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Skyline High School
School Info
Conference: 4A District 5-6 Conference
Classification: 4A
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Head Coach: Scott Berger
Years as Head Coach: 8th Season
Record Last Year: 7-3
State Titles: 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992
Assistant Coaches:
Gregg Baczuk
Brett Taylor
Marco Martin
Chase Meyer
Clint Cornish
John Stenersen
Chet Taylor
JC Scrogum
J.T. Jicha
Brett Spaulding
Mike Smith
Returning Players:
David Ames III, RB, 12
Carson Lott, WR, 12
Bridger Taylor, QB, 12
Returning Players with Honors:
David Ames, First Team All-Conference RB, Second Team All-State RB
Carson Lott, First Team All-Conference WR
Key Players lost from last year:
Brock Davis, SS
Parker Stenerson, FS
Caleb Campbell, CB
Anthony Garza, LB
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Photo By: Jason Duchow - #3 David Ames III
Incoming impact players:
Kyler Morgan, RB, 11
Caleb Mayes, WR, 11
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Team Preview:
Written by: Matt Harris (@IdahoSportsMatt)
Remember back to the start of the 2015 season. August 28th, to be exact.
What team was the talk of the 5A classification? Highland? Mountain View? Rocky Mountain? Coeur d’Alene? Madison?
No – it was Skyline.
Despite being the smallest school in 5A, Skyline took Week 1 by storm after making the long journey to northern Idaho (then to the Palouse as wildfires and smoke caused many games to be moved inside the Kibbie Dome) only to smash perennial favorite Coeur d’Alene 22-0. It was the Vikings first shutout in years. Many thought that Coeur d’Alene would roll in that game against a team of relative unknowns for the Grizzlies.
Well, most of Idaho knew the names of Grizzlies’ players after that game. And you’ll get to become more familiar with them this season.
Skyline returns a wealth of experience to their 2016 team, with all but four starters returning. Offensively, even though there are some tweaks being made, most of the big names are back for the navy and white. Quarterback Bridger Taylor takes the reigns once again this season under center and he’ll be joined by a couple of big time playmakers.
“David Ames and Carson Lott are big play athletes who can make it happen on any play,” said Scott Berger, now in his eighth season leading the Grizzlies. “I think we are going to be balanced offensively with a solid running attack.
Berger noted the addition of two skill position players who he expects to have a big impact this season: junior running back Kyler Morgan and junior wide receiver Caleb Mayes.
Skyline averaged 28.2 points per game on offense last season and, despite those solid numbers, Berger knows there is plenty of room for improvement.
“We need to make the running game more consistent overall,” he said.
Defensively, the front seven are loaded for the Grizzlies, who look to improve on their average of 14.6 points per game given up.
“We return linemen Dom Scrogum, Brian Mendoza, and Dallin Tavenner, who are all seniors,” Berger said. “Also with the linebackers we have seniors Brodi Brighton and Ryland Jackman along with junior Carter Josephson.”
The defensive secondary will need to mature quickly as the Grizzlies will be breaking in several new players. Their ability to adapt will be key in their desire to create more takeaways this season.
“We lose three solid seniors in the defensive backfield with strong safety Brock Davis, free safety Parker Stenersen, and cornerback Caleb Campbell.”
Skyline’s motto this season is ‘Getting Better Every Day’… and that motto is referenced quite frequently at team gatherings.
“We always talk about getting better every day. We want to improve on the practice field and in the weight room on a daily basis and also become better students in the classroom,” Berger said.
While much of the personnel will stay the same this season for Skyline, the teams that they will play do not. The Grizzlies have dropped down to the 4A classification due to declining enrollment and will now compete against the likes of Blackfoot, Century, and Pocatello.
“Blackfoot and Pocatello are the top teams in the conference and Century will be in the chase,” Berger said. “Idaho Falls will be improved as well.”
Skyline will open up the year at home as they host Hillcrest at Ravsten Stadium on August 26th. The Grizzlies then hit the road for three straight away games as they face Rigby, new conference-mate Preston, and Bonneville in consecutive weeks. Then, the game that every Skyline player looks forward to with earnest each season comes into view: the Emotion Bowl.
“The game with Idaho Falls is always a fun one,” said Berger. Skyline currently holds a 29-22 all-time advantage in the series, which started in 1966.
Following the 52nd edition of the Emotion Bowl, Skyline heads down the road again in consecutive weeks as they face Century and Blackfoot. The season then finishes out at home against Pocatello and Madison.
For Berger, his team’s success this season comes down to one aspect: turnovers.
“We need to take care of the ball on offense and cause some takeaways on defense,” he said.
While Skyline hasn’t been in a deep playoff run in quite some time, the move to 4A with the current personnel in place should have Grizzlies fans giddy. Don’t be surprised to see this team playing for a trophy in mid-November.
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