Team Preview:
Written By: Matt Harris

Last season, the Salmon Savages were in the thick of the playoff race right down to the very last night. And while they didn’t end up getting into the playoffs, it showed that Salmon football is on the upswing.

Head coach Jason Linger is back for his second season with the team and says that, despite losing eight starting seniors to graduation, his team is raring to go.

“They are excited about football and want to get better each day. We have a lot of young guys that will be starting for us.”

How quickly those young players step up to the challenge will play a role in how quickly their team progresses this season.

Salmon will lean on junior quarterback Brax Kauffman to lead the way in 2018. An All-Conference selection from a year ago, look for Kauffman and the offense to operate out of a two-back set, with Wyatt Huston and Kelton Dockery anchoring the line up front. Linger said their redzone efficiency will be a point of emphasis throughout the season.

Defensively, Kauffman will lead the secondary with Huston and Dockery on the line in the 4-4 base defense. Getting off the field on third down is their desired area of improvement.

Salmon will play a seven-game schedule this season and won’t start to play Idaho competition until mid-September. The Savages open the campaign at home with a contest against Anaconda, Montana, on Aug. 24, followed by a road game at Florence, Montana.

Following a bye week, Salmon will make the journey to Driggs in the Teton Valley for a matchup with the Teton Redskins on Sept. 14. League play in the Nuclear Conference opens on Sept. 21 with a home date against North Fremont.

Back-to-back road trips will occur on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 when Salmon visits Firth and Ririe, respectively. The Savages then round out their regular season schedule on Oct. 12 with a home contest against West Jefferson.