Football Preview 2011

FOOTBALL PREVIEWFOOTBALL PREVIEW

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS

PULLMAN GREYHOUNDS • MOSCOW BEARS • COLFAX BULLDOGS

TROY TROJANS • GENESEE BULLDOGS • COLTON WILDCATS • POTLATCH LOGGERS

KENDRICK TIGERS • DEARY MUSTANGS • GARFIELD-PALOUSE VIKINGS

20112011

2 | Friday, August 26, 2011 | MOSCOWPULLMAN DAILY NEWS Football 2011

ABOUT THE GREYHOUNDSCoach: Craig McCormick (7-13)Last season: 4-6 (2-3 in the GNL)Returning starters: 12Key returners: Scott Fleener (OL),

Adam Mahama (OL), Trevor Edwards (OL), Ezra Sanders (OL), Joel Paul (OL), Matt Peterson (WR), Dylan Moore (RB)

Big game: Moscow — “We always talk about how bad they beat us last year, but it’s not going to happen again. We are going to show them who’s boss,” senior offensive lineman Ezra Sanders said.

Team strength: Offensive lineTeam weakness: Depth

Offensive and defensive lines hope to push into the playoffs

By Andrew NemecDaily News staff writer

Usually, the star of a football team is a quarterback, running back or wide receiver, but the Pullman Greyhounds shine the spotlight on a talented offen-sive line ready to smash its way into the playoffs.

The Hounds’ offensive line, a unit made up of five leaders in Scott Fleener, Adam Mahama, Trevor Edwards, Ezra Sanders and Joel Paul, should be among the best in the league. If football really is won in the trenches, this could be a solid year for Pullman.

“It feels like you’ve got something to work with,” coach Craig McCormick said. “We’re not real deep there, but we are really strong as far as the starters go.”

Edwards is the team’s spiritual lead-er and brings a contagious intensity to the lines

Paul is the guy teams would rather not have to line up against.

“He’s our guy that’s going to be the first one off the bus when we are on the road, because he’s (intimidating) look-ing,” McCormick said. “He’s developed

into a very good nose guard.”But even at their strongest positions

the Hounds lack depth. The last two senior classes were too small to build a

Hounds to battle in the trenches

Dean Hare/Daily NewsPullman coach Craig McCormick gives a play to the scout team.

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strong program, and Pullman is just now beginning to dig its way out, missing the playoffs with a loss in its last game a season ago.

“Because our class sizes aren’t very big that’s going to be true for another year or so,” McCormick said. “We had some good seniors that’ll be hard to replace, but as a result of that we have a shift in the strength of our personnel.”

Athletic, scrambling junior Justin Cillay will be called on to fill the quarterback position left vacant by the graduation of Tyler Langerveld.

“Putting a junior in there you are going to suffer some growing pains,” McCormick said. “On the other hand, it feels good to think that you’ll have him for two years. Program-wise, I’m happy we’ll have him for two years. He’s got a lot of talent — and some different from Tyler, so that will change our focus.”

Cillay will be aided greatly by that veteran offensive line. He should have time to throw the football and his running backs should be productive enough to keep defenses from loading the box.

The Hounds believe their defense has taken a major step forward and that the offense can be productive, which is all they may need.

“Our league doesn’t have an obvious powerhouse right now,” McCormick said. “It’s as open as it’s ever been. If you went around and asked coaches who was going to win the league I don’t think you would get a

unanimous answer. A lot of peo-ple are just where we are.”

League parity is a reason for optimism this year, as Pullman should have a chance to win every time they step out on the field. That is both a good thing and a bad thing — each game will come down to a couple of plays.

“I’ve been doing this a long time in this league and, with-out doing a statistical analysis, I can tell you that if you score four touchdowns you are prob-ably going to win. If you score two you are probably going to lose, and if you score three it’s probably a heckuva game,” McCormick said.

Pullman will find out where it stands in the second game of the season in a tradition-al battle with stateline rival Moscow. The Bears have won

2011 SCHEDULESept. 2: at Lakeside, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: at Moscow, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: vs. Lewiston, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: vs. Deer Park, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30: at Medical Lake, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: at Clarkston, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: vs. Cheney, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28: at West Valley, 7 p.m.

Nov. 3: vs. East Valley, 7 p.m.

the last two meetings, which is something that didn’t sit well with the Hounds.

