Photo By Patty Theurer - #74 Layton Gould
Written By: Sven Alskog
Don’t sleep on Kamiah this season.
The Kubs enter 2019 as a team to watch in the 1AD1 classification, with strong potential to continue trending in the right direction after a 5-4 mark a year ago.
Much of the reason for optimism stems from the return of multiple pieces of a talented core group, including All-State lineman Leyton Gould, All-League skill talent Trent Taylor and Honorable Mention All-League running back and defensive back Titus Oatman.
Gabe Eades, Bodie Norman and Easton Lezcano are some of the other notable returners for Kamiah.
“We are very excited to have a great core of returning players with a lot of experience that have played together for a few years and have great chemistry. Their record has gotten better every year, and they’re looking for another jump this year,” said head coach Nels Kludt.
Expectations are high on each side of the ball, with the offense putting up 42 or more points in each of the five wins last season.
“We have three players who started at one time or another on our offensive line and three players who also started in the skill positions, so we have a fairly experienced group coming back. We have a very balanced offense with run and pass, featuring a quick passing game and a zone style running attack,” added Kludt.
He likes what is place on the other side of things as well.
“Leyton Gould was a very dominant player up front for us last year. We also have two other players who started much of the season up front and all our linebackers and defensive backs but one. We play primarily a 3-2-3 gap control defense.”
Kludt also added that both Eades and Taylor have become tremendous leaders in the offseason, specifically in the weight room.
A pair of incoming freshman, Colton Sams and Brady Cox, were listed by the coach as new faces to watch.
Between the returners and newcomers, much of the focus for the Kubs has been on speed and strength.
“We’ve worked hard to increase our strength and agility all across the board. We hope to be a better tackling team on defense and to be more consistent throwing the ball on offense,” said Kludt.
Things appear to be in a good place for Kamiah to make a run at a playoff appearance this year, with just three players having departed from a team that finished with a winning record last season.
The Kubs take on Kendrick at home in week one on August 30.