Photo By Ken Timothy - #51 Athan Blonquist
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Firth
2. North Fremont
3. West Jefferson
4. Ririe
5. Salmon
Written by: Marlowe Hereford
Firth ended head coach Jordan Bartlett's second season with a winning record and a trip to the 2A state championship game last year.
The Cougars fell 39-0 to West Side to take state runner-up and conclude an 8-4 season, matching their feat from the 2017 season.
Entering Bartlett's third year at the helm, there is established familiarity and trust among the Cougars and coaching staff. That familiarity has created camaraderie, which Bartlett said will be the 'X-Factor' for 2021.
"We are excited to have a group of kids who are comfortable and have been brought up through our system and expectations," Bartlett said.
The Cougars graduated Taedyn Jacobsen, who played both ways, but return numerous contributors to last year's state runner-up season. On offense, quarterback Gage Vasquez returns as do fellow all-conference players Alex Ortiz (offensive lineman), Sam Park (linebacker) and Athan Blonquist (wide receiver). Bartlett described Firth as well balanced. While the Cougars can run a wing T, Bartlett added that he hopes to have a more efficient passing game this fall.
Vasquez, Ortiz, Park and Blonquist also star on the other side of the ball. They will be joined on defense by returning players such as defensive lineman Hayden Hone and defensive end Arik Blonquist.
The Cougars will also benefit from the return of senior Riley Barber, who is back from injury.
"Defensively, we are sound at every position group," Bartlett said.
Firth begins the 2021 season against an all too familiar opponent, West Side, in a rematch of last year's state title game. The game will take place in Dayton. Three more nonconference games will follow before hosting Ririe on Oct. 1 to begin Nuclear Conference Play. The regular season schedule ends with a home game versus West Jefferson--whom Bartlett said he believes will surprise people in head coach Ty Minto's second season--and a road game at North Fremont. Firth handed North Fremont its first loss of the season in last year's state semifinals, 7-6.