Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Minico
2. Twin Falls
3. Jerome
4. Burley
5. Mountain Home
6. Canyon Ridge
7. Wood River
Written by: Brandon Baney
Canyon Ridge High School has been open for thirteen years now, and while their student enrollment numbers have continued to climb in that time, their football program has struggled to find its footing in the always competitive Great Basin 7 conference.
The Riverhawks struggled last year, finishing with an 0-8 record. Head coach Sean Impomeni resigned in the offseason, and taking his place is first-time head coach James Poole. Poole grew up in Nevada, and played wide receiver and running back at the University of Utah before spending three seasons as an assistant coach at perennial Class 3A power Sugar-Salem.
Poole has some talented skill position players returning in 2021, although he will have to find a replacement for quarterback Brody Osen, who graduated this past spring. Whoever takes the position will have strong players to lean on: senior running back Wyatt Somers is a returning starter, and so is the wide receiver trio of senior Braden Clarke, senior Carson Sainsbury and junior Tanner Eldredge.
“Our strength offensively will be our balanced attack between the run and pass game,” Poole said. “We will force defenses to stay honest.”
Canyon Ridge’s spread offense ultimately hinges on the development of the offensive line. “We need to improve in the trenches,” Poole said. “We were not very physical up front on either side of the ball last year. The O-line has been our focus this summer as we try to build some toughness and continuity.”
Defensively, Canyon Ridge will be strong in the secondary, as Sainsbury at cornerback and Clarke at free safety are experienced veterans. Somers will anchor the defense at middle linebacker. “Our strength will be our upperclassmen’s leadership on top of a ‘speedy defense’ focus on alignment with movement and disguises and being a very stingy and disciplined unit,” Poole said.
Poole also noted that getting off the field on third down will be critical to defensive success for the Riverhawks.
Overall, a new coaching staff has infused some excitement into a Canyon Ridge program still trying to find its way. “This year’s team is really confident, excited and eager to win,” Poole said. “Our focus this summer has been about winning each day one day at a time. I really think our boys have bought into bettering themselves, and each other every day.”