Photo By Joel Brown - #18 Dylan Larson
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Grangeville
2. St. Maries
3. Orofino
Written by: Brandon Baney
The St. Maries football team endured an uneven season a year ago. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lumberjacks were only able to play four games in total, and finished the year with a 2-2 overall mark.
They defeated Priest River and fell to Timberlake in back-to-back weeks in late September, then sat on the sidelines for nearly a month as one opponent after another came down with a COVID outbreak. By the time St. Maries returned to action in late October, the regular season finale against Grangeville turned into a de facto playoff game, a contest the Bulldogs won 21-7.
In a normal year, finishing in second place would still give St. Maries an outside shot at am at-large playoff berth. But with only four completed games? No chance.
Needless to say, St. Maries coach Craig Tefft wants to put last season behind him. He did lament the loss of four outstanding seniors: Eli Gibson, Sam Martin, Les Preyer and Delbert Lambson. On the bright side, several talented playmakers return.
Tefft called Preyer "the leader of our offensive line", but four senior starters return for another season: Colby Renner, Adam Rouse, Gavin Millikan and Kyle Sibert. That foundation will allow the Lumberjacks offense to attack in a variety of ways.
"We are hoping to have a team that can be successful on the ground or in the air, and we feel like we have the kids to make it possible," Tefft said. "We don't really have a specific style. We try to be multiple."
Replacing the departed Eli Gibson at quarterback will be senior Sean Elliott. He top receivers include senior Tristan Gentry and junior Jared Badgett. Seniors Dylan Larson and Shawn Hunter will lead the running back group.
Many of those players just mentioned will lend a hand on defense as well. "We feel like we have a group that can be really physical (on defense)," said Tefft. "Hopefully, we can wear teams down over the course of a game."
Sibert earned All-Central Idaho League honors a year ago on the defensive line, and will lead a group that includes Larson, Rouse and Millikan. The linebackers include Hunter and Elliott, while the secondary will rely upon Gentry and Badgett.
Any way you slice it, just getting through a regular eight-game schedule will be a major plus for St. Maries after their COVID-impacted season a year ago. The Lumberjacks have put together a tough schedule, playing Class 4A Lakeland, Class 3A Kellogg, Bonners Ferry and Timberlake, and two Washington schools (Freeman and Lakeside). They will finish the regular season with their two league contests: at Grangeville on October 8th and at home against Orofino on October 15th.
"We are just excited to be playing this fall with no restrictions," Tefft. "Last season was really tough on the program."