Intermountain League

In predicted order of finish:

Lakeland Hawks

1999 records: 7-0 (league champ), 10-1 (overall)

Coach: Terry Kiefer

Years coaching, record: 23rd, 144-66-2

Starters, lettermen returning: 7, 25

Base offense; base defense: Wing T, 4-4

Key players: Casey Phelps, sr., 5-11, 200, fullback/linebacker; Ryan Hansen, sr., 6-0, 180, flanker/halfback; Jared Hansen, junior, 6-3, 205, fb/defensive end; Sky Pruitt, jr., 6-2, 265, guard/ defensive tackle; Cort Milks, jr., 5-10, 155, safety; Jamie Ploetzner, jr., 6-0, 205, g/lb; Matt Hanner, sr., 6-0, 250, g/dt.

Coach’s comments: “The speed we’re going to put on the field is as good as we’ve had team-wise. Defensively, before the season’s over, we’re going to have a lot of kids around the football.”

Outlook: Lakeland will start off the new millennium where it left off in the 1990s - on top of the league. The biggest holes left by graduation were in the trenches, but the Hawks will fill with capable and sizeable players. Phelps, the Hansens, John Reeck and Kyle Havercroft give the Hawks much depth to pile up plenty of yards on the ground.

Priest River Spartans

1999 records: 3-4, 4-4-1

Coach: Richard Zecher

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 4-4-1

Starters, lettermen returning: 12, 23

Base offense; base defense: I, 4-4

Key players: Derek Kucherry, sr., 6-2, 185, quarterback/lb; Doug Cash, sr., 6-0, 200, defensive lineman/tight end; Brandon Goin, sophomore, 6-2, 290, ol/dl; Mike Jamison, sr., 6-2, 180, lb/te; Adam Collison, sr., 6-0, 205, running back/lb; Zach Mack, sr., 5-10, 175, lb/rb; Dustin Wardrop, sr., 5-9, 200, ol/lb.

Coach’s comments: “We don’t have an outstanding player, but we have 18 who can fill any bill. They work together so well.”

Outlook: Zecher said a year ago his Spartans were a year away. While most coaches believe second is wide open, Priest River returns most experience of the rest and should earn its first state playoff berth.

Bonners Ferry Badgers

1999 records: 1-6, 1-8

Coach: Ted Reynolds

Years coaching, record: 5th, 13-24

Starters, lettermen returning: 10, 18

Base offense; base defense: Spread, 5-3

Key players: Miles Stephens, jr., 6-1, 170, qb; Ben Greenslitt, soph., 6-3, 180, wr/defensive back; Kip Hartman, soph., 5-11, 240, ol/dl; Chris Riebli, jr., 6-0, 175, db/wr; Nate Story, sr., 6-3, 195, rb/lb; Adam Vogl, sr., 6-2, 185, wr/safety; John Plato, sr., 5-10, 180, rb/lb; Tom Mackey, jr., 5-9, 170, rb/lb.

Coach’s comments: “We have high hopes, but we’re a year away from being outstanding - outstanding for a while.”

Outlook: If Priest River stumbles, the Badgers could be ready to leap-frog into second. Bonners Ferry is the next-best team to challenge the Spartans, but will have to avoid key injuries to extend its season into November. The future is bright, though.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

1999 records: 4-3, 5-4

Coach: Bob Bucsko

Years coaching, record: 23rd, 2nd at St. Maries

Starters, lettermen returning: 6, 11

Base offense; base defense: Wing T, 4-3

Key players: Paul Sotin, sr., 6-0, 250, ol/dl; Chris Hovious, sr., 5-7, 160, rb/db; Mike Schwartz, jr., 6-1, 190, te/lb; Shawn O’Dwyer, sr., 6-0, 175, ol/ lb; Tyler Collins, jr., 6-0, 210, ol/lb; Roddy Brown, sr., 6-4, 250, ol/dl; Brian Stogsdill, sr., 6-3, 180, qb/db; Lucas Ware, sr., 6-0, 185, ol/dl.

Coach’s comments: “I see us being very young. We graduated 17 seniors. And they were starting seniors. We’re untested. We’ve got a lot of things to find out.”

Outlook: St. Maries is the mystery team of the league. IML coaches believe St. Maries will be a factor in the chase for state playoff berths. The Lumberjacks, who passed for more than 2,500 yards behind Trent Duffey last year, will be ground oriented this fall.

Timberlake Tigers

1999 records: 2-5, 3-6

Coach: Kelly Amos

Years coaching, record: 4th, 9-18

Starters, lettermen returning: 8, 14

Base offense; base defense: Wing T, 4-4

Key players: Josh Tebbe, sr., 6-0, 170, rb/db; Jeremy Dunn, sr., 6-0, 250, ol/dl; Brandon Lickfold, sr., 5-9, 205, ol/dl; Jimmy Hoffman, soph., 6-3, 200, qb/lb; Brandon Tinker, jr., 5-9, 155, rb/db.

Coach’s comments: “It’s really tough to tell what we’ll do with a lack of depth. Hopefully we’re in the mix fighting for second.”

Outlook: A middle-of-the-pack finish is a realistic goal for the Tigers. A key injury or two and Timberlake could fall to the bottom. But Amos has good core of athletes. Problem is it might not be enough.

Kellogg Wildcats

1999 records: 6-1, 7-3

Coach: Tim Kimberling

Years coaching, record: 5th, 3rd at Kellogg, 15-21

Starters, lettermen returning: 2, 14

Base offense; base defense: Pro set, 4-3

Key players: Alex Moore, sr., 6-3, 195, qb; Jake Newburn, sr., 5-11, 160, wr/db; Robbie Figueroa, sr., 5-10, 165, wr/cb; Brad Keene, sr., 5-11, 190, rb/ s; Joby Burmeister, sr., 6-6, 200, te/dl; Joe Arthurs, jr., 6-3, 215; Brock Martin, jr., 5-9, 200, ol/ dl; James Bush, sr., 5-9, 150, wr/lb.

Coach’s comments: “If we can gel together as a team we can be very competitive. We’re young so we know we’re going to go through some growing pains. The keys will be controlling the ball and limiting our mistakes.”

Outlook: From second in league and a state playoff berth a year ago to last. That’s the difference in a talented senior class followed up by two small classes with little varsity experience. A higher finish would be reason to celebrate. The Wildcats must hope that some of last year’s magic is still around.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Players to watch

Casey Phelps, senior, 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, fullback/linebacker, Lakeland

Derek Kucherry, sr., 6-2, 185, quarterback/lb, Priest River

Josh Tebbe, sr., 6-0, 170, running back/defensive back, Timberlake

Brad Keene, sr., 5-11, 190, rb/safety, Kellogg

Ryan Hansen, sr., 6-0, 180, flanker/halfback, Lakeland

Ben Greenslitt, sophomore, 6-3, 180, wide receiver/db, Bonners Ferry

Paul Sotin, sr., 6-0, 250, lineman, St. Maries

Sky Pruitt, junior, 6-2, 265, guard/defensive tackle, Lakeland