Team Preview:
Written By: Sven Alskog

Residing in a conference featuring a Fruitland team that has played in eight of the last nine 3A state championships, Homedale has been about as battle-tested as a team can be over the years. As the Trojans embark on the 2018 season, the goal is to upend the Grizzlies for the first time since the 2015 campaign.

Entering his ninth season, head coach Matt Holtry has an exciting core of talent returning from a 7-3 playoff team from a year ago, with the two most noticeable departures being Boise State commit Scott Matlock and power back Max Mertz.

Fortunately for Homedale things look good beyond that, with lefty Daniel Uranga ready to take control of the quarterback position. Drew Deal moves out to receiver to add to a unit that already included First Team All-SRV performer Carson Brown.

Helping matters on the offensive end, the Trojans have five senior linemen up front, including First Team All-SRV selection Clayton Wolfe. A backfield led by senior Mason Kincheloe and junior Jake Collett should have plenty of room to run through as a result.

“We have a great core group of athletes in Carson Brown, Drew Deal, Mason Kincheloe and Jake Collett that will lead our team from various positions on the field. Daniel Uranga has been doing a solid job all summer at the quarterback position and we are excited about the athleticism the offense brings as a whole. The offensive line anchored by four-year starter Clayton Wolfe will be senior heavy which is always good for an offense and getting into a rhythm early in the season,” said Holtry.

On the other side of the ball there will be some new faces in new places, but the returns of Wolfe, Ty Lowder and Trent Shanley on the line, Kincheloe and Collett at linebacker and Deal and Brown in the defensive backfield should help ease the transition.

“We have some new faces in key positions on the defensive side of the ball. Spencer Fisher as an incoming junior has had a solid summer, as he is new to the starting position at middle backer, as well as sophomore Milo Mertz and junior Arnulfo Llamas at defensive back,” added Holtry.

He says stuffing the run is priority number one.

“Our focus is on stopping the run this year. With the conference that we play in we have to be able to stop the run game of our opponents.”

With Wolfe leading the way up front, the Trojans should be able to push back opposing offensive lines effectively to make it difficult to run against them.

One thing is for certain though, this team will put in the time and effort to compete against anyone.

“The most exciting thing about this team is their commitment to doing whatever it takes to win. The players buying into the team idea and playing for one another has been fun to be around this summer,” said Holtry.

There is no question that the Trojans enter the season as one of the favorites in the 3A classification. It won’t be an easy task with quality teams all around the state, however a strong senior class has as much experience at the varsity level as anybody, which should make a big difference come late October and November.

Homedale starts the new season with a home game against New Plymouth, a 2A semifinal team from a year ago.