Photo By Loren Orr - #15 Art Williams
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Foothills Division
T-1. Meridian
T-1. Rocky Mountain
3. Eagle
4. Timberline
5. Skyview
6. Boise
River Division
1. Mountain View
2. Capital
3. Owyhee
T-4. Borah
T-4. Centennial
6. Kuna
Written by: Wayne Dzubak
To understand just how deep a roster the Rock Mountain football program has been blessed with, start by looking at the list of players that graduated this past spring:
Jordan Erickson, RB (1st Team All-State)
Landon Albert, LB (1st Team All-State)
Brayden Rundell, LB (1st Team All-State)
Ty Tanner, LB (1st Team All-State)
Xander Nawahine, DB (1st Team All-State)
Zach Black, DL (1st Team All-State)
Kevin Croft, OL (1st Team All-State)
Ryan Bohr, OL (1st Team All-SIC)
Braden Valentine, DL (2nd Team All-SIC)
Beaux Taylor, DB (2nd Team All-SIC)
Caden Zierenberg, K (2nd Team All-SIC)
Justin Kozlowski, OL (2nd Team All-SIC)
Michael Riddle, DL (2nd Team All-SIC)
Jack England, FB (2nd Team All-SIC)
Max Lehman, RB (Honorable Mention All-SIC)
Max Nead, WR (Honorable Mention All-SIC)
Trevor VanGerpen, DB (Honorable Mention All-SIC)
Kobe Warr, QB (Honorable Mention All-SIC)
Alex Glos, OL (Honorable Mention All-SIC)
Justin Douglas, LB (Honorable Mention All-SIC)
Those twenty players lost one game in three seasons and won two state championships. Rocky Mountain coach Chris Culig said , “They will be missed because they knew what it takes to win.
They believed in each other.”
Obviously that’s a lot of talent gone but there’ll be no crying for the Grizzlies because they have plenty of talent in the pantry.
Rocky Mountain went 9-0 last year including playoff wins over Highland, Couer d’Alene and Rigby. Rocky beat the Trojans 17-14 in Madison for the 5A State Championship, their third state crown in five years.
Could there be another championship in 2021?
On offense Coach Culig says, “We’ll be multiple and explosive on offense with the ability to throw and run. Our offensive line is younger than a year ago but with more athleticism, length and overall size.” Just what opponents want to hear!
On defense coach Culig says the front 7 is bigger and faster at all seven positions but admits the Grizzlies lack depth and experience in the secondary. However, Culig adds, “We’ve always been able to reload and I expect to do the same this year.”
Despite all of their individual talent, Culig says the success of the season will come down to playing as a team. According to Culig, “The new, young inexperienced players will have to learn from the veterans, stay the course and get better every day.”
In 2021, that will start with game one on August 21 against the Highland Rams at Holt Arena in Pocatello at 6:30pm. Rocky topped the Rams 29-13 in Meridian during the 2020 playoffs and Holt Arena is never an easy place to play.
The next two weeks are hardly cake walks either as the Grizzlies host Mountain View and then play at Eagle.
The talent is once again there for another Rocky Mountain title run but the Grizzlies will have to be ready from the get-go.