Written by: Brandon Baney
Class 3A’s South East Idaho Conference is a brand new landscape in 2022. The league title is ripe for the picking and who earns it is anyone’s guess.
All three of the league’s schools (American Falls, Marsh Valley and Snake River) will be introducing new head coaches this year. And all three will have to navigate substantial graduation losses.
Needless to say, there hasn’t been much chatter from anyone in the three-team conference, so the 2022 campaign could truly be undpredictable.
The coach most familiar to Idaho fans is Snake River’s Jeff Dalley. Following a 5-5 season in 2021, former coach Jeb Harrison was asked to resign by Snake River officials. Now Dalley is back for his second stint at Snake River, and was the head coach right before Jeb Harrison was hired. He coached the team from 2008-15, and won two 3A championships during that stretch.
He will have to figure out a way to replace the graduated Cole Gilbert, the conference’s Player of the Year. Gilbert not only led the Panthers at quarterback, but he contributed on defense and special teams, as well. Running backs Zach Stailey and Carson Hawker are gone, and so are top receivers Rylan Anderson and Jace Mortenson.
The silver lining is that four starting offensive lineman are back: Josh Curzon, Ben Matthews, Kade England and Andru Quezada.
The defensive losses were just as significant: Keegan Ashley (DL), Lance Hunter (DL), Colby Hansen (LB), Colton Jensen (LB), Danny Wray (DB) and Stailey (DB) all earned All-Conference honors a year ago. It will be tough to replace their production, but if any coach is up to the challenge, it’s Jeff Dalley.
Like many years, the South East Idaho Conference title will be decided in October. Marsh Valley is at Snake River on October 7th. The Panthers then travel to American Falls on October 14th. And in the season finale, American Falls is at Marsh Valley.