Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Timberlake
2. Bonners Ferry
3. Kellogg
4. Priest River
Written by: Brandon Baney
The last time the Bonners Ferry football qualified for the postseason, their current group of seniors were in the sixth grade. And while there obviously haven't been any sixth graders suiting up for the Bonners Ferry varsity team, the reality isn't too far off.
"We have a lot of juniors that will be three-year starters," second-year coach Travis Hinthorn said. "We are finally playing upperclassmen and getting bigger."
A team filled with sophomores and juniors went 3-4 a year ago, and now could be the time that Bonners Ferry finally breaks through. "We have a large junior class," Hinthorn said. "Our senior class does not have a lot of players, but the ones that play are pretty good."
Highlighting the returnees is senior safety Wilson Newell, the reigning Intermountain League Defensive Player of the Year. He will also operate as the Badgers running back out of their single-back offense.
Newell is one of eight All-IML selections that will suit up for Bonners Ferry this year. Joining Newell in the secondary are junior Tiegan Banning and senior Sky Reinhardt. Banning will also take snaps at quarterback, and Reinhardt could be one of his top receivers.
Wide receiver-tight end hybrid Blake Rice is another returning All-IML selection, and juniors Tully Reinhardt and Charles Henslee will factor in at wide receiver and defensive back as well.
So the offensive and defensive backfields are covered, but what those players that line up in the box? The Badgers offensive line will be led by three All-IML selections: senior Bo Bateman and juniors Dillon Mai and Travis Petersen. Their play will be critical to Bonners Ferry's chances in 2021. "We will work on controlling the line better and giving our quarterback more time," said Hinthorn.
Bateman, Mai and Petersen will all play on the defensive line as well, and senior Eli Richards and Rice will anchor the linebackers. "Defensively, our philosophy is bend, don't break," Hinthorn said. "No big plays or penalties."
Bonners Ferry's non-conference slate includes two trips to Montana to play Lincoln County High in Eureka, as well as Libby. The Badgers will also play all three members of the Class 2A Central Idaho League (Grangeville, Orofino and St. Maries). Their regular season finale could decide the IML title, as Bonners Ferry will host Timberlake on October 22nd.