“We definitely (want) to be in it, and obviously we’re talking a lot about that game,” McCormick said. “It’s absolutely a rivalry game. They’ve done a great job the last two years, so we need to respond to that — that’s our urgency early on in the year.”

If the Hounds can stay healthy a playoff berth is within striking dis-tance, and that’s something these seniors are striving to accomplish in their last season.

“These past couple of years we’ve struggled and I think we really have to prove to ourselves and to our community that Pullman can be a winning team,” two-way standout Dylan Moore said.

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And that’s getting Sandpoint off its perch

By Devin RokytaDaily News staff writer

In just three seasons at the helm of the Moscow football team, coach John Sheaff has changed the culture of the Bears’ program.

After inheriting a team that posted a 2-6 record in 2007, Sheaff has led the Bears to three consecutive six-win seasons, three years that ended in the Bears nar-rowly missing the playoffs.

Moscow has come up short, but the expectations have changed.

“I expect nothing less than what we’ve been achieving the last three years,” Sheaff said. “We always have high expectations — the coaches have high expectations, the players have high expecta-

tions.”Those expectations aren’t

being tempered this year despite the fact that the Bears graduated 17 seniors from last year’s squad. The reason is tradi-tion.

“ P l a y e r s graduate all the time, tradition does not gradu-ate. Tradition stays,” Sheaff said. “You can build off tradi-tion and have great things happen with tradition.”

This newly created tradi-tion means the Bears no longer go into a season merely hoping to compete, but rather expect-ing to win.

“We defi-nitely have that kind of mental-ity — we want to win, and we know how it feels to win,” quarterback Josh Helbling said. “It’s good to have that around.”

The recent success of the Bears’ program hasn’t been limited to wins. Moscow has

also begun to turn out ath-letes talented enough to play at the next level, most recent-

ly running backs Jayson W a s h i n g t o n and Justin Parkins join-ing the Idaho Vandals, former quarterback Jake Helbling earning a s c h o l a r s h i p to Montana Tech, and Dana Adams catching on at Carroll College.

“Those guys speak vol-umes for what this program has come to,” Sheaff said.

It’s a start, but the Bears have larger goals — unseat-ing Sandpoint, which has rep-resented the 4A

Inland Empire League in the state playoffs the last three seasons.

Devin Rokyta can be reached at (208)882-5561, ext. 231, or by email at [email protected].

Geoff Crimmins/Daily NewsMoscow High School football players run through drills on Monday.

There’s a point to Moscow’s winning tradition

2011 SCHEDULESept. 2: at West Valley, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: vs. Pullman, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: vs. Clarkston, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: vs. Priest River, 7 p.m. (homecoming)

Sept. 30: at Bonners Ferry, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: at CDA, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: at Timberline, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: at Lakeland, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28: vs. Sandpoint, 7 p.m.

“Players graduate all the time, tradition does not graduate.

Tradition stays.”

John SheaffMoscow coach

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MOSCOWPULLMAN DAILY NEWS | Friday, August 26, 2011 | 5Football 2011

ABOUT THE BEARSCoach: John Sheaff (4th

season, 18-8)Last season: 6-3Top returners: Tommy Behr,

(OL/LB), Cael Wear (WR/LB), Aaron Donaldson (WR/DB), Austin Kiblen (OL/LB), Danny McGurkin (OL/DL)

Breakout players: Bo Olmstead (C/LB) — “Knows the offensive line, can make calls left and right so everybody knows where they’re going,” Sheaff said. … Kyle Snyder (QB/RB/WR/DB) — “Dynamic player, can play lots of positions and is smart enough to play those positions.” … Josh Helbling (QB) — “Going to be a great quarterback for us. He throws the ball well and he runs the ball well.” … Brady Braun (RB/LB) — “He’s gonna be the pounder inside for us.”

Big game: “With our schedule, we start off with West Valley, then we’ve got Pullman, Clarkston, Priest River, Timberlake, Lakeland and Sandpoint. How can you not be up for those types of games?”

Strengths: Teamwork — “They’ve really pushed each other in the weight room, they push each other out in speed and agility. They really encourage each other and I think that’s going to be a huge strength to carry us through the season.”

