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St. Maries High School
School Info
Conference: 2A Central Idaho League
Classification: 2A
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Head Coach: Craig Teft
Years as Head Coach: 6th Season
Previous Experience: Assistant at Kendrick HS, Assistant/Head Coach at Potlatch HS
Record Last Year: 8-2
State Titles: None
Assistant Coaches:
Tom Truscott
Greg Rouse
Shannon Pooler
Wes Rice
TJ Hammond
Returning Players:
#10 Kiefer Gibson, QB, 12
#33 Zack Rouse, FB/LB, 12
#55 Donovan Rottini, TB/DL, 12
#24 Dylan Edwards, TB/DB, 12
#1 Kaleb Brown, TB/LB, 12
#23 Bryant Asbury, TB/LB, 12
#80 Nate Masterson, TE/DL, 12
#32 Brady Martin, TE/DL, 12
#60 Jered McGregor, OL/DL, 12
#61 Jake Martin, OL/DL, 11
#55 Parker Telford, OL/DL, 11
#68 Ryan Ferrell, OL/DL, 12
#57 Anthony McKuin, OL/DL, 12
#2 Kyle Rauch, WR/DB, 12
#3 Patrick Asbury, WR/DB, 12
#17 Tyler Lohman, WR/DB, 10
#44 Caden Hall, RB/LB, 10
#22 Dakota Wilson, RB/DL, 12
#7 Jake Seiler, WR/DB, 12
#25 Zack Renfrew, RB/LB, 11
#13 Caden Green, WR/LB, 11
#77 Wyatt Phillips, OL/DL, 11
#78 Dan Howard, OL/DL, 10
Returning Players with Honors:
All-Conference-Nate Masterson TE/DL
Donovan Rottini DL, Jake Sieler DB
Defensive MVP-Nate Masterson
Key Players lost from last year:
Hayden Humphrey, WR/DB. Hayden was a kid who made sure all the WR’s would be lined up and know their assignment if there was confusion. A coach on the field.
Chase Truscott, LB/FB. Chase was the heart and soul of the team. Held the players accountable and was the leader on defense.
Warren Renfrew OL. Warren was most consistent OL. Never missed a practice and was a great role model for the other kids on team.
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Photo By: Willy Harris - #55 Donovan Rottini
Incoming impact players:
Caden Hall, LB/RB, 10
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Team Preview:
Written by: Brandon McIntosh
Last season, the St. Maries Lumberjacks qualified for the 2A State Tournament with an 8-2 record and made it to the quarterfinal round. The two losses came late in the season to 2A champion Grangeville and State runner-up Aberdeen.
Entering his 6th season at the helm of the Lumberjacks, Coach Craig Tefft states the goals are clear, “Finish.” Finish the play, finish the drive, finish the game, finish the season. His players have set what they believe to be high and achievable goals.
It will be no easy task. Not only do they have a tough league opponent in Grangeville, they must replace a solid group that graduated a year ago.
The graduation of Chase Truscott, Coach Tefft referred to him as the “heart and soul of the team”, Hayden Humphrey, who was another coach on the field, and Warren Renfrow, who never missed a practice and was a solid role model for teammates, will be missed, but Coach Tefft is excited about the opportunity for other veteran players, in this senior heavy roster, to step up and fill those roles. Players like All-Conference selection Donovan Rottini and Jake Sieler, both named based on their defensive performance, look to fill the leadership roles. And don’t forget the Conference Defensive MVP and All-Conference TE selection Nate Masterson setting the standard. This defensive lineman will be busy this season causing havoc in opponent’s backfields.
Defense will be front and center for the Lumberjacks with the speed and experience needed to end critical drives and get the ball back for their offense. This squad is aggressive, swarming to the ball, and filled with athletic play makers. An area of improvement for Coach Tefft’s defense will be doing a better job of understand down and distance and studying their opponent. Having a better understanding of defensive situations will make this club even more dangerous.
Finish is the term this team will be using this season. On offense, they plan to finish by using balance. Balance running and passing, spreading the ball around to create opportunities for play makers, and utilizing different tempos. Important to the offense will be having a better understanding for situational offense including down and distance.
The schedule this season has the Lumberjacks opening up at home against Kellogg. The second half of the season brings a tough four game stretch with two mid-season back-to-back games against 3A playoff teams from a season ago, Timberlake and Bonners Ferry, both at home. The final two games are league opponents. The game of the season for St. Maries is the second to last game against Grangeville on the road. This game has already been circled on the calendar.
“Our game with Grangeville is a must see. They have set the bar high in our league and the state. It is a real measuring stick game for us,” states Coach Tefft.
Last season, the Lumberjacks finish unscathed on road and look to accomplish that again this season.
Luck, health, and taking care of what they can control, St. Maries looks like they are focused and poised to make a run into the post-season.
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