Written by: Brandon Baney
There’s no denying that Moscow’s football program has fallen on hard times in recent years. The Bears have gone 4-20 over the past three seasons, after finishing with a 4-2 mark in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
So when school officials petitioned the IHSAA to move down a classification level, their request was granted. So Moscow will compete at the 4A (previously 3A) level this season, alongside Bonners Ferry and Timberlake in the Intermountain League.
Despite that 4-20 mark over the past three years, the Bears were picked to finish first in IdahoSports.com’s Preseason Coaches Poll.
On paper, the selection makes sense. Coach Rob Bafus welcomes back senior quarterback Noah Velasco, who picked up 1st Team All-League honors in 2023. His top two receivers, Connor Isakson and Butch Kiblen, are also back, and sophomore Keaton Frei will start at running back after earning Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.
Isakson, Kiblen and Frei will all contribute in the secondary on defense, and two-way lineman Wyatt Hartig shows promise this year, as well.
Moscow opens its season with 3A Kellogg on August 23rd before traveling to 5A independent Caldwell. Road games at Clarkston (WA) and St. Maries, and home games with Pullman (WA) and Lethbridge (Canada) comprise the rest of the non-conference schedule.
Then, it’s a furious two-week sprint to the top of the IML standings. Moscow hosts Bonners Ferry on October 11th, and travels to Timberlake in the regular season finale on October 18th.