Concerns: Inexperience after graduating 17 seniors — “We’re so young we don’t have a lot of experience at the varsity level.”

Star player just wants to win


Lane Brooks will be count-ed on to do just about every-thing but passing and kick-ing for the Moscow Bears this upcoming season.

The talented senior will be expected to line up at running back, wide receiv-er and in the secondary on defense.

Moscow coach John Sheaff envisions the multi-purpose player as his “go-to guy,” replacing the likes of former Bears’ stars Justin Parkins and Jayson Washington, now both wearing the black and gold of the University of Idaho Vandals.

“Lane will step up and be that guy,” Sheaff said.

Brooks, who is head-ing into his third season as a member of the var-sity squad, has waited patiently for his chance to fill that role, watching as Washington and Parkins carried the Bears.

“They really taught me a lot,” Brooks said. “They would teach me every day — they were like two extra coaches for me helping me out. I was lucky.”

Brooks has lofty expec-

tations for his senior year, but success won’t be gauged in the amount of yards and touchdowns he racks up, but in whether Moscow can end its decade-plus stretch

of playoff futility.“My main goal is to get

to state,” he said. “That’s my only goal really. My per-sonal goals don’t really mat-ter, it’s all about getting to state — I think it’s time we did it.

“... We always expect to have a good year, but I feel like this is the year we can get to state just with the people we have. ... Sandpoint, Lakeland, they’re good teams, but nothing better than what we are.”


Geoff Crimmins/Daily NewsMoscow High School’s Lane Brooks runs through drills in fall camp.

Moscow’s flow to go with Brooks“

My personal goals don’t really matter,

it’s all about getting to state — I think it’s time we did it.”

Lane Brooks

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The life of an offensive lineman isn’t all that glo-rious.

While the quarter-backs, running backs and receivers take all the acco-lades for the big runs and passes and the last-min-ute game-winning drives, it’s the big guys up front making that all possible.

“The receivers, backs and quarterbacks always get more publicity and the eyes out in the games, but we make a big part of it being an offensive lineman,” Genesee senior guard Mitch Renfrow said. “We set everything up.”

Renfrow anticipates he and his offensive line mates will be setting up plenty of big plays during the upcoming season. His optimism comes from the fact that the Bulldogs, a team that went 5-3 last

season, return all three starters (eight-man foot-ball plays with two guards and a center) and four senior line-men — center Jason Borth and guards Jack Hermann, Tyler Renton and Renfrow.

The group is part of a senior class that has yet to make a trip to the state football playoffs, an uncharacteris-tic drought for a proud Genesee program, which won its last state title in 2005.

“Genesee has a good football tradition, and it would be nice to get back on that because it’s kind of been down the last few years,” Hermann said.

“Anything less than that would be disappoint-

ing,” Renton added.Overall, the Bulldogs

return 14 upperclass-men, having lost only two

seniors from last season’s near-playoff team. Unfortunately, those two play-ers were run-ning back Tyler Stout and tight end Allan Berry, both focal points of Genesee’s offense last sea-son.

Coach Jason Hanson said he

expects to spread the ball around more, finding ways to use players like run-ning backs Garrett Jones and Ben Druffel, tight ends Reggie Tilleman and Ryan Kneale, and return-ing starting quarterback Sam Druffel.

But the success of those players largely will hinge

on how well the Bulldog line stacks up against their foes across the line of scrimmage.

The team’s offensive line-men concede they may give up a little in size to their opponents, but they plan to use speed and quickness to their advantage.

“That’s almost been our problem the last four years, we didn’t ever have anyone that was very big. We still

aren’t very big this year, but hopefully we can be faster and stay in front of everyone and let the backs and receivers make plays,” Renton said.

And hopefully those big plays lead back to state.

“We haven’t done that since we’ve been here,” Hermann said, “so it would be nice to get into the playoffs” and fur-ther.”

Dean Hare/Daily NewsGenesee quarterback Sam Druffel will count on protection from his offensive line this season as Bulldogs aim for state.

The line on Genesee2011 SCHEDULE

Aug. 26: at Lapwai, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2: vs. Prairie, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: at Potlatch, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: at Timberline, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: vs. Kendrick, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: vs. Lewis County, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: at Genesee, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: at Troy, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28: vs. Clearwater Valley, 7 p.m.

