Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. West Side
2. Aberdeen
3. Soda Springs
4. Bear Lake
5. Malad
Written by: Keller Sherman
After a 2-7 season in 2020, the Malad Dragons have moved on from Kory Kay and have brought in Lucas Thorne to lead the team. Thorne comes to Malad with 6 years of experience at Pasco High School in Washington and will look to use the experience he gained at a big school like Pasco to help turn around small school Malad.
Tayson Davis, Cooper Jones, Jace Williams, and Justin Wittman are notable returners from last year’s team. With these players, Thorne emphasizes that the most important thing his team can do in all areas of the ball is play “aggressive assignment football.” Speed will also be a key for the offense.
Although Thorne has yet to coach a game for the Dragons, he is already excited about the chemistry he sees. “We will have an increased sense of unity, family and brotherhood. We will know that we all have each other’s back.” Thorne said. This chemistry will be a crucial element to the team’s success in 2021.
The Dragons will face a challenging conference schedule, but the non conference schedule will also be a challenge. The schedule opens with a trip to face the defending Wyoming state champion Lyman Eagles. Malad was competitive last year in a 24-6 decision. The Dragons will then play three straight games against teams from the Nuclear Conference, hosting Ririe and West Jefferson and traveling to North Fremont. Malad was 1-2 in this stretch last season beating Ririe 29-0 and falling to North Fremont and West Jefferson 36-6 and 20-6, respectively.
Conference play begins with a trip to Soda Springs whom the Dragons beat 44-29 for their lone conference win last season. If Malad can get a win here, it would give the Dragons momentum as they head into the thick of their conference schedule. They will then return home to host a dangerous Aberdeen team. Although the Tigers are seen by many to be a potential surprise team this season, the Dragons will have a great opportunity to get a win here after Malad was competitive in a 38-28 setback at Aberdeen last season.
Malad then hits the road to visit Bear Lake before closing out the season at home against two time defending 2A state champion West Side. These games will be challenging, but if the Dragons can come out of one of these games with a win, it would mark a major step forward for the Malad program.
There will be opportunities at every corner for Malad this season. The big question will be whether or not the team can capitalize on these opportunities. It is always a challenge for teams to adjust to coaching changes, but Thorne feels that his players have adapted well to the change in leadership with his arrival. If the team can come together and play their hearts out week in and week out, Malad will be able to step up and surprise some people. You had best not sleep on the Dragons in 2021, otherwise you might find yourself the victim of a major upset.