Photo By Mike Turner - #5 Luke Trogden
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Mullan
2. Clark Fork
3. Kootenai
Written by: Will Hoenike
Head coach Stetson Spooner is getting to know many of the region’s small-school college football coaches. And it’s not because he’s applying for jobs – it’s because they are interested in his athletes. Two years ago, it was Skye Gallaway. Riley Trogden, last year’s captain, committed to play football and continue his studies at Dickinson State in North Dakota. Now, it’s the senior tandem of Luke Trogden and Adam Ball that is drawing the attention of college coaches.
Not bad for a small cooperative program between Mullan, Idaho, and St. Regis, Montana, where it’s entirely possible that neither school would have football without the other.
“Being a co-op, we started this thing when our seniors this season were freshmen,” said Spooner. “To see their progress on the field and physically with our offseason goals is very rewarding as they close their (high school) careers on such a fun opportunity to make sure both schools play ball.”
The Tigers won the 1A Division 2 North Star League last season and claimed an opening-round postseason win on its home field over Horseshoe Bend before being knocked off in the semifinals by eventual state champion Dietrich. That has continued the progression for the program that was dormant, then played 6-man football, then joined forces with St. Regis. Can the Tigers make the next step in 2022? Spooner thinks the season-ending loss to Dietrich could help.
“We tend to stand and watch some of our freak athletes break five tackles and go 80 yards, saying ‘wow,’ rather than playing hard to the whistle,” he explained. “Even though our guys are fun to watch, seeing a team like Dietrich play as hard as they did with all eight (players) until every whistle, that’s the gold standard in our eyes.”
It starts with Trogden and Ball, both seniors. The duo both play running back and linebacker and both earned All-State accolades last fall. Throw in junior quarterback/defensive back Caleb Ball and you have what Spooner and associate head coach Jesse Allan see as their three-headed monster on both sides of the ball.
“Luke Trogden, Adam Ball, and Caleb Ball are no secret after the semifinal run last season,” Spooner said. “Those three really create problems for opposing defenses.”
But they’re not a three-man team. Spooner calls junior OL/DL Blake Layton the team’s best blocker. Sophomore John Pruitt’s versatility is lauded. The Tigers only graduated two seniors off of last season’s team and actually had twelve freshmen on the roster, so there is talent and depth. Add to that incoming freshman OL/DL Michael Morgan, who wowed coaches and opponents at a camp at Montana State University over the summer.
There are things the coaches continue to preach and work on to help the Tigers push forward.
“Tackling is something that no team will ever be perfect at and it is so important to be considered top-tier,” Spooner said. “Our goal is to reach that level so tackling early in plays has to be as important as tackling well toward the end of plays.”
Mullan and St. Regis are separated by a state line and about 40 miles. But the two communities work together to ensure both are able to enjoy the games. The Tigers play two non-conference games against Montana teams. Those two games will both be played in St. Regis so the St. Regis players have an opportunity to play true “home” games.
So what’s the ceiling for Mullan/St. Regis? Being located in the panhandle allows them to fly under the radar a bit at times because the team isn’t highly visible in southern Idaho. But, after bursting onto the scene last season, Spooner knows the word is out. People know the Tigers can play. A return to the playoffs seems likely and a deep run seems very possible. But it’s unlikely it’ll catch anyone by surprise, especially the people of Mullan, Idaho, and St. Regis, Montana.