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A LOOK AT GENESEECoach: Jason HansonLast season: 5-3Last state championship: 2005Returning players: Sam Druffel

(QB), Jack Hermann (OL), Mitch Renfrow (OL), Jason Borth (OL), Tyler Renton (OL), Ryan Kneale (TE), Garrett Jones (RB), Reggie Tillman (TE)

Breakout players: Reese Demellier (TE, DL) … Sam Vestal — “He’s played a lot, he’s a four-year kid,” Hanson said. “… He should able to make some waves.”

Big game: Every game — “There are no easy games in the Whitepine League unless it’s a bye week. The coaches do a great job and every year everybody gets better.”

Strengths: Experience and numbers. The Bulldogs had 26 players suit up for practice this fall, 14 of which were upperclassmen.

Questions: Hanson said his team must approach the season one game at a time, and not look past teams like Lapwai in week one. “Of course we’d like to play in November, but we need to come out and be ready for what (Lapwai is) doing.”

1. Kendrick

2. Troy

3. Genesee

4. Potlatch

5. Prairie

PROJECTED 2011 WHITEPINE STANDINGS

6. Deary

7. Clearwater Valley

8. Lapwai

9. Lewis County

10. Timberline

* Rankings are based on interviews with Whitepine League coaches


A playoff spot could be on the horizon this season if the first few days of practice are any indication for the Garfield-Palouse Vikings.

“It’s been the best three first days we’ve had in a while, just because of the enthusi-asm,” coach Scott Thompson said. “It’s been good to be back out.”

The Vikings finished second in their league last season and made the playoffs with a win in the last con-test of the regular season. That level of competitiveness in league play is expected again this season.

“Our league is going to be that way across the board,” Thompson said. “Last year it came down to the last week to decide the playoff spots, and I could really see that happen-ing again. It’s going to be a really close race.”

Senior offensive lineman Nathan Cocking returns to provide some experience.

Cocking missed much of last season, and his absence was felt. He is expected to be an impact player this season. Also providing senior leadership will be offensive and defensive lineman Jon Kuehner.

The juniors make up the bulk of the production on the Viking roster. Running back/linebacker Riley Hodges highlights the junior class and is one of the fast-est players in the league — argu-ably the greatest skill an individ-ual can have in eight-man foot-ball. Hodges ran for nearly 800 yards last season and is expected to pick up the

production left by the gradua-tion of last year’s leading rush-er (and tackler) J.B. Lange.

Quarterback/linebacker Anthony Floyd also returns after a solid sophomore cam-paign that saw him use his athleticism on both sides of the ball. Floyd was the most

Gar-Pal Vikings sail toward playoff run

See VIKINGS, Page 9

2011 SCHEDULESept. 9: vs. SelkrikSept. 16: at Almira-Coulee-HartlineSept. 23: at LaCrosse-WashtucnaSept. 30: vs. Liberty ChristianOct. 7: at St. John-EndicottOct. 14: vs. PomeroyOct. 21: vs. Touchet Oct. 28: at Sunnyside ChristianNov. 3: at Garfield-Palouse



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Taking aim with speed, size and a big arm


As the Colton football team picked up their playbooks on the first practice of the season, the team’s goal became clear — it was printed on the cover of the playbook.

There were no words of encouragement or inspiration in this message, just a picture of a building: the Tacoma Dome, site of the state championship game.

Colton football coach Clark Vining wanted the message to be absorbed from day one.

Consider the message sent.“It’s the goal every single year,”

quarterback Josh Straughan said. “My sophomore year the goal was to get to the Tacoma Dome. Well, we haven’t done that yet and that’s something we really want to do this year.”

Straughan is the biggest rea-son expectations have elevated, as he spent the entire summer showcasing his passing ability at various colleges.

Straughan wasn’t the only one who impressed this summer. Senior offensive/defensive line-man Tim Tilton worked out hard in the offseason and looks poised for an all-league type final prep campaign.

Also returning is the team’s

fastest player, running back/safe-ty Nick Robertson, who missed all but three games last year because of a weightlifting injury.

Robertson said the team is not only talented, but also has depth this season.

“We are going to have some depth this year compared to last year when we had eight guys — special teams, defense, offense. I think we are going to surprise a

lot of people this year and have an exciting season,” he said.

