It’s probably not surprising that all four local teams that reached their respective football state championship games put up stellar defensive numbers.
First Team All-Area
COVID-19 hit Eastern Idaho 8-man football particularly hard this year, with just three local teams — Butte County, Challis and Watersprings — finishing out a limited season.
Entering a season with a roster full of experience and talent might be a coach’s toughest challenge.
The newest team in the area may have been the most interesting.
As fifth graders, Keegan Thompson, Tanoa Togiai, Christian Fredericksen, Trey Talbot, Zhigy Falevai and Brigham Youngstrom were bonded by football and friendship.
Armando Gonzalez made the call and his players responded. That’s the only way to describe the coach’s decision to go for a two-point conversion in overtime in the 5A state championship game.
FIRST TEAMOffense
Sugar-Salem has won state titles in almost every sport, except for football.
* — denotes Player of the Year finalist