Years as Head Coach
11th Season

Previous Experience
8th grade, frosh and JV and Varsity Defensive Coordinator, all at Jerome, since 1999

Assistant Coaches
Aaron Jackson, Brandon Robinson, Cam Stauffer, Rich Bishop, Aaron Ross, Trever Ostler, Jeff Poulsen, Blake Poulsen, Shane Hamblin, Adam Butler, Casey Cagle, Kevin Williams, Mike McDonald, Tyler Worthington

Record Last Year
3-6

State Titles
1986, 1987

Returning Players
Keenan Blair, Senior, OL/DL
Juan Benavides, Senior, LB
Colby Coates, Senior, OL
Daniel Gill, Junior, QB/LB
Mark Larsen, Senior, OL/DL
Draysin Pacheco, Junior, WR/DB
Kyler Hamblin, Junior, DB

Key Players lost from last year
Gavin Capps, TE and DL; played a ton of snaps. was 1st team all conference on both sides of the ball
Daniel Gill, OL/DL and team captain. Quiet leadership that will be missed
Colton Elison, WR and DB. His work ethic and toughness set the tone in practice

Incoming impact players
Abram Garcia, Junior, RB/DB
Zander Bingham, WR/DB
Seth Capps, Sophomore, TE/DL

Written by: Brandon Baney

The 2021 Jerome Tigers football season can be summed up in one word: depth, or a lack thereof. A season that started with high hopes and expectations was quickly derailed by a series of injuries to several prominent players. A roster already stretched thin hit its breaking point, and the Tigers limped their way to a 3-6 finish.

So it’s no surprise that veteran coach Sid Gambles has improving depth at the top of his list when it comes to improving in 2022. Other factors he listed included running the ball more consistently on offense, and creating more turnovers on defense.

On the offensive side of the ball, Jerome will feature a “Big Three” when it comes to the running game: three big, strong, senior offensive linemen (Keenan Blair, Colby Coates and Mark Larsen) paving the way for three diverse runners (running backs Abram Garcia and Juan Benavides, and quarterback Daniel Gill).

“We run the spread and will have a running back by committee,” Gambles said. “(In the passing game), we’ll try to use a bunch of good tight end/wide receiver types to spread the ball around.” Seth Capps, Draysin Pacheco, Zander Bingham and Toby Walker will all feature heavily in the pass-catching department for Jerome this year.

While the offense will feature a variety of contributors, there’s no doubt who is in charge on defense. “Juan Benavides will lead the charge again at middle linebacker,” Gambles said. “We run a 4-3 defense and expect a lot out of our middle linebacker and safeties.”

Kyler Hamblin and Bingham are expected to anchor the secondary, while, “Keenan Blair will need to be a run stopper and a QB rusher (on the defensive line). It’s asking a lot, but he’s more than capable,” Gambles said.

Jerome enters 2022 with less experience overall, but perhaps more quantity in terms of impact varsity playmakers. “We have so many newcomers to varsity, I’m excited to see what they’re about,” Gambles concluded. “I think we are going to be a lot better than expected.”