Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Skyline
2. Blackfoot
3. Bonneville
4. Shelley
5. Hillcrest
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Blackfoot Broncos football team is incredibly balanced. They lost some important impact players from a year ago, yet also return a number of talented playmakers. They ran the ball incredibly well a year ago, yet also made big plays through the air when needed. Their linebackers lead what is an incredibly talented front seven, yet their secondary is no slouch either.
Basically, in a word: Blackfoot is "solid" entering 2021. Gone is All-State running back Teegan Thomas, along with last year's quarterback Jace Grimmett. Grimmett's top target from a year ago, junior wide receiver Ja'Vonte King, returns.
Replacing Grimmett at quarterback will be his younger brother, junior Jaxon Grimmett. He'll hand off to junior Austin Perez, who will take over for Thomas.
"In our spread offense, we have a good mix of running and throwing the ball," head coach Jerrod Ackley said. "We have junior skill kids that have the potential to be good."
Offensively, Ackley said the goal is to remain balanced, and if the offensive line rounds into form, the Broncos could boast one of the most explosive offenses in the state.
Defensively, Blackfoot returns a trio of All-Conference linebackers in Bowen Robinson, Carson Trejo and Braxton Marlatt. "We have good speed and rally around the ball well," Ackley said.
While those linebackers have the ability to fly around the field, Ackley admitted, "We need to stop the run more efficiently and limit big plays."
Overall, Blackfoot feels like their season ended early after a quarterfinal loss to Emmett in a classic contest last year. The Broncos recovered an Emmett fumble on the goal line, but that positive ultimately turned into a negative. Backed up in their own end zone after the takeaway, Emmett was able to record a safety, and closed the game out from there.
As Ackley noted, last year's team was young, and he is excited to see how this year's team responds. "The chemistry of the team is great," Ackley said. "We had a lot of kids that played varsity as sophomores and there is an excitement to see them excel through their senior year. There was a great commitment to the strength and conditioning program over the summer."
Blackfoot is going to be a tough out against every opponent they face this year. They will play Class 3A Snake River in their annual rivalry game, and will also play Class 5A powers Rigby, Thunder Ridge and Idaho Falls. Their final non-conference game is against Preston.