To have the type of season the Wildcats expect, they are going to have to replace Steve Eacker, who set a state record with 110 receptions last season, and Taylor Spence, who hauled in 73 catches of his own.

The Wildcats have been unable

Colfax makes football a community enterprise

By Matt BaideDaily News intern

Coach Mike Morgan has found success in the Colfax football program with his phi-losophy of building men of character through hard work.

His experience there didn’t start with success, though.

When Morgan took over as the Bulldogs’ head coach in 1998, his team struggled to pick up a single win, turning out a dismal 1-8 sea-son.

“I joked about having for sale signs in my yard,” Morgan said.

But the com-munity support-ed him and gave the inexperienced coach a sec-ond year to prove his worth. He rewarded them with an 8-3 season in 1999, followed by an 11-1 year.

In 2001, he and the Bulldogs brought back a state title to Colfax after a perfect 13-0 cam-paign.

After 14 years on the job, a 105-38 career coaching record,

a state title and two state sec-ond-place finishes, Morgan credits the community of Colfax for his success.

“We feel like we have things in place, and we have enough history in Colfax,” Morgan said. “We’ve got good people here who raise good, hard working kids that expect to compete in everything they do.”

Morgan wasn’t the first coach to experience success at Colfax. There was Tony Clark,

who has been with Colfax foot-ball since 1977, and of course Doug Curtis, the Bulldogs’ all-time winningest coach, whom Morgan served under as an assistant coach.

“Colfax is just one of those communities,” Morgan said. “They take a

great deal of pride at being good at just about everything they do, and so once you get a job in Colfax, you tend not to want to go to many other places.”

But to keep a program suc-cessful for this long, a coach

Dean Hare/Daily NewsColfax head coach Mike Morgan calls his players together during a Bulldogs’ practice in Colfax.

Success from hard work and character

Dean Hare/Daily NewsColton quarterback Josh Straughan pitches the ball to running back Zach Devorak during a Wildcats’ practice in Colton.

Colton sets sights on Tacoma

See COLTON, Page 11

See COLFAX, Page 11

2011 SCHEDULESept. 9: vs. DesalesSept. 16: at DavenportSept. 23: vs. LibertySept. 30: vs. ReardanOct. 7: at LakesideOct. 14: at Lind-Ritzville/SpragueOct. 21: at Mary WalkerOct. 28: at Kettle Falls

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Potlatch’s Pat Amos has breathed new life into Logger football

By Ben HandelDaily News intern

The Potlatch Loggers have never won a playoff game, but coach Pat Amos intends to change that this year.

In his four years as coach, Amos has breathed new life into a program with a history of los-ing. Last year the Loggers went 6-4 and made the state playoffs for the second year in a row

before fall-ing to even-tual state champions Troy in a close playoff game.

T h e L o g g e r s return six s t a r t e r s on offense and six on d e f e n s e , i n c l u d -ing first team all-league run-ning back S t e p h e n Brent and second team all-league defensive tackle Gavin Butterfield.

However, they will need to replace CJ Keasal and Logan Larson, two of last year’s seniors who led the team both on the field and in the locker room.

Larson and Keasal were part of the first class Amos coached for a full four years. They played a major role in changing the culture of Potlatch football and building a competitive program.

“My first two years we strug-gled due to numbers and some social situations,” Amos said. “Two years ago Logan Larson, CJ Keasal, Dustin Sheppard, Levi Dawson — that group of seniors and juniors made a decision to change the culture

here and become a football pro-gram.”

Amos said the leadership from his older players played a huge role in the success of the team that year.

“Our focus in practice improved and our attitudes improved on the field and in the school,” he said. “They changed the culture of the football pro-gram and obviously we’ve seen the benefit.”

The Loggers have made the playoffs only four times in team history, but two of those seasons have been in the last two years. Amos said winning a playoff game is the next big step for his team.

“We’ve got a great senior class coming in, very athletic, and the other day I asked them what they wanted their legacy to be,” Amos said. “Right now we’re making the playoffs, but we want to kick it up a notch and compete at a high level in the state playoffs. I think they are definitely capable of doing that.”

Key to the Loggers’ success will be the play of new quar-terback, junior Drew Magallon. He will have seniors Stephen Brent and James Amos in the backfield. Gavin Butterfield and Jake McMillian, also seniors, will anchor the offensive line along with juniors Chris Collins (center) and Philip Burkgart

(tight end). Although he said he thinks

his team can compete with the best, Amos knows the Whitepine League will be tough this year.

