Photo By Wes Turner - #2 Caden Ray
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Kimberly
2. Gooding
3. Buhl
4. Filer
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Buhl Indians are hoping a familiar face will turn around the team’s fortunes in 2021. Following a one-year hiatus after a 13-year stint as the head coach at Twin Falls, Allyn Reynolds has returned to his alma mater.
Reynolds graduated from Buhl in 1979, and was part of the Indians’ state championship teams in 1977 and 1978. In fact, Buhl’s three consecutive titles from 1977 to 1979 are the only titles in school history, and in recent years the program has fallen on hard times.
Buhl went 1-7 a year ago, but five of their seven losses came against teams that qualified for the postseason. Coach Reynolds feels like his team may be overlooked because of this, and is excited to get the season started. “We have a lot of players with grit and they are eager to competitive and win a few more football games,” Reynolds said.
Although Reynolds and his players are still sorting out introductions, he does have an idea of what style of football he’d like to see Buhl play. “Offensively, we will run multiple formations, with shifts and motions,” Reynolds said. “We will attempt to establish the run and throw off of our run game. Defensively, we will run a four-man front with Cover 3 behind it. We want to stop the run first.”
It appears as if Reynolds is ready to hand the keys to the offense over to junior quarterback Austin Franson. Franson will have two talented receivers to the throw the ball to in senior Justin Lajoie and junior Jose Rangel. Buhl’s run-first attack will be led by senior backs Caden Ray and David Beltran. The offensive and defensive lines will feature senior Demetrio Canchola, and juniors Kaden Hunsaker, Kaleb Holman and Spencer Gorrell.
Buhl’s schedule will be challenging once again in 2021. They start the season with a home game against Weiser, followed by non-conference games against 4A Burley, 2A Declo and 4A Wood River. Buhl’s lone win last year came against Wendell. The Indians will host the Trojans on October 8th.
Ultimately, Reynolds said Buhl’s fortunes will boil down to one simple factor. “Trust,” Reynolds said. “We need to trust the new coaching staff and learn how to win.”