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Burley High School
School Info
Conference: Great Basin (West) Conference
Classification: 4A
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Head Coach: Tony Cade
Years as Head Coach: 1st Season
Previous Experience: 2 Years as Head Coach American Falls High School
1 Year as Assistant Hillcrest High School
8 Year as Assistant Blackfoot High School
5 Years as Sandcreek South Grid Kid (Hillcrest program)
Record Last Year: 1-7
Assistant Coaches:
Jess Johnson (LB)
Jerry Franco (WR)
Stillman Clark (DC)
Darin Moon (QB)
Juan Alvarado (DL)
Jason Rebellzeo (RB)
John Lind (OL)
Brian Larson (OL)
Cade Jones (DB)
Returning Players:
Cade Seely, OL/FB/LB, 12
Beau Phipps, RB/LB, 12
Kalvin Hodge, TE/LB, 12
Easton Waterson, DB/WR, 12
Garrett Tracy, DE/FB, 12
Marshawn Elmore, OL/DL, 12
Brayden Bowen, LB/FB, 11
Returning Players with Honors:
Cade Seely, All-Conference Lineman
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Photo By: Steve Conner - #27 Beau Phipps
Incoming impact players:
Ethan Gibbons, QB, 10
Alex Ramos, RB, 11
Rylee Stevens, DB, 11
Brayden Bowen, FB, 11
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Team Preview:
Written by: Sven Alskog
Those who have met new Burley head man Tony Cade know the type of fire and enthusiasm the former American Falls head coach will bring to the Bobcats.
Entering into a program which has won just four games in the past three seasons, that excitement for football is something that can drive numbers in the right direction for Burley, something which has already begun to happen.
As an offensive mind that has had success in multiple coaching stops including Hillcrest, Blackfoot and American Falls, Cade now has the task of figuring out how to ignite things for an offense that failed to eclipse double digit point totals in all but three games in 2016.
Some exciting offensive talent enters the varsity program this year. That talent is highlighted by sophomore quarterback Ethan Gibbons and junior running back Alex Ramos. The duo will be joined by key returners such as Beau Phipps at running back, Kalvin Hodge at tight end and a couple of quality offensive linemen in Cade Seely and Marshawn Elmore.
Seely was an All-Conference selection a year ago, so he can be expected to be the anchor up front.
“We are a quick team and will be able to move quickly,” said Cade. “With a new quarterback, and [a young one] at that, it will be a growing year with progress on the offensive side. We are versatile in what we do, which is different from Burley of the past. Playing together will be our strength.”
For a team that has struggled so much on the offensive end over the past few seasons, building up the football IQ and becoming more physical are critical to changing that moving forward.
“We have to be smarter in realizing situations and what needs to happen vs. just running the play as drawn. We need to be more physical up front to establish a run game and be able to pass as well,” added Cade.
Burley had a little more success comparatively speaking on the defensive side of the ball a year ago, but there is still plenty of work that will need to be put in to get the Bobcats where they want to be there.
“Defense gave up too many points to win ball games and that’s where we hope to improve,” said Cade.
Phipps, Sealy and Hodge could all get plenty of time on each side of the ball from the linebacker core, with Easton Waterson and Rylee Stevens a couple of key defensive backs behind them.
The beef of the defense will be occupied by returners in Elmore and Garrett Tracy.
“New look defense with emphasis on the ‘new’,” said Cade. “We have a lot of spots open, but we have had kids fill those spots with energy and excitement. That is what our defense hopes to look like. Big plays, limit possession and turn the ball over.”
The new head coach is excited about how the group has taken to the changes surrounding the program in the offseason. For Cade, it is what he is most excited about for this team.
“Their desire to win and their ‘coachability’. These kids put in work during the summer and it proved to payoff. They have caught the vision and hope to be the coaches for the newcomers to camp. I’m also excited to be the underdog in every game we play.”
For a team like Burley, that underdog role can be something which pays off in a big way.
With winnable games in the first two weeks against Century and Buhl, the opportunity to get the season started off on the right foot is there.
There will be a learning curve with a new quarterback and some schematic changes, but all-in-all, the Bobcats should start to get things headed in the right direction this season, with the real payoff looking to be down the road with what is a fairly young core in place.
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