Intermountain Football
In predicted order of finish:
Lakeland Hawks
1998 records: 9-1 (overall), 7-0 league
Coach: Terry Kiefer
Years coaching, record: 21st, 134-65-2
Top returners: Kevin Reese, sr., 6-4, 225, tight end/defensive end; Jacques Desmarais, sr., 6-2, 250, guard/defensive tackle; Chad Stutheit, sr., 5-8, 150, running back/linebacker; Casey Phelps, jr., 5-11, 202, fullback/lb; Ryan Hansen, jr., 5-10, 170, rb/db; Dan Dixon, sr., 6-2, 240, t; Joe Pagel, sr., 6-3, 250, center/dt; Joe Finley, sr., 5-11, 170, quarterback/db.
Top newcomers: Jamie Ploetzner, sophomore, 5-11, 190, fb/lb; Jesse Todd, sr., 6-2, 250, dt; Sky Pruitt, soph., 6-1, 240, g/dt; Jeremy McMillen, sr., 5-8, 160, wide receiver/ db; Brad Davis, sr., 6-3, 225, t; Kirk Kiefer, jr., 5-10, 155, wr/db; John Reeck, jr., 5-9, 150, rb/ db; Jared Hansen, soph., 6-1, 175, fb/lb; Chase Williams, sr., 5-10, 170, lb.
Coach’s comments: “Even though some of our positions aren’t as experienced as last year they’re really coming around.”
Outlook: Lakeland graduated one of its best senior classes since the back-to-back state championship teams (1988-89), but the Hawks won’t miss a beat. Want a definition of a tradition-rich program? Look no further.
St. Maries Lumberjacks
1998 records: 7-3, 6-1
Coach: Bob Bucsko
Years coaching, record: 22nd, 1st at St. Maries
Top returners: Trent Duffey, sr., 5-9, 155, qb/ db; Pat Eberlin, sr., 6-2, 190, wr/db; Kyle Stevenson, sr., 6-5, 190, te/db; Derek Hanson, sr., 5-9, 175, rb/db; Ryan Linn, sr., 6-5, 215, t/de; Josh Tweedy, sr., 6-0, 190, ol/dl; Alan Raebel, sr., 6-0, 180, ol/dl; Lucas Ware, jr., 5-10, 180, ol/de; Paul Sotin, jr., 6-0, 190, ol/lb; Tyler Collins, soph., 5-10, 180, ol/lb.
Top newcomers: Jake Adams, jr., 5-8, 150, wr/db; Roddy Brown, jr., 6-4, 240, ol/dl.
Coach’s comments: “I see a lot of light at the end of the tunnel. I think these kids are going to come through. I like their work ethic.”
Outlook: St. Maries is perhaps the biggest question mark in the league. The Lumberjacks have a third head coach in three years. They have enough quality skill players and linemen to challenge for a return trip to the playoffs.
Bonners Ferry
Badgers 1998 records: 5-4, 5-2
Coach: Ted Reynolds
Years coaching, record: 4th, 12-16
Top returners: Drew Hiatt, sr., 5-7, 175, wr/lb; Andy Rice, sr., 6-6, 200, qb/safety; Adam Carpenter, sr., 6-0, 175, rb/wr/lb; John Plato, jr., 5-11, 180, rb/lb; Joe Santoro, sr., 6-0, 215, offensive line/defensive line; Jim Michalk, jr., 5-9, 165, c/lb; Jacob Christenson, jr., 5-10, 160, db.
Top newcomers: Tom Mackey, soph., 5-9, 160, lb; Adam Vogl, jr., 6-1, 180, qb/wr/de; Scott Solum, sr., 6-3, 210, ol/dl; Richard Fries, jr., 6-3, 230, ol/dl; Drew Cooper, soph., 6-2, 185, rb; Mark Elliston, sr., 5-7, 150, wr/db.
Coach’s comments: “Defensively, we’re going to be pretty tough. It’s just a matter of whether we can score. The offense is coming slowly. We’re going to experiment the first two games (both non-leaguers).”
Outlook: If Bonners Ferry is going to challenge for the league title, it’ll have to do it on the road. The Badgers’ three toughest games - Lakeland, St. Maries and Grangeville - are on the road. The defense will have to be rock solid for Badgers to contend for a playoff berth.
Kellogg Wildcats
1998 records: 2-7, 2-5
Coach: Tim Kimberling
Years coaching, record: 4th, 2nd at Kellogg, 8-18
Top returners: Nate Moe, sr., 5-9, 145, wr/db; Chris Sawyer, sr., 5-10, 165, wr/de; Brad Keene, jr., 5-11, 175, rb/db; Jared Wise, sr., 5-11, 165, qb/db; Adam McDaniel, sr., 5-10, 170, rb/de; Ryan Mann, sr., 6-2, 180, rb/lb; Jeremy Groves, sr., 6-1, 170, te; Phil Broth, sr., 6-0, 190, ol; Josh Harleson, sr., 6-4, 215, ol; Jesse Ackerman, sr., 5-9, 205, ol; Luke Gibler, sr., 6-0, 280, ol.
Top newcomers: Kim Bauer, sr., 5-9, 180, rb/ lb; Brock White, sr., 6-2, 170, te; Jerrod Oertli, sr., 6-0, 180, s; Luke Smith, sr., 6-0, 165, wr/ db; Andy Gion, sr., 6-0, 165, wr; Buck Slover, sr., 6-1, 280, dl.
