|
Meridian High School
School Info
Conference: 5A Southern Idaho Conference - West Division Pod A
Classification: 5A
|
|
|
Head Coach: Porter Lacey
Years as Head Coach: 4th Season
Previous Experience: Coached at New Plymouth for six seasons
Record Last Year: 4-6
State Titles: 1986, 2005, 2007
Assistant Coaches:
Brandon Harris
Cal McQueary
Tom Dowers
Mike Hanneman
Eric Johnson
David Mikel
Alex Reed
Joel Clark
Alan Bean
Returning Players:
#77 Jake McBride, Offensive line
#13 Ty Hollingsworth, Running back/Corner
#18 Brady Walling, Wide receiver
#65 Parker Smith, Offensive line
Returning Players with Honors:
#13 Ty Hollingsworth, 2nd Team All-Conference as Flex Player
#18 Brady Walling, Honorable Mention All-Conference as Wide receiver
Key Players lost from last year:
"Talon was a good leader and was a very productive player on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 1036 yards with a 5.5 YPC average. Colton Smillie was a 2nd Team All-Conference Lineman and was a 3-year starter for us. Trenton Hope was an outstanding player and leader. He was key for us on special teams, offense and defense." - Coach Lacey
|
Photo By: Brian Pennington - #13 Ty Hollingsworth
Incoming impact players:
Luke Dominiak, Linebacker, Junior
Nate Smillie, Linebacker, Senior
Cody Robbins, Defensive line, Junior
Elijah Kavila, Offensive line, Senior
|
Team Preview:
Written by: Lucas Gebhart
The Warriors of Meridian High School will play with an attitude this season, living by the motto “Let’s ride!”.
This attitude that head coach Porter Lacey has implemented is crucial for success in Idaho’s 5A Southern Idaho Conference, one of the toughest in the state with reigning state champions Rocky Mountain and state runner-up Mountain View at the top of it.
“We are excited about the overall attitude of our players.” Lacey said. “They have been a pleasure to coach this offseason and we look forward to seeing this attitude translate into success on the field.”
Meridian has their work cut out for them offensively, as last year they were shut out by both Rocky (27-0) and Mountain View (42-0).
Lacey hopes to see that changed in 2016, led by quarterback, Nate Weddle.
Weddle will have to do without Brady Walling at receiver and Ty Hollingsworth, who earned 2nd Team All-Conference honors as a flex player.
Also lost to graduation was Talon Kreft, who rushed for over 1,000 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, Colton Smillie, a 2nd Team All-Conference lineman and three year starter Trenton Hope, who was a key player on offense, defense and special teams.
Despite these losses, the Warriors will have new impact players on defense that will help the Warriors shut down the best offenses in the state of Idaho.
Luke Dominiak and Nate Smillie will step in at linebacker, while junior defensive lineman Cody Robbins will set the tone in the trenches.
“We want to continue to improve on tackling and running to the ball,” Lacey said. “That is what we base our defense around and is something we continuously strive to improve.”
Lacey says the X-Factor this season will be to stay healthy, something that is vital if the Warriors want to make the playoffs.
However, sometimes staying healthy is something that is out of a player’s control. Collin Steppe will be entering his senior season at Meridian, but has not seen the field since his freshman year due to a tumor that was found in his head that required surgery.
After surgery, Steppe temporarily lost the use of his lower body, but according to Lacey, “has been recovering well.” He will join the Warriors on the sideline in 2016.
|
Share preview with friends!
|