WR/DE; Stuart Derrick, sr., RB/DB; Finley Wilkins, jr., QB/DE

Outlook: After several seasons without a team and one year as an independent program, the Ramblers returned to the conference last year and surprised many by finishing fourth in the league standings. Now Cascade has set its next goal: the program’s first playoff berth since 2009.

Nine starters return (four offense, five defense) looking for that benchmark. The graduation of quarterback Tyler Thurston (1,598 total yards, 29 TDs) leaves a big hole. But Wilkins steps into the position as a potential breakout candidate. Cascade returns plenty of weapons around him, including top running back Derrick (850 rushing yards, nine TDs) and top receiver Olson (38 catches, 700 yards, nine TDs).

The Ramblers still have several key holes to fill, though. And Hoe said he’s looking for a more aggressive defense to challenge the Long Pin’s top programs.

T-5. HORSESHOE BEND

Last season: 4-5, 1-4 1A Division II Long Pin

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Richard Beyers, first season

Career record: 0-0

Base offense (coordinator): I-formation/pro (Ricky Karling)

Base defense (coordinator): 4-2/3-3 (Kenny Beckman)

Key players: Trey Bauer, sr., RB/LB; Colby Swan, sr., FB/LB; Mason Bellivue, sr., RB/LB; Lukken March, jr., QB

Outlook: The Mustangs enter a new era as Beyers, a 12-year assistant, takes over from Craig Elliott, who stepped down after eight seasons. Beyers won’t have a ton of returning talent to work with just six starters back (three offense, three defense). But he noted offseason weightlifting greatly improved after a rare November out of the playoffs.

Bauer returns after second-team all-conference honors as a utility player to lead a deep backfield. His speed and agility make him a threat for a big play each time he touches the ball. But he can rely on Swan and Bellivue as other options to keep defenses guessing.

That trio leads a strong linebacker group on defense, too. Horseshoe Bend must replace the bulk of its offensive and defensive lines though, a potential hurdle.

T-5. SALMON RIVER

Last season: 0-8, 0-5 1A Division II Long Pin

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Ty Medley, sixth season

Career record: 8-33

Base offense (coordinator): Spread (Derek Wilson)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-3 (Medley)

Key players: Devon Herzig, sr., RB/DE; Zyler Thomeczek, sr., RB/LB; Aaron Markley, jr., TE/DE; Blake Shepherd, so., QB/DB

Outlook: Salmon River has fallen on hard times, posting six straight losing seasons. But 12 returning starters (six offense, six defense) and improved turnout has it eyeing a climb back up the Long Pin standings.

All that returning talent includes the team’s leader in points scored (Herzig), receiving yards (Shepherd) and tackles (Thomeczek). Expect to see a heavy dose of Herzig in both the running and passing game. Shepherd brings a heady option to a battle for the starting quarterback spot. And Markley returns as the only remaining all-conference pick to lead a strong defensive line.

A large freshman class provides numbers to the program. But Salmon River might need several to contribute right away.