Photo By Clayton Bunt - #1 Ty Hambly
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Kendrick
2. Deary
3. Lewis County
4. Timberline
Written by: Will Hoenike
If you’re a believer in momentum carrying over from one season to the next, the Lewis County Eagles come into the 2021 campaign on a bit of an upswing.
The small 1A Division 2 co-operative squad between Nezperce and Highland (Craigmont) won its final two games last fall to push some positive energy into the offseason. For head coach Monty Moddrell, the energy has helped to bear some fruit, though there’s still work to be done.
“We anticipate having 17 players come out this season, which is huge if we can maintain our health,” Moddrell said. “Nine of our expected 17 players are new or didn’t play last season so we have a lot to learn about each other.”
The Eagles are expected to build around junior quarterback and linebacker Ty Hambly. As a sophomore, Hambly was a second-team All-White Pine (Division 2) performer at linebacker and earned honorable mention accolades as a quarterback. His mobility and speed allowed him to escape bad situations last season and the team is reshaping its offensive line after losing two-way standout DJ Antone. Jasper McCorkle returns as the team’s center but opportunity exists for players to earn time at the two guard positions along the three-man offensive front.
“To be competitive in this league, you must be able to throw the ball successfully with consistency,” Moddrell observed. “We have added some talent and speed in our receiving core with Ryan Zenner and Wyatt Webb and will look to balance what has historically been a run-heavy attack.”
Zenner, a senior, is finally back in the fold after suffering a serious injury as a sophomore. Along with Webb and sophomore Gage Crow, Hambly should have some weapons at his disposal this season. Webb should line up primarily at running back but will likely be utilized in the pass game as well.
Webb moves from defensive back to linebacker alongside Hambly this season, a move that Moddrell says has gone “very smoothly.” TJ Fetters, a junior transfer from 5A Eagle High School, should slot in as a defensive end as the Eagles look to cut down on the big plays allowed – Lewis County surrendered over 50 points six times last season.
“Far too often last year, guys were leaving their assignments to help do someone else’s job,” Moddrell explained. “In the process, neither task was accomplished.”
In Idaho 8-Man ranks, the White Pine League is traditionally one of the strongest, both in Division 1 and Division 2. Lewis County reached the opening round of the 1A Division 2 playoffs in 2019 and will have to compete with perennial power Kendrick, traditionally solid Deary, and a Timberline of Weippe team that is coming off a playoff appearance of its own last season. The Eagles play two of its three White Pine games on the road this fall, going to Kendrick (Sept. 24) and Timberline (Oct. 15), while hosting Deary on October 8. In fact, Lewis County only plays three home games this season, including a season-ending home matchup against Division 1 Logos on October 22.
If Moddrell and his staff are able to develop depth along the offensive and defensive line and his team can avoid the injury bug, that Logos game may be a precursor to a postseason appearance.