Photo By Debra Sorensen - #1 DJ Green
Preseason Coaches' Poll
T-1. Homedale
T-1. Weiser
3. McCall-Donnelly
4. Fruitland
5. Payette
6. Parma
Written by: Keller Sherman
To say that the 2020 season was a crazy one for the McCall-Donnelly Vandals is an understatement. Not only were two games canceled due to COVID issues, including a conference matchup with Fruitland, but the Vandals also made the jump from 2A to 3A. After failing to qualify for the state playoffs last season with a 3-3 record, coach Lee Leslie would love nothing more than to lead the Vandals to a playoff appearance and he believes that his players are working hard day in, day out to achieve that goal.
In their last season at the 2A level in 2019, Leslie led his team to the state championship game which ended in heartbreak with a 14-13 loss to West Side, denying the Vikings what could have been their first ever state title in football.
Many of Leslie’s senior and junior players were on that state runner up team as freshmen and sophomores and still feel the sting of that loss heading into this season, even if they are competing at a new level in a conference that boasts perennial powers Homedale and Fruitland.
However, coach Leslie believes that the Snake River Valley Conference is more wide open than people might think and that the conference will be a four-team race between his team, Weiser, Fruitland, and Homedale. Bringing home a conference title in only their second season at the 3A level would be a feather in the cap as Leslie enters his 6th season at the helm of the Vandals.
The Vandals only return six notable seniors, but there will be plenty of juniors and sophomores who will see playing time that will be able to pick up where the seniors leave off after this season.
Coach Leslie is excited for the quarterback battle and believes it is a three-man race between sophomore Josh Sorensen, junior Will Crossley, and senior Thomas Knudson and states that all three have spent quality time in the weight room this summer and are working hard to win the starting job.
Outside of the quarterback battle, Leslie believes that the offensive line will be one of the team’s greatest strengths entering this season. The line will feature an all-junior lineup led by left tackle Sawyer Klovis, left guard Jake Carr, center Glen Richardson, right guard Andrew Alvarez, and right tackle Kyler Knude.
In addition to the strengths of the offensive line, Leslie also sees several players that will make an impact on his offense including the return of two three-year starters in wide receiver Carter Johnson and tight end Ethan Tinney. Those two will also shine at defensive back and defensive line, respectively.
DJ Green, a player that brought home first team all-conference honors for his work on both sides of the ball, is expected to be a game-breaker at the running back position and his work as a defensive back cannot be denied. Eston Medley, an incoming player, is another one coach Leslie feels that people should keep their eye on this season.
When it comes to the defense, Leslie sees no shortage of talent. Skyler Young and Sam Weller will anchor the defensive tackle positions, and Lee feels that many of his offensive linemen will be able to switch over to the defensive line and do great things as well. The defensive end position will be led by Challis Stanger and Graham Helniak. They will aid a young defensive linebacker unit that Leslie feels is full of talent.
Even in the height of the offseason, McCall-Donnelly’s weight room has been anything but quiet. Coach Leslie has worked to create a family atmosphere with his team and that has helped the team embrace the loss of John Goodwill, who committed suicide last July. The team is also continuing to heal from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is ready to come into this season stronger than ever. A lot of personal bonds between teammates have formed and they are also learning to take every opportunity that becomes available to them.
Leslie also believes that the love and passion for the sport is common amongst his team and believes that they will embrace every challenge that comes their way. He feels that this will make McCall-Donnelly will a tough out for anyone that plays them.
The schedule works out very well for the Vandals to have a great season with two of the teams expected to contend for the SRV title this year, Homedale and Weiser, both coming to McCall. An October 1st road trip to Fruitland will help this team truly see where they are with the rest of the conference in their 2nd year as members of the 3A SRV.
The non-conference slate features three 2A schools in Orofino, New Plymouth, and Grangeville. Only one of those teams made the 2A state playoffs in 2020, but a September 17th trip to Grangeville can be seen as a major trap game with a big showdown with Homedale looming the following week. The Vandals may have won a decisive game 30-0 last year, but they will need to be on their A game against last year’s #8 seed in the 2A state playoffs or they could get shocked which would take away the value of the Homedale showdown the following week.
New Plymouth will be no easy out either after a 2nd place finish in the 2A Western Idaho Conference in 2020 in which their only conference loss came in a 44-14 rout at the hands of the conference champions, Melba.
McCall-Donnelly has arguably one of the toughest three-game stretches, if not the toughest, in the state. It could also be considered a four-game stretch if the September 17th date at Grangeville is included. It will be no easy task to play Homedale, Fruitland, and Weiser all in a row, even if they get two of those teams at home.
The challenges of this schedule should get this team excited to go out and play their hearts out every week of the season. Coach Leslie believes that this team has the brotherhood and passion for football as well as the talent in all positions to have an amazing season.