Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Rigby
2. Highland
3. Thunder Ridge
4. Madison
5. Idaho Falls

Written by: Brandon Baney

Idaho Falls High's football program has a long and storied tradition. In 2020, the Tigers slumped through an unusual winless campaign. Idaho Falls went 0-9 and were outscored 350-121.

The Tigers will try to turn things around in what promises to be an extremely competitive High Country Conference in 2021. Rigby, Highland and Thunder Ridge all made the playoffs a year ago, and figure to do so again. Madison has a new head coach in Chandler Rhoads, and he has already injected some life into the Bobcats program.

In theory, then, Idaho Falls' best chance at success may come in the non-conference portion of their schedule. But there are no layups there, either. They will play defending 4A state champion Skyline, along with 4A programs Hillcrest, Blackfoot, Century and Pocatello. All five of those teams qualified for the playoffs in 2020.

So eight of Idaho Falls' nine opponents this year are coming off of playoff runs the year before. The Tigers will have to grow up quickly to hang in there in 2021.