Coach’s comments: “We’re inexperienced on defense and it showed (in 26-0 opening loss at Salmon). We have things we need to work on. But it’s stuff we can fix.”
Outlook: Disregard Kellogg’s opener for this reason - the Wildcats will be a much better football in late October. Whether it’ll be enough to help Kellogg jump into the playoff hunt is yet to be seen.
Grangeville Bulldogs
1998 records: 5-4, 4-3
Coach: Craig Cunningham
Years coaching, record: 16th, 118-43
Top returners: Josh Wickstrom, sr., 5-8, 160, rb/lb; B.J. Walker, sr., 5-11, 160, qb/free safety; David Church, sr., 6-5, 225, ol/dl; Russell Lovell, sr., 5-10, 180, fb/lb; Andy Schumacher, sr., 6-1, 185, ol/lb; Beau Woodford, sr., 6-0, 170, wr/db.
Top newcomers: Trevor Legg, sr., 6-2, 185, te/de; Levi Stone, sr., 6-1, 180, ol/dl; P.J. Hoyt, sr., 6-0, 180, c/dt.
Coach’s comments: “We’re obviously going to be outmanned. It’s the land of the munchkins.”
Outlook: The Bulldogs’ hearts will have to be bigger than their bodies. Grangeville will be the smallest team in the league. Cunningham loves a run-based offense, but his players aren’t big enough to go toe to toe with foes.
Timberlake Tigers
1998 records: 3-6, 2-5
Coach: Kelly Amos
Years coaching, record: 3rd, 6-12
Top returners: Tim Libby, sr., 5-10, 180, rb/ db; Jack Sanborn, sr., 5-8, 165, wr/lb; Cameron Hendewerk, sr., 5-11, 190, rb/lb; Jeremy Dunn, jr., 6-0, 240, ol/dl; Casey Walton, sr., 6-0, 195, ol/dl; Josh Spurgeon, sr., 6-0, 285, ol/dl.
Top newcomers: Josh Tebbe, jr., 6-0, 160, qb/ db; Jimmy Hoffman, freshman, 6-3, 200, qb/ lb.
Coach’s comments: “We have a few kids who have a little experience under their belts now; it’s not their first season. We’re so much further along than this time last year.”
Outlook: The Tigers got off to a respectable start last year considering the majority of talent ended up at Lakeland when the Spirit Lake school opened. Amos has some athletes who can compete with the best in the league. Problem is the Tigers have no depth. If they avoid injuries the Tigers could pull a surprise or two.
Priest River Spartans
1998 records: 3-6, 2-5
Coach: Richard Zecher
Years coaching, record: 1st
Top returners: Jake Hatfield, sr., 5-6, 175, lb/ rb; Ryland Wood, sr., 5-6, 185, lb/rb; Randy Simons, sr., 5-6, 170, wr/cb; Derek Kuchery, jr., 6-2, 195, qb; Josh Turner, jr., 6-2, 225, t/dl; Dustin Wardrop, jr., 5-8, 200, ol/lb.
Top newcomers: Doug Cash, jr., 6-1, 210, te/ de; Mike Jamison, jr., 6-2, 210, te/lb; Jason Pearsall, jr., 5-7, 185, rb; Zack Mack, jr., 5-7, 175, lb; Brandon Goins, freshman, 5-10, 275, c/dl.
Coach’s comments: “We’re going to surprise some people. I’m shooting for a (.500) season. We’re a year away.”
Outlook: This is a tough pick. Priest River and Timberlake could flip flop. Zecher doesn’t plan on occupying this spot long. With a turnout dominated by juniors and freshmen, Zecher sees the Spartans among the top finishers next year.
Orofino Maniacs
1998 records: 0-8, 0-7
Coach: Galen Kuykendall
Years coaching: 1st
Top returners: Gabe Burrell, sr., 5-6, 180, rb/ de; Scott Mosher, sr., 6-1, 170, wr/lb; Jerry Kerr, sr., 5-8, 160, db/wr; Seth Danielson, sr., 5-9, 150, qb/db; Jay Williams, sr., 5-8, 205, g/dt; Alan Larson, sr., 6-1, 205, c/dt; Craig Marsh, sr., 5-10, 175, ol/de; Cody Beck, sr., 5-7, 150, rb/lb.
Top newcomers: None that have been identified.
Coach’s comments: “We’re changing things dramatically. We’re going to strap the gear on and play everybody as tough as we can. Hopefully (teams) will know they’re in a football game.”
Outlook: Give Kuykendall an A for enthusiasm. But Orofino, which will move back to A-3 next year, just can’t compete in the IML. The Maniacs lack the numbers to bash helmets with the conference’s top teams.
Players to watch Trent Duffey, senior, 5-9, 155, quarterback/defensive back, St. Maries Kevin Reese, sr., 6-4, 225, tight end/defensive end, Lakeland Tim Libby, sr., 5-10, 180, running back/defensive back, Timberlake Andy Rice, sr., 6-6, 200, quarterback/safety, Bonners Ferry Casey Phelps, junior, 5-11, 202, fullback/linebacker, Lakeland Josh Wickstrom, sr., 5-8, 160, running back/linebacker, Grangeville Joe Finley, sr., 5-11, 170, quarterback/defensive back, Lakeland Ryan Mann, sr., 6-2, 180, running back/linebacker, Kellogg Jacques Desmarais, sr., 6-2, 250, guard/defensive tackle, Lakeland Joe Santoro, sr., 6-0, 215, offensive line/defensive line, Bonners Ferry