2017 White Pine League preview: Wallace ready to contend for playoff spot

Jared Young has learned a few things about the White Pine League and his team. He’s beginning his third year as Wallace’s head football coach, and the Miners are in the 1A Division I White Pine League for a second year. The Miners finished fourth last year, a spot out of the state playoffs. “We weren’t playoff ready,” Young said.

It could be a different story this fall. Genesee is heavily favored to capture the league championship and Prairie and Lapwai will be near the top. Young believes the Miners are contenders for a playoff berth.

“I see us fighting for second or third,” Young said. “If we can move the ball like I think we can, we’ll be fine. We have speed.”

For that to happen, the Miners must be less one-dimensional.

Last year, the Miners relied heavily on senior running back Jaden Dimitroff, who gained more than 1,000 yards. But Wallace’s passing game struggled.

So Young decided to move returning quarterback Zayne Hunter to a hybrid fullback/tight end position. Junior Erik Brackebusch will start at QB.

“We were limited throwing the ball last year,” Young said. “(Brackebusch) has a better arm. This makes the team better and a little more balanced.”