“Genesee lost only two from a very talented team. Prairie cur-rently has a program that will always produce a very tough team, and I know Troy lost a lot of players, but don’t overlook them. We saw them at camp and they are working very hard and playing very hard,” Amos said.

Ben Handel is an intern for the Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected].

Dean Hare/Daily News

Center Shaston McMannes snaps the ball as part of punting drills.

A change in culture

2011 SCHEDULESept. 2: vs. TimberlineSept. 9: at PotlatchSept. 16: at PrairieSept. 23: vs. TroySept. 30: at DearyOct. 7: vs. Clearwater ValleyOct. 14: at KendrickOct. 21: at LapwaiOct. 28: at Lewis County

A LOOK AT THE LOGGERS

Coach: Pat Amos (5th season, 15-23)

Last season: 6-4Top returners: Stephen

Brent (RB/OLB), James Amos (RB/LB), Travis Garcia (WR/OLB), Drew Magallon (QB/S), Phillip Burkgart (TE/ILB), Gavin Butterfield (G/DT), Chris Collins (C/DT), Jake McMillian (G/DE), Mark Amos (TE/DE)

Breakout players: Stephen Brent — “Is an outstanding athlete and a very dangerous runner,” Amos said. ... Travis Garcia — “A great receiver and scoring threat. We’ve got to get the ball in his hands more this season.” ... Drew Magallon — “Gives us a lot of options that we didn’t have last year with CJ. He has been working hard to get stronger and on his throwing skills.” ... Gavin Butterfield and Chris Collins — “Are the anchor to our defensive line. They will be tough to run against.”

Big game: Genesee — “We play Genesee, a very talented team that only lost two kids. Should be a great game.”

Strengths: “We have some guys that can move the ball and some guys that can hit pretty dang hard,” Amos said. “We return our entire offensive line this year so that will be a big key for us.”

Questions: “We lost a couple of leaders last year so we’re going to be looking for some leadership, but I think there are some kids on this team that can fill that role.”

improved Viking on the defen-sive side of the ball last sea-son and is expected to do big things both ways.

Perhaps no junior has seen more varsity action than line-man Wyatt Mitchell, who will be a third-year starter.

Sophomore Kevin Knauff, who started at middle line-backer as a freshman, will be “a year older and a year wiser than he probably should be,” Thompson said. However, that experience should serve him well this season as he mans the middle.

The Vikings will run a dou-ble-tight ground and pound, ball-control offense this sea-son. Defensively, Gar-Pal runs a blend of several looks to keep offenses off-balance. For most of the varsity start-ers, both playbooks are going to have to be absorbed.

Gar-Pal opens the season at home against Selkirk on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., but the first real test will be a week later when the Vikings hit the road to take on Almira-Coulee-Hartline, which battles into the playoffs every year.

“So that second non-leagu-er of the year is going to be a real gauge of where we are at,” Thompson said.

Andrew Nemec can be reached at (208)882-5561, ext. 230, or by email at [email protected].

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Troy wants to add another


A newly hung state title banner in the Troy High School gymnasium doesn’t change the way third-year coach Rob Bafus is approaching the upcoming season.

It’s always been about hanging ban-ners, and it still is.

“What else is there to shoot for?” Bafus asked. “If we’re not shooting to hang a ban-ner in the gym then what else is there?”

Last season’s cham-pionship was the first since 1980 for the proud football pro-gram. Despite numer-ous dominant seasons, including a four-year stretch from 2004 to 2007 in which the Trojans racked up a 38-6 record, a state title proved to be elusive.

The 2010 Trojans were different. Bafus said aside from the team’s superior ath-leticism, they also dis-played a great dedica-

tion to their ultimate goal.

“We had athletes that understood what we were telling them and believed in what we were telling them and were dedicated and said, ‘OK, I’m in. Lets go.’ That was pretty special to be a part of,” Bafus said.

On their way to the title, the Trojans blew out nearly every one of their opponents, with Genesee being the only squad in the reg-ular season that could stay within two touch-downs of the mighty Trojans. In the first round of the playoffs, Potlatch hung with Troy but fell 20-14.

