Written by Brandon Hill
In a conference filled with the state’s best eight-man squads, Challis failed to gain a footing in 2019.
The Vikings fell to 0-9 on the season, getting shut out five times to state title contenders like Lost Rivers, Carey and Oakley.
The challenges of 2019 become even more striking considering Challis dominated the 2018 regular season, defeating Butte County 45-20, Mackay 48-0 and Raft River 49-20. The Vikings eclipsed 40 points in every one of their seven wins two years ago, a far cry from 2019. Last year, Challis took an enormous step backward, averaging just five points per game while allowing an average of 62, both conference worsts.
Head Coach Marty Mitchell will have a pair of quarterbacks to rely on in 2020, with Chris Arrizubieta and Austin Ollar hoping to help the Vikings exit last year’s slump. In the backfield, Bruin Bradshaw, William Ashley and Tui Schwenke fill out the running back committee. Receivers Owen Peterson and Kasen Hohnstein will look to contribute in the passing game while fending off the secondary for the Viking tailbacks.
Mitchell hopes to right the tumultuous trajectory of Challis this season, with a host of key matchups on the slate this fall.
Challis opens the season against Raft River, followed by Oakley Spet. 11. Butte County hosts the Vikings Sept. 25. Should Challis want to elevate its status in the 1ADI Snake River Conference, gaining on the conference leaders of last year will be key. Butte County, last year’s 1ADI state runner up, pays a visit to Challis High School for a second meeting Oct. 9 in the Vikings’ second-to-last game of the regular season, a matchup that could have playoff implications should Challis string together enough wins in the early weeks of the season.
Check back with IdahoSports.com for updated Challis scores and schedules throughout the season.