Written by: Lucas Gebhart
Bishop Kelly enters the new season as the heavy favorite to win the 5A Southern Idaho Conference (SIC), but with Vallivue returning 5A’s most explosive running back and a quietly dominate defense, the Falcons look ready to challenge BK for its crown.
The two teams made state quarterfinal runs last season and look primed for another deep run this fall.
Columbia and Nampa are popular breakout picks as both return much of their varsity roster while Ridgevue welcomes in a new coach with a history of rebuilding programs.
BISHOP KELLY
2024 Record: 9-2 – State Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Chris Culig, 3rd Season
Senior quarterback Ben Avella leads an explosive Bishop Kelly offense into the new season, making the Knights a popular choice to win the league for what would be a fifth straight season.
Led by Avella, the BK offense scored over 28 points per game last fall, making the Knights the second highest scoring offense in the 5A SIC, and this year’s offense could be even more dangerous.
BK returns a “stable of running backs,” a barn that consists of Ryan Arellano, Eli Lynes and Tony Mann along with a pair of “explosive receivers,” Boston Husky and Dominic Wolthuis.
“We are experienced and talented at our skilled positions,” Culig said. “We want to run the football with more authority while finding ways to score more touchdowns.”
Defensively, Culig says BK will be fast in every area. The Knights will have Jack Henderson and Quentin Powers back on the line and get Nik Ciavacco and Bryce Root back in the secondary, giving one of Idaho’s best defenses from last season plenty of returning experience.
VALLIVUE
2024 Record: 7-3 – State Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Shea McCellin, 2nd Season
For the first time in years, expectations are high at Vallivue. The Falcons are coming off one of the best seasons in program history and return one of the state’s best running backs, Onix Carson, while adding a new “athletic” quarterback, Eli Daniel, a junior coaches are excited about.
While Carson stole the headlines, rushing for over 1,400 yards and averaging over 7 years per carry, Vallivue’s defense did the heavy lifting.
At less than 14 points per game, no school in 5A allowed fewer points per game than Vallivue and with most of last year’s defense returning, the Falcons have emerged as a team to beat in the SIC.
“The combination of Onix and Eli in the backfield will be fun to watch,” McCellin said. “Eli gives us a different dimension at quarterback we haven’t had before.”
EMMETT
2024 Record: 6-4 – 1st Round of State Playoffs
Head Coach: Rich Hargitt, 8th Season
Emmett is working to get back to the state playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, but it will have to do it without quarterback and SIC Player of the Year, Ryder Scheibe.
Emmett’s new projected starting quarterback, Jax Banuelos, led a strong Emmett JV team last season. However, Banuelos suffered a season-ending injury this summer, further putting the pressure on the other side of the ball.
Several other key defensive pieces are coming up from JV as well, making Emmett a strong and physical team, and keeping Emmett in the state playoff conversation.
“We are stronger than we were a year ago,” Hargitt said, adding that this new group will need to remain consistent throughout the year.
Emmett has missed the playoffs just twice in the last 10 years but hasn’t won a league title since 2015.
NAMPA
2024 Record: 4-6 – 1st Round of State Playoffs
Head Coach: Ty Thomas, 2nd Season
With some playoff experience, a senior quarterback, a key running back and one of 5A’s best linebackers coming back, Nampa is a breakout candidate this fall.
The Bulldogs get senior quarterback Dom Almaraz and all-conference running back Ryker Good back on offense, positioning Nampa as a state playoff contender and a team that could climb the standings.
Defensively, linebacker Hugo Afamasaga, a second-team all-conference pick from last year, will anchor an aggressive and senior heavy defense.
“I’m excited about the strong senior leadership,” Thomas said. “I’m excited about the players returning with playoff experience who bring energy, leadership, and have fun playing football.”
SKYVIEW
2024 Record: 2-7 – Missed State Playoffs
Head Coach: David Robinson, 3rd Season
Skyview is entering what they are calling a “new era” with a fresh group of players and a new defensive coordinator.
Junior quarterback Trevan Plew has now taken over full-time at the position, giving Skyview a more confident passing attack.
“We should be improved in our passing attack,” Robinson said.
New defensive coordinator Steve Fleshman’s new 4-3 defense brings a new attacking style, but is missing many of its starters from last season.
“Steve Fleshman is a great asset to our program, we lost a lot defensively but expect to be competitive,” Robinson said.
COLUMBIA
2024 Record: 3-6 – Missed State Playoffs
Head Coach: Charlie Dotson, 4th Season
A young Columbia team had the league’s lowest scoring offense (13.89 PPG) and the league’s highest scoring defense (30 PPG), last season, but many around the league feel like Wildcats are ready to make a jump.
Columbia returns most of their roster this fall, including senior running back Michael Dominguez, wide receivers Tyson Winkleman and Easton Lott, and all-conference offensive tackle Brenton Thueson.
“We have a year of growth for our young players,” Dotson said. “We have increased our size and speed.”
After winning three of their first four games to open last season, Columbia lost its last five games of the year, a stretch that included Bishop Kelly, Emmett and Vallivue, all of whom were state playoff teams in 2024.
RIDGEVUE
2024 Record: 2-6 – Missed State Playoffs
Head Coach: Gary Thorson, 1st Season
Ridgevue’s new head coach, Gary Thorson, has a reputation for rebuilding programs. With stops at Oregon’s Sisters, Dayton and Grant High Schools, Thorson put together a combined .629-win percentage, won five league titles and made Oregon’s state playoffs 10 times over 14 seasons.
Now, he takes the reigns of a Warhawks program that hasn’t taken off yet, but the Warhawks feel Thorson could get them started.
“I am most excited to see how much we can improve from Week One to the end of the season,” Thorson said.
The Warhawks return 10 starters from last season, giving them a runway to build on. Among the returning starters is quarterback Hunter Schmittel, who gets two of his top targets back in Isaac Jones and Gavin Malvini.
CALDWELL COUGARS
2024 Record: 0-9
Head Coach: Chris Boncz, 1st Season
Caldwell will play an independent schedule for the fourth consecutive season, meaning the school is not affiliated with the 5A SIC and the Cougars will not be eligible for postseason play.
This allows Caldwell to build its own schedule as the school continues its rebuild, which will be taken over by former defensive coordinator and new head coach Chris Boncz.
This year’s schedule features three schools in the 5A SIC – Columbia, Vallivue and Ridgevue.