Written by: Lucas Gebhart
For the first time in nearly two decades, Capital’s summer football practices are being led by someone other than Todd Simis.
The 18-year coaching veteran stepped down as head coach after last season and the Eagles launched a nationwide search to find his replacement. They settled on Jay Bohner, who returns to his home state after spending the last 28 seasons coaching at various Illinois high schools and colleges.
In all, Bohner spent 13 years coaching in the college ranks. Eight of those seasons were spent as an assistant coach at Olivet Nazarene University, a NAIA school that competes at the same level as the College of Idaho. Prior to that, he served as an assistant at Joliet Junior College, but the last five years were spent at Casey-Westfield High School.
“I will miss the friendships and memories that were created while a part of this awesome community,” Bohner wrote on Twitter last January. “I will always be a Warrior fan!”
Bohner inherits a Capital squad that won seven games last season but ended up falling in the state quarterfinals to Rigby, the eventual state champion. Capital’s high-powered offense was shutdown that night, only scoring 14 points in the loss.
Last year, Capital averaged 31.6 points a game, scoring 35 or more points in each of the seven wins. The Eagles hope to carry over that offensive firepower to the new campaign, but they will have to do it without the Idaho 5A Player of the Year under center.
Max Clark, one of the state’s best quarterbacks, has graduated. Replacing him will be junior Joren Peterson. But Bohner still believes this offense can light up the scoreboard because he has guys like Brody Call, Victor Byaundaombe, and Charles Bohner lined up at receiver. But with four new starters on the offensive line, finding time to throw the ball could be a challenge.
“We need them to gel as a unit early,” Bohner said. “We need to improve our running attack on offense as well and that starts with running backs.”
Defensively, things will look a little different. Bohner brings a new system, and he says learning it early is a must. The defensive line, he says, will lead the way.
“Tucker French and Shepard Fish are a real strength,” Bohner said of his line. “That, and our defensive secondary led by Trevor Pooley and Byaundaombe.”
Capital opens its season with back-to-back games at Dona Larsen Park, a facility owned by Boise State, but shared between the four Boise high schools.
Six of Capital’s eight regular season games will be played at Dona Larsen, including five of the first six.
But a September 2 road trip up north to play Lewiston will more than make up for the lack of travel. Lewiston is five hours and a time change away from Capital High, a road trip Bohner likely hasn’t seen since his college coaching days. But he still says his kids are up the challenge.
“Our guys have worked hard all summer to implement and learn new systems on offense and defense while adjusting to a new coaching style,” he said. “Their willingness to work and keep an open mind to new and different approaches has been tremendous.”