Written by: Will Hoenike
Coming off possibly the best football season in Bonners Ferry history, which included a perfect 8-0 regular season, Intermountain League (IML) Championship and an opening round playoff win over Wood River, the Badgers now find themselves in rebuilding mode heading into 2023.
Bonners Ferry had more than 20 seniors on its varsity roster last season, including all-state honorees Blake Rice and Cleo and Charles Henslee. But this fall, the only significant contributors returning are running back/linebacker Dakoda Heller and lineman Trey Bateman, Kolten Rude and Noah Varelman.
Plus, all this is not to mention that former Badgers Head Coach Travis Hinthorn stepped down in the offseason, making way for longtime assistant Danny Swift to take charge of the program.
"I feel blessed to inherit this program from an amazing coach and man in Travis Hinthorn and plan to do my best to build on the cultural foundation he has built," Swift said.
On offense, the Badgers will transition at the quarterback position from Blake Rice to his younger brother, Brody, who is a junior this fall. With nearly 100% of the team's offensive production gone from a season ago, Bonners Ferry will lean heavily on its run game with Heller, a 2022 all-league nominee, running behind an offensive line unit that is the most experienced on the team with Bateman, Rude and Varelman all back.
"Our main objective will be to play to the strengths of this year's team as we work to find out what those will be within the concepts of our offense," Swift noted.
Defense was the Badgers calling card last year, allowing less than 10 points per game. Coach Swift, the former defensive coordinator, is hopeful that Bonners Ferry can utilize its strong defensive line and linebacking core to field a formidable unit on that side of the ball again this season.
"As the defensive coordinator from last season, we will have a huge turnover in personnel," Swift acknowledged. "But I would like to see us force more turnovers without sacrificing big play opportunities for opposing offenses."
Overall, Swift is looking forward to seeing how many of his younger players step up and take on bigger roles this season, growing both on and off the football field, regardless of what the scoreboard says every Friday night.
"I am excited to see our younger players get their opportunity play at the varsity level," Swift said. "With a young team, it's always exciting to watch their daily growth as players, men, and leaders in the school and community."
Due to its isolated location and position in the two-team IML, Bonners Ferry always plays an interesting football schedule that includes numerous out-of-state opponents, and that is no different this fall.
The Badgers open at Lincoln County (MT) and will also take on a pair of Washington schools in Connell and East Valley, as well as a team from Alberta, Canada.
Notable games this season for Bonners Ferry include a pair of road trips to play Weiser Sept. 8 in a rematch of the 3A State Quarterfinals from last fall and a game at 4A Moscow on Oct. 6.
The Badgers close the season at home on Oct. 20 with the de-facto IML Championship Game against Timberlake.