The Trojans followed with a 34-14 thump-ing of Prairie and a 32-6 win over Grace in the title game.

That Trojans’ team also resonated with the city of Troy. The town firmly stood behind their unde-feated squad, lining the sidewalks of Main Street for a post-game parade and celebration of the team’s champi-onship win.

“I can’t say enough about the support we’ve gotten from the boosters, the communi-ty, the administration, the staff, the faculty. ... It’s just brought us together,” Bafus said, fighting back tears. “I

get choked up talking about it, but it was pretty cool.”

The championship also has left an imprint on the program’s play-ers.

“The enthusiasm I saw in the offseason through our summer strength and speed program is where I really saw the state title pay dividends,” Bafus said.

“... Hopefully, we can (win another title), make it a com-mon thing for us.”



After failing to make the playoffs back-to-back years and posting a 1-7 record last season, it’s easy to forget the Deary Mustangs were the model of success in the Whitepine League just a few years ago.

Deary domi-nated the confer-ence in the 1990s, winning six league titles, plac-ing runner-up at state three times and taking three state champion-ships. And in the last decade, the Mustangs won two league championships and went to the playoffs four times.

The Mustangs new head coach, Doug Henderson, has seen firsthand what it takes to reach those elite levels, hav-ing suited up for Deary as a fullback and linebacker from 1995-98. During that span, the Mustangs posted a 43-3 record, winning four straight Whitepine League titles and appearing in the state title game each season, coming away victorious twice.

“I’m not sure what the blue-print is for getting back to that level of repeat excellence,” he

said. “It would take a special group of kids that were com-mitted to being their absolute best every time they stepped onto the field and having a cer-tain sense of pride in upholding a tradition.”

And for the Mustangs, that means a change of culture is needed, a process which Henderson said has already start-ed.

“One thing we are stressing this year is to be moti-vated by a need to be successful and not by a need to avoid failure,” he said. “When avoiding failure, we hold back and

don’t commit to putting all of what we have into something because it won’t hurt as much if it doesn’t pan out. It’s a built-in excuse.”

Henderson has preached to his players that their success this season won’t be based on wins and losses, but whether if the players show 100 percent effort, 100 percent buy-in.

“I expect us to surprise some people — that might not come in the form of a winning score on our side of the scoreboard,” he said, “but I think it will come in the form of our physi-cality, tenacity and heart.”

Dean Hare/Daily NewsTroy quarterback Cody Self takes a snap.

That championship season The model of success2011

SCHEDULESept. 2: at KendrickSept. 9: at LapwaiSept. 16: vs. Lewis CountySept. 23: at PotlatchSept. 30: vs. Timberline-WeippeOct. 7: vs. DearyOct. 14: at Clearwater ValleyOct. 21: vs. GeneseeOct. 28: at Prairie

2011 SCHEDULE

Sept. 2: vs. Clearwater ValleySept. 9: at PrairieSept. 16: vs. LapwaiSept. 30: vs. PotlatchOct. 7: at TroyOct. 14: at GeneseeOct. 21: vs. KendrickOct. 28: at Timberline

Deary looks to return to glory years

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Kendrick’s Hall looks to get his team past Troy, Potlatch

By Matt BaideDaily News intern

Growing up in Kendrick, Austin Hall got into football as a 7-year-old after his older brother, Brett, a 2005 Kendrick High School graduate, and his father helped steer him toward the sport.

“I was running around with all the players, managing, being the water boy, so I’ve been around Kendrick football for around 10 years now,” Hall said.

When it came to his turn with the Tigers football team, he didn’t get the chance to pick his position.

“I am pretty smart, and I know our playbook pretty well. I make pretty good decisions on the field. So (the coaches) kinda wanted me to run the show at quarterback,” Hall said. “I got put there a few years ago and kind of worked my way up.”

It appears they made the right decision.

“Austin was all-league last year,” assistant coach Mike Hogan said. “If he wasn’t, he should have been.”

Hall’s two idols at quarter-back are Peyton Manning and Michael Vick. Hall says he has a similar style to Michael Vick because of his ability to scramble and make plays with his feet.

“He’s a lefty, and I’m a lefty, and we run quite a bit,” Hall said.

Listed at 5-foot-6, that mobil-ity is used to get outside the pocket.

