Badger Football packed with class of 2023

BONNERS FERRY — This year’s Badger football program has the highest senior turnout that coaching staff can remember.

With 57 athletes participating this season, they said 20 of the players are seniors.

“We have a huge group of seniors that we look forward to watching this year,” head coach Travis Hinthorn said.

There has also been a large freshman turnout with 17 players turning out for the team.

Hinthorn told the Bonners Ferry Herald that this season he wants to continue a positive culture and give all the athletes the best experience possible.

“Our goals this year are to have a winning record and win league,” he said. “That would give us an opportunity to host a state playoff game.”

Upon reflecting on last season, Hinthorn said the Badgers need to focus on scoring and winning the close games.

“Last year, we competed well. This year, we need to learn how to compete and win the close games,” he said.

He added that in the off-season athletes played well at the mini camp that the team attended and a large group of our athletes were very dedicated in the weight room.

“We had a good mix of our younger and older players,” he said.

With Kellogg and Priest River dropping down in league, the 3A Intermountain League will consist of Bonners Ferry and Timberlake. In addition, Badger football has a packed schedule with games against eastern Washington teams.

The Badgers will play East Valley from Spokane for Homecoming. Other teams will be Connell, Wash., and Northwest Christian out of Colbert, Wash.

“We normally don’t play those schools, it will be fun to see those different teams,” Hinthorn said.

Badger football had a lift-a-thon on Friday Aug. 19 to fundraise for the program. At time of print Hinthorn said that the event was such a success they still don't have a total of how much was raised.

"Eight players together raised over $12,000. We have no idea what the total is yet," he said.

Next year coaching staff will have a table and total amounts after athletes lift so the team can have a total that day.

"We had no idea it would be such a hit. The support was amazing," Hinthorn said.

That evening Badger football hosted their Blue and White Scrimmage and introduced their 2022 team.