Youth dominate Bonners Ferry football team

The weaknesses and strengths for this fall’s Bonners Ferry High School football team are one and the same.

Youth.

“We’re gonna be real young, but our numbers are up,” said second-year Head Coach Ed DePriest, whose Badgers were 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the Intermountain League during his first year at the helm.

“Youth (means) we’re undersized,” DePriest said, noting the 45-member team has 16 freshmen, 13 sophomores, 11 juniors and five seniors.

“Teams we’re gonna play, like Kellogg, average 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds across their line. Timberlake is 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. We’re at 5-11 and 185 pounds. We need to get into the weight room.”

Youth also has its advantages.

“It’s a positive sign for the future,” DePriest said. “We need to do a lot of work in the weight room. We have a fair amount of youth. If they work hard, it looks like we could have a good future.”

Returning lettermen include senior lineman and linebacker Tyler Barton, senior defensive end Javi Sale, junior offensive lineman and linebacker Janzen Cummings and junior tight and defensive end Colton Watt.

The Class 3A Badgers lost standout quarterback A.J. Bennett to the June graduation. DePriest is considering sophomore Taylor Tompke and junior Rob Gust for the position.

As for running back, candidates are sophomore Alex Lopez, junior Colton Telford and senior Phil Kolb with Northwest Academy.

The Badgers face a tough schedule that includes the home opener at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, against Lethbridge.

The first Inter Mountain League game is Friday, Sept. 26, at home with St. Maries.

The league looks tough.

“Timberlake is going to be fairly good again. They always are,” DePriest said. “And Priest River, according to their roster, will have 10 seniors and 19 juniors.”

Kellogg is returning everybody but their quarterback and a receiver; most are seniors, he added.

DePriest, however, is pleased with his players’ efforts.

“The kids are working hard,” he said. “They’re good kids. The kids are going to give it everything they have. No doubt about that.”

Junior Varsity

Sept. 6 — Home with Lethbridge 10 a.m.

Sept. 13 — Away at Kettle Falls 1 p.m.

Sept. 18 — Home with Newport 6 p.m.

Sept. 25 — Away at St. Maries 6 p.m.

Oct. 2. — Away at Priest River 6 p.m.

Oct. 9 — Home with Timberlake 6 p.m.

Oct. 16 — Home with Kellogg at 6 p.m.

Oct. 24 — Away at Orofino TBA

Varsity

Sept. 5 — Home with Lethbridge 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 — Home with Kettle Falls 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 — Away at Newport

Sept. 26 — Home with St. Maries 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 — Home with Priest River 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 — Away at Timberlake 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 — Away at Kellogg 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 — Away at Orofino TBA