Photo By Kent Kidd - #9 Brevin Trenkle
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
Fans in Minico have known for a while that this year’s football team has the chance to be special. A young team went 4-4 last year, but two of their losses were to Skyline and Emmett, the two teams that played for the Class 4A championship. They also lost to 4A playoff qualifier Middleton, but the loss that stung the most was a 13-3 setback against Jerome that ultimately decided the Great Basin 7 conference title.
Several starters return in 2021, including a loaded junior class, and other teams have noticed. Minico was named the preseason favorite in a poll of Great Basin 7 coaches. “I like our depth,” 4th-year head coach Keelan McCaffrey said. “We have dudes who will play all over the field and see an increase in their role. We have two and three guys at multiple positions that we will have to get on the field.”
There is no question that junior Brevin Trenkle is the heartbeat of the Spartans. After starting his first two seasons at quarterback, Trenkle will shift to running back in Minico’s Pistol Wing-T offense. Trenkle will form a nice one-two punch with returning All-Conference running back Klayton Wilson.
“We are a running team that wants to be balanced with our passing game,” McCaffrey said. “The goal is to control the clock and have positive plays. We have multiple dudes who can run the ball and stretch the defense vertically. Our team speed is better than it has ever been and the amount of athletes we have is going to be good.”
Wilson and Trenkle will run behind an experienced group of blockers up front, led by seniors Luke Arthur, Will Fessenden and Kaimbridge Gee. “The strength of the offense will start with the offensive line,” McCaffrey said. “They are extremely important to our success. They have to get the run game going for us and control the line of scrimmage. We have good depth at that position with a good junior class.”
Whoever steps in to replace Trenkle at quarterback will have to keep defenses honest. “We need to improve our ability to throw the ball,” McCaffrey said. “I hope it will help us not be one dimensional in what we are doing. We are traditionally known for running the football. We need to be able to move the ball in the air to complement our run game. I think the amount of athletes we have will give us the option to get the football out in space and give these dudes a chance to make big plays.”
Defensively, Minico’s strength is up the middle with returning All-Conference performers Dantee Ruiz at defensive tackle and Easton Arthur at middle linebacker. Those two will be complemented by Trey Bishoff at defensive end. “We are adding a junior class that is good and has great young athletes,” McCaffrey said. “We were a defense who gave up 20 PPG last year. We have to get lined up and you will see a relentless pursuit from our guys. They play hard for four quarters and are a very smart, disciplined defense. We will look to dictate the game and force the offense to execute.”
In the secondary, London Cranney at safety and Angel Najera at cornerback will be players to watch. McCaffrey is hoping for a more physical defensive unit in 2021. “We want to be able to be physical with our opponent and wear them down over the course of the game,” McCaffrey said. “We hope to limit the big plays late in games. Last year in the fourth quarter we would give up unnecessary big plays that would shift momentum late in the game.”
Minico will be one of the first teams to play in Idaho in 2021, as they welcome Century on August 20th. They will also host Bonneville and travel to Middleton in their non-conference schedule. Then, it’s six Great Basin 7 conference opponents in seven weeks to close out the regular season.
“This team has a sense of brotherhood between them,” McCaffrey said. “I think that they play for each other and understand that they have each other’s backs.”