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North Fremont High School
School Info
Conference: 2A Nuclear Conference
Classification: 2A
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Head Coach: Ben Lenz
Years as Head Coach: 5th Season
Previous Experience: Assistant coach at North Fremont for 10 years.
Record Last Year: 6-4
State Titles: 1989
Assistant Coaches:
Shannon Hill
Mat Clark
Returning Players:
Rhet Clark, TE/DE, 12
Stockton Dye, QB/DB, 12
Gus Henry, OL/DL, 12
Jordan Sharp, OL/DL
Sean Bell, RB/LB, 12
Logan Teske, TE/DB
Sawyer Dye, RB/LB, 11
Blake Oberhansley, WR/DE, 10
Chris Hansen, RB/S, 10
Bridger Lenz, QB/RB/S, 10
Garrett Hawkes, QB/RB/DB
Briceton Fisher, RB/DB, 10
Bracken Dye, OL/DL, 10
Brok Garner, RB/LB, 10
Rafael Rivas, OL/DL, 10
Legend Kerbs, OL/DL, 10
Peyton Litton, RB/DB
Hunter Jones, OL/DE
Gaven Baum, OL/DL, 10
Returning Players with Honors:
Stockton Dye – 2nd Team All-Conference QB, Honorable Mention DB
Jordan Sharp – 2nd Team All-Conference OL, 2nd Team All-Conference LB
Rhet Clark – All-Conference Honorable Mention OL/DL
Gus Henry – 2nd Team All-Conference DL, Honorable Mention OL
Key Players lost from last year:
Tanner Oberhansley, RB/DB
Josh Hess, OL/DE
Michael Mower, RB/LB
Luke Nedrow, RB/LB/DB
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Incoming impact players:
Shaun Bell, RB, 12
Garrett Hawkes, QB/RB/DB
Sawyer Dye, RB/DB, 12
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Team Preview:
Written by: Matt Harris (@IdahoSportsMatt)
So close.
The 2015 edition of the North Fremont Huskies were, potentially, one intercepted pass away from their first state semi-finals appearance since 1989 last year. The interception, thrown in the waning moments of the state quarterfinals at Nampa Christian, slammed the door shut on Huskies hopes of a state title.
While the end was not what they had hoped for, North Fremont is ready to get back at it and chase after another state title – which would be their first in 27 years. Head coach Ben Lenz, now in his fifth year leading the team, says that his younger players have been working hard to get after it.
“Our young players are stepping up and progressing as fast as we can expect and our seniors are leading the way,” he said. “Over the summer, our overall team strength improved in the weight room.”
The younger players will need to grow up quickly as the Huskies have to replace several key players from both sides of the ball this year due to graduation.
“We’ll miss Tanner Oberhansley at running back and defensive back. Tanner rushed for 4,417 yards in his career and scored 356 points – it’s tough to replace that,” said Lenz. “Josh Hess at tackle and defensive end is gone and we ran for a ton of yards behind him. Michael Mower graduated and one of the best linebackers we’ve had and a tough runner. Luke Nedrow is one of the toughest kids we’ve had and was a great blocking back and super defensive player.”
Despite the personnel change, North Fremont returns a good amount of players who will make an impact this season. Senior Stockton Dye returns at quarterback and will work with senior running back Shaun Bell in Lenz’s double wing offense. Senior Rhet Clark will be a target for Dye at tight end and also be a big blocker.
“Our offense is option based and we are very good at running down hill and quick with the ball,” Lenz said. North Fremont averaged 32.1 points per game last season, including converting 25 two-point attempts.
The offense averaged 7.35 yards per carry in 2015, a staggering amount. However, Lenz sees room for improvement even though they rushed for 3,475 yards.
“We have to improve in our consistency and versatility,” he said.
“We need to have more success with short yardage execution.”
Defensively, Lenz said to expect a tough, hard nosed defense in 2016.
“Gus Henry is our anchor on the interior, super strong, and has a nose for the ball,” he said. “Our focus is solid tackling.”
Dye will play a major role in the secondary, along with Jordan Sharp at linebacker. Clark and Henry will look to plug up the middle on the line. The defense gave up an average of 18.8 points in 2015.
Lenz pointed to improvement in pass coverage while playing zone defense as a key to success this year.
The Huskies begin the season on the road at 3A Filer on August 26th, before heading home to face 3A Teton on September 2nd. The Huskies then head on a two-game road trip as they visit defending state runner-up Aberdeen and Malad in consecutive weeks. North Fremont they gets a bye week on the 23rd before hosting rival West Jefferson on the 30th. October opens with the Huskies at Salmon on the 7th, followed by senior night at home against Ririe and on the road at Firth to cap off the regular season.
“West Jefferson is tough up front and big,” Lenz said. “They are well coached and it’s always a fun game. Firth will be tough again. Championships are always on the line when you play either one of those teams and the rivalry brings out the best in both.” He added that he expects Ririe and Salmon to be improved this season.
Lenz is excited for the season that lies ahead. He is also looking forward to seeing the week-to-week improvement from his players.
“Our motto this year is ‘Perfect Effort’, meaning play each play to the best of your ability,” he said. “Watching their progression each week in pursuit of a great season is always exciting.”
Lenz has been at North Fremont for a long time as both a student and as a coach. He says that being at his alma-mater and to be involved in the kids’ lives is a great opportunity.
“I love working with the kids and watching them come in as boys and leave as fine young men,” he said. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to coach at North Fremont with great coaches in Mat Clark and Shannon Hill and work together in making dreams come true. It’s a great sport to coach and we have a great bunch of kids that run through a brick wall for one another.”
If North Fremont can find their groove and have their younger players discover their role in a timely, efficient manner, those dreams of a state title may not be far away.
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