Down to the last man: Badgers field 14 for football team

By GWEN ALBERS

Staff writer

Bonners Ferry High School on Friday will open the varsity football season with a well-seasoned, first-year head coach, but only 14 players.

"This is a very challenging, extremely difficult (situation)," said head coach Ed DePriest, a former assistant football coach at Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene. "Most of them will not come off the field."

A combination of things, including the loss of 18 seniors from last year's 4-5 season, contributed to the situation for the Badgers, said athletic director Ted Reynolds.

"Not everybody has shown up on a consistent basis with the fair and our early start (for practices)," Reynolds said.

At least five potential players failed to meet eligibility requirements, he said. The state requires that players must pass five classes from the previous semester to play. In addition, the school district requires students to have a 2.0 GPA from the previous semester.

Other potential players are transfer students, but their paperwork allowing them to play has not been returned to the school from the state, Reynolds said.

The Badgers' 26 freshmen can only play junior varsity.

DePriest, who was hired in February, attempted to recruit players.

"He was in the hallways trying to get kids out," Reynolds said. "A lot of kids have a lot of choices."

"The kids that are going to play are good kids," he continued. "It's not a quality issue. It's a numbers issue. Most of the kids will play the entire time."

DePriest as of Tuesday did not know who would play where on the field this Friday.

"Things keep moving around," he said. "The guys are working hard and will do the best they can do."

A.J. Bennett is likely to start at quarterback for the Badgers, DePriest said. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound senior also will play defensive back.

Senior lineman Kurt Carey is expected to play offense and defense.

"He's the only lineman we have with any varsity experience," DePriest said.

The 3A Badgers, who began practices on Aug. 6, face a tough pre-season schedule that includes games against 4A schools like Lethbridge, Moscow and Sandpoint.

DePriest, who comes from Southern California, for 25 years has coached football teams. He is a former running back and safety from Fullerton Junior College in California.

He gained most of his coaching experience from high schools in California and was assistant coach under coach Van Troxel at Lake City High from 1995-2001 and 2004-05. The Timberwolves were 5A state champs in 2005 and lost to Valley View High for the state title in 1999.

Returning assistant coaches include Clint Arthur and Don Alt. First-year assistants are Loren Orr, Shaun Cozairt and Mark Pluid.

Bonners Ferry's first four games will be played at home and include Lethbridge, Moscow and Sandpoint. After that, two games will be played away at St. Maries and Priest River.