Three Warriors put everything into title hopes

HARRISON, Idaho – The path to the State 1A Division II 8-man football championship game began for Kootenai’s three four-year starters – Ben Shannon, Kolten Willms and Dakota Amy – in the sixth grade when they would spend their recess playing for a mythical state title.

They rededicated themselves to the dream a year ago last Monday, two days after a disappointing loss on the final play in the semifinals to Salmon River, which went on the following week to win the state title.

That showed Shannon, Willms and Amy how close they had come to having a chance to capture a state title. But the loss also showed the trio how tantalizingly far away a championship remained.

They were so hellbent on leading the 2008 team to the coveted state title that they skipped playing basketball last year to lift weights during the winter. Bypassing a sport at a tiny school like Kootenai is often frowned upon because quality, experienced athletes can be few and far between.

“We took some flak for not turning out,” Amy said. “But our families understood why.”

Basketball coach Andrew Whipple said the trio would have started last year. But he understood a dream remained unfulfilled.

They plan on turning out for basketball next week, and Whipple confirmed that they will likely start.

They’ve been two-way starters the last three years – Shannon at running back and weak-side linebacker, Willms at quarterback and defensive end, and Amy at tight end and strong-side linebacker.

They led Kootenai to the state playoffs as sophomores, the first time the school had been in the playoffs since 1987.

Last year, they shed tears when their season ended prematurely. They shed tears again last Saturday when they handled previously undefeated Garden Valley 54-26.

They want to experience that type of tears one more time Friday afternoon when third-ranked Kootenai (11-0) faces No. 1-ranked Carey (11-0) just down the road at the Kibbie Dome. Kickoff is at 3.

They’ve been more than just leaders in the weightroom and the playing field. They’ve also been leaders in the classroom. Amy carries a 4.0 grade-point average and will be no worse than a co-valedictorian. Shannon has a 3.7 GPA and Willms a 3.6.

“They’ve been a huge driving force for us since they were sophomores,” Kootenai coach Doug Naperiela said. “They’ve been the kids everybody has rallied around. They’re not only excellent athletes, but they have a great work ethic and they’re unselfish. They believe in team.”

Willms has to keep pinching himself this week.

“It’s unfathomable to be playing for the state title,” Willms said. “Since we were tiny, even before sixth grade, this is what we wanted.”

He said Friday can’t get here quick enough.

“I thought last week was the longest week waiting to play in the semifinals, but this week will be even longer,” he said. “You can’t help but sit in class thinking about it. Everywhere you go, people remind you about it. It’s hard to get away from it.”

Not that they’re trying.

“I have a good vibe about things,” Willms said. “We’re confident in ourselves, in our team.”

Shannon said giving up basketball last year wasn’t difficult.

“Our passion is football,” Shannon said. “We thought we should have won a state title last year. It wasn’t just disappointing for us. We had nine seniors on the team last year that didn’t get to go to a state title game.”

So a little bit of this week is for them, too.

“When you’re seniors you finally realize it’s now or never,” Shannon said.

Shannon believes the outcome will be to Kootenai’s liking.

“I believe the only people who can beat our team are ourselves,” Shannon said.

“This is everything we’ve worked for the last six years of our lives,” Amy said. “We dedicated ourselves to this and put ourselves in the position where we are right now. We just have to keep on playing like we’ve been playing.”