Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Highland
2. Rigby
3. Madison
4. Thunder Ridge
Written by: Marlowe Hereford
The road to the state championship in Idaho’s largest classification of football has clearly run through eastern Idaho in recent years, specifically Jefferson County.
Rigby added another blue trophy and state championship banner to its collection last November, defeating Timberline 41-6 in the 6A state title game at the ICCU Dome.
The Trojans, who received the No. 1 seed out of the east, have won five of the last seven state titles in Idaho’s largest classification of football (two 6A, three 5A).
Additionally, Madison received the No. 2 seed out of the East and reached the quarterfinals of last year’s playoffs while Highland received an at-large bid and played in the first round.
A District 5-6 team has made it to the last nine state championship games. Will that streak continue this November?
RIGBY
The Trojans repeated as 6A state champion last November, averaging 41 points in three playoff games, and went undefeated versus conference opponents for the second consecutive season to take the No. 1 seed out of the East for the playoffs. They went 11-1 overall, their only loss coming to eventual 5A state champion and undefeated Bishop Kelly.
Rigby graduated a deep, talented senior class that was instrumental in its back-to-back state titles. Quarterback Jacob Flowers (All-Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-Idaho), running back Amani Morel (All-Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-Idaho), defensive back Cannon Korth (All-Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Idaho), defensive lineman Boston Balsmeier (First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Idaho), offensive lineman Cache Williams (First Team All-Idaho, First Team All-Conference), offensive lineman Donovin Jara (First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Idaho), and linebacker DJ Boudrero (Second Team All-Idaho, First Team All-Conference) are among the most notable losses to graduation. Morel had 1,106 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns along with 23 receptions and one touchdown.
Current senior wide receiver Evan Freeman received All-Conference First Team and Second Team All-Idaho honors last season while senior wide receiver Kue Kofe, senior defensive lineman Irie Adolpho and senior defensive back Statton Butikofer received All-Conference First Team last fall.
Rigby begins the season Aug. 21 at Roy, Utah.
MADISON
The Bobcats went 7-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play last season, securing the No. 2 seed out of the East for the 6A state playoffs. Madison kept its season going to the quarterfinals, where it fell 42-14 to Coeur d’Alene.
Among those who graduated from that team were All-Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Cache Summers, who made five interceptions and averaged 10.7 tackles per game and was also named to First Team All-Idaho. Braysen Stoddard (First Team All-Idaho, First Team All-Conference kicker), Jackson Cordero (First Team All-Idaho, First Team All-Conference punter), Carter Apelu (Second Team All-Idaho, First Team All-Conference offensive lineman), Jacob Lee (First Team All-Conference defensive lineman) and Lucas Fransen (First Team All-Conference defensive back) also graduated.
Current junior Collins Hirschi (First team All-Conference defensive lineman), junior Sidi Kante (Second team All-Conference offensive lineman), junior Micah Dougherty (All-Conference Honorable Mention quarterback), senior Brahm Thompson (All-Conference Honorable Mention wide receiver) and senior Tyce Hodges (All-Conference Honorable Mention tight end) all received postseason honors as underclassmen last fall.
Preseason predictions are that one of Idaho’s toughest conferences will remain as competitive as ever, and the Bobcats will again be a team to watch.
“Madison will also have some of the best athletes in the area, which makes them dangerous,” Thunder Ridge head coach Michael Berger said.
Madison begins the season Aug. 21 with a home game versus Minico.
HIGHLAND
The Rams went 6-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play last season, receiving an at-large bid to the playoffs. Mountain View defeated Highland 45-7 in the first round.
Among those who graduated from Highland are McKay Galo (First Team All-Conference linebacker), Hunter Burrell (First Team All-Conference defensive back), Bentley Stanislowski (Second Team All-Conference defensive lineman), Andrew Scott (All-Conference Honorable Mention wide receiver) and Keaton Belnap (All-Conference Honorable Mention tight end).