“(My) weakness is definitely my height,” Hall said. “I’m not very tall, so I do have to get out of the pocket … I drop back, and I can’t really see over the line too well.”

Now a senior, the quarterback is looking for the play-offs, and a chance to play in the Kibbie Dome. He said he has always wanted to play in the dome, and this year he hopes to get his chance.

With five seniors coming back, the team looks poised to do that.

“We got a good chance,” Hall said. “We’ve been working our way up the last few years, and

we finally got the group we need.”

If the Tigers are to make it to the state playoffs, they’ll have to go through rivals Potlatch and Troy — the top two teams in

the 1A Whitepine League last sea-son. Troy carried its league success to the postseason, where it wrapped up a state title.

“We’ve already started prepar-ing for those two teams,” Hall said. “We can’t take any-thing off those two weeks.”

The playoffs — and possibly a

title run — will probably be Hall’s last hurrah in football. He said he doesn’t think there will be collegiate football in his future.

Matt Baide can be reached at [email protected].

Members of the Kendrick Tigers run warm-up sprints.

Dean HareDaily News

Senior QB hopes to lead Tigers on title run

Coach: Davey SteeleReturning Players: Seniors:

Austin Hall, Blake Warner, Jared Mendez, Holden Nelson, Tyler Burke, Tim Olson; Juniors: Jared Boyle, Dylan Scott

Breakout Players: Austin Hall, Blake Warner “I think Austin was all league last year,” coach Mike Hogan said. “If he wasn’t he should have been. And Blake is probably one of the faster kids in the league.”

Last Season’s record: 5-4 Big games: Troy and Potlatch,

“Their linemen are so big, we believe they had to take them to the U of I to weigh them because the high school scales are too small,” Hogan said.

Strengths: The returning juniors and seniors

Weaknesses: Slow and not big

Where team will finish in conference: “In the middle of the conference with the winner of the Troy/Potlach game being the team to beat in the conference,” Hogan said.

ABOUT THE TIGERS

2011 SCHEDULEAug. 26: vs. Timberline Sept. 2: vs. TroySept. 16: vs. Clearwater ValleySept. 23: at GeneseeSept. 30: at PrairieOct. 14: vs. PotlatchOct. 21: at DearyOct. 28: vs. Lapwai

must have good student ath-letes — something Colfax has always had.

Children in Colfax get start-ed playing football in the third grade with the Colfax youth football program. From there, they head into Colfax’s success-ful junior high program. Next, it’s high school football.

“We’ve built a program to where success begets success, and we just move it on up through there,” Morgan said. “So we get to see those younger guys come along.”

The players at Colfax came up with core covenants for the team four years ago when they moved into the tougher

2B Northeast League from the 1A Northeast. Those covenants are represented on their jerseys with the letters “C.H.H.R.R” — standing for character, honor, heart, respect and relentless.

“That’s what guides our pro-gram,” Morgan said. “You ask any of our kids what C.H.H.R.R means, and they are going to tell you all five of them. They are going to tell you what it looks like on the football field, what it looks like in the class-room, and what it looks like out in the public.”

With the tradition estab-lished at Colfax, success will be the theme for years to come.

“If you lay a good founda-tion, and you surround your-self with good people, you’re always going to be in the top half of what you do,” Morgan said.

to make it out of the quarterfi-nals— a trend Vining and com-pany hope to avoid this year.

“We are trying to break though that quarterfinal wall,” Vining said. “It’s still pretty early, but I think we have the potential to do some really good things out there.”

The Wildcats are hoping “out there” soon refers to a game in the Tacoma Dome, where glory and a championship may wait.

Andrew Nemec can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 230.

2011 SCHEDULESept. 2: at Wilbur-Creston, 7 p.m.Sept. 9: at Salmon River, 7 p.m.Sept. 16: at Joseph, 7 p.m.Sept. 23: at Pomeroy, 7 p.m.Sept. 30: vs. LaCrosse-Washtucna, 7 p.m.Oct. 7: at Touchet, 7 p.m.Oct. 14: at Liberty Christian, 7 p.m.Oct. 21: vs. Sunnyside Christian, 7 p.m.Oct. 28: vs. Saint John Endicott, 7 p.m.Nov. 3: at Garfield-Palouse, 7 p.m.

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Football Preview 2011

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