Photo By Steve Conner - #6 Kaimen Peeples
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. South Fremont
2. Sugar-Salem
3. Teton
Written by: Marlowe Hereford
The most unusual fall high school sports season ended with a historic best finish for South Fremont football last year. Prior to 2020, the farthest the Cougars had progressed in the state playoffs had been the quarterfinals. South Fremont reached new territory last November, clinching a 26-20 quarterfinal win over Gooding to advance to the semifinals. The Cougars' season ended with a 48-28 semifinal loss to eventual state runner-up Homedale, closing the book on an 8-3 season and the farthest playoff run in program history.
Dallin Orme, Bridger Poulsen and All-Conference Defensive Player of the Year River Eddins graduated from that historic team, but the cupboard is far from bare for the Cougars. Balance will be the name of the game for South Fremont entering the 2021 season, and head coach Chad Hill likes what the Cougars bring to the gridiron.
"We are very balanced this year," Hill said. "We have a really good offensive line and running backs to pound the football when we need to. I think we will be able to attack defenses with multiple guys."
Among those linemen and running backs are T. Ross Rigby, Kash Purser, Jake Miller and Rylan Miller, all of whom are returning all-conference players. Hill said a key factor this fall will be greater consistency in the running game.
Hill said he also expects great things from senior quarterback Kaimen Peebles, who received first team all-state honors last season.
"Kaimen has a great arm and can make any throw that he needs to, but he is extremely smart with where to go with the ball and makes great decisions," Hill said.
Depth will be a strength for South Fremont's defense. Rigby, Jake Miller, Purser, Rylan Miller, Easton Kerbs and Bryson Forbush all play both ways. Hill penned linemen Hunter Hobbs, Kolby Clark and Preston Stoddard, all juniors, as incoming players poised to make an impact.
"We will be two deep in all four of our defensive line spots," Hill said. "We are making some adjustments to stop the run better and I am excited to watch how physical our linebackers can be this year."
To go even farther in the playoffs, sharper defense will be high priority.
"Last year, we gave up too many yards on the ground in the playoffs and we will need to be better stopping the run if we want to advance in to the next level," Hill said.
South Fremont begins its season August 27 at home versus Timberlake, which will make the trip down from north Idaho. Five more non-conference contests will follow before the Cougars face rival and defending 3A state champion Sugar-Salem on October 15 in Sugar City to begin conference play in the ever competitive Mountain Rivers Conference.