Preseason Coaches' Poll
Foothills Division
T-1. Meridian
T-1. Rocky Mountain
3. Eagle
4. Timberline
5. Skyview
6. Boise
River Division
1. Mountain View
2. Capital
3. Owyhee
T-4. Borah
T-4. Centennial
6. Kuna
Written by: Wayne Dzubak
Nothing has come easy for the Boise High school football team in recent years and for second year head coach Mike Altieri, 2021 will be no different. His biggest challenge will be finding a replacement for 6-foot-5 All-SIC quarterback Jack Payne, who decided to transfer to Owyhee High for his senior season.
The Brave started 2020 with an 0-3 record, but then strung together a trio of wins to end the year at 3-3 and seemed to have momentum heading into fall of 2021.
Then Payne announced his decision to join the Storm.
All eyes will be on senior quarterback Braden Anderson as fall camp begins as he tries to fill some pretty big shoes. Fortunately Anderson will have some help on offense with a solid group of wide receivers returning.
“We are a spread team on offense” says Coach Altieri. “And we have a solid corp of returning receivers in Ford Songer, Zack Hess and Ernie Dryden who will be essential to our success.”
Another big blow for the Brave came on defense with the loss of Henry Dryden to graduation. “He was our leader and the defensive player of the year in our league,” says Altieri. However, the Brave do welcome back All-SIC selection Jared Fuller at linebacker.
Despite some big holes to fill on both sides of the ball, coach Altieri believes the Brave have enough talent coming back to make some noise and maybe surprise some folks.
This is coach Altieri’s first coaching job ever, other than youth sports. You may recall that last year he told IdahoSports.com he took the Boise job because he lives in the Boise North End and he wanted to be part of that community and make a difference.
His second year at the helm begins August 27th at 4A powerhouse Emmett, just another one of the challenges along the way to creating a new culture for Boise High football.
FYI, the Boise-Borah game, one of Idaho’s oldest high school football rivalries, unfolds September 9, 2021 at Dona Larsen Park.
Coach Altieri has put together a talented coaching staff and, combined with a favorable 2021 schedule, the Boise Brave could be one of those teams that if you overlook, you do so at your own peril.