However, the Rams return senior Easton Almond (Second Team All-Conference wide receiver), senior Kellan Tingey (wide receiver), senior running back Jaxon Collard (Second Team All-Conference defensive lineman), senior Cedric Mitchell (First Team All-Conference running back), senior Malakai Mitchell (First Team All-Conference linebacker), senior Jacob Vincent (First Team All-Conference quarterback), junior Nolan Guerrero (All-Conference Honorable Mention offensive lineman), junior Easton Wolfe (offensive lineman), senior Jayden Hinds (offensive lineman), senior Kona Baldwin (Second Team All-Conference wide receiver), senior Steele Hoopes (tight end), senior Brody Jones (All-Conference Honorable Mention defensive back), senior Cody Wallace (Second Team All-Conference defensive back), senior Landon Summers (All-Conference Honorable Mention defensive lineman) and junior Karver Kap (All-Conference Honorable Mention linebacker).
Vincent is a second-year starting quarterback and Cedric Mitchell is a third-year starter. Almond and Tingey, members of Highland’s boys 4x400 team which won the 6A state championship in May, and Baldwin also bring back experience and speed at wide receiver.
“On offense, we’ll be built around speed, versatility, and a truly balanced attack,” Highland head coach Nick Sorrell said. “Last year we showed flashes of explosive potential, but we want to be more consistent in converting first downs and finishing drives. Also, while our line played hard last season, we’re aiming for improved communication and execution in both the run and pass game.”
Experience also reigns on defense for the Rams in Collard, Summers, Malakai Mitchell, Jones and Wallace.
“One of our primary goals this season is strengthening our ability to stop the run,” Sorrell said. “We’re emphasizing better gap discipline and more consistent fits at the second level. Hopefully our experience and leadership will allow us to tighten up defending the run game.”
Sorrell commended the Rams for the brotherhood they cultivated over the offseason and is eager to see that chemistry continue to grow and translate onto the gridiron.
“This team has had an outstanding offseason and has grown into a true brotherhood, a bond that will carry us through the challenges of facing the state’s best week after week,” Sorrell said. “This group genuinely likes playing together. The connection built through the offseason and the bitter taste of how last season ended has allowed this group to push each other through the shared work and build the trust that all great teams need. We’re excited to see how our experience and playmaking ability come together as we take the next step toward making a deep run into November.”
Highland begins the season Aug. 21 with a home game versus Eagle.
THUNDER RIDGE
The Titans went 2-7 overall and 0-3 in conference play last season.
Thunder Ridge graduated Preston McDaniel (First Team All-Conference tight end; now at Utah State),
Kaleb Brock (Second Team All-Conference wide receiver), Hunter Hennefer (All-Conference Honorable Mention running back), Seth Mann (Second Team All-Conference offensive lineman), Trevor Vincent (Second Team All-Conference linebacker), Ryan Taylor (Second Team All-Conference defensive back), Evan Jones (All-Conference Honorable Mention defensive lineman) and Corbin Leishman (All-Conference Honorable Mention defensive back).
Among those returning for the Titans are senior Ryder Portmann (Second Team All-Conference quarterback), senior McKay Scoresby (All-Conference Honorable Mention wide receiver), senior James Murdoch (All-Conference Honorable Mention offensive lineman), senior Owen Jones (All-Conference Honorable Mention offensive lineman), senior Drew Crystal (second team All-Conference defensive lineman), Benson Sessions (All-Conference Honorable Mention defensive lineman), senior Garrett Gleave (All-Conference Honorable Mention linebacker).
Titans head coach Michael Berger said Thunder Ridge is aiming to improve its run game this season.
“We know we have the athletes to throw the ball, but it’s challenging when we do not compliment it with a run game,” Berger said. “Our success this season will come down to how well we compete in the trenches. We have some great athletes at our skill positions, but we need to establish the run game to keep opposing defenses honest. Our team is led by our big guys up front, and we are excited to watch them raise the standard.”
Defensively, Berger said numerous members of his front seven have varsity experience. However, competition is fierce for newcomers to snag varsity spots.
“Getting them up to speed at the varsity level will be a crucial factor heading into the start of the season,” Berger said. “We run a multiple defense that can adjust week by week depending on the opponent.”
Berger said the X factors for Thunder Ridge’s success in 2026 will be players stepping up to fill roles and being strong in the trenches.
“It will be fun during fall camp to see who rises to the occasion,” Berger said. “We have a group of kids that love to compete. They play with an edge and have more fire than previous groups. If we can channel that into executing and making plays, it will have us being a very competitive team."