Written by: Keller Sherman

A 3-6 record in 2022 was just enough for the Soda Springs Cardinals to sneak into the state playoffs. However, it would be a short stay as a 60-30 defeat to North Fremont in the first round resulted in a quick exit. Soda Springs is in one of, if not the toughest, conferences at the 2A classification and will have their work cut out for them as they chase a conference title.

The Cardinals were young last season with only eight seniors on the roster. This includes second team all-state honorees Will Lau and Payton Stiener. This season, the roster will be littered with juniors and seniors giving Soda Springs plenty of returning production for a potential run in the 2A Southeast Idaho Conference. Wide receiver Quinton Hansen was a second team all-state honoree and a key returning piece for Soda Springs.

The non conference schedule takes a step back in difficulty from 2022 with a Week 0 date against Sugar-Salem absent from the 2023 slate. It all begins with a road trip to Ririe to face the Bulldogs. While Ririe has struggled in recent years and lost to the Cardinals 30-20 in 2022, the Bulldogs will look to begin their season on a high note with a victory over Soda Springs and will be a tough out.

Games against Firth and Snake River will be challenging, but the Cardinals get both games at home. An upset victory over one of these teams would go a long way towards setting up momentum to take into conference play.

Home dates against Aberdeen and Malad round out a four game homestand for the Cardinals. At least splitting these games will be crucial as difficult road trips to West Side and Bear Lake conclude the regular season. The Cardinals played the Bears competitively at home last season, but will face a difficult challenge as they seek to win in Montpelier for the first time since 2011.

Soda Springs has received praise from some of the other coaches around the league as a team that can surprise. Colter Evans is a veteran coach that has a talented roster with good numbers. These elements could make for the Cardinals to shock everyone and have a great season in 2023.