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Eagle High School
School Info
Conference: 5A Southern Idaho Conference - West Division Pod B
Classification: 5A
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Head Coach: Paul Peterson
Years as Head Coach: 13th Season
Previous Experience: Head Coach at Borah HS
Record Last Year: 10-1
State Titles: 2001 and 2009
Assistant Coaches:
James Cluphf, Co-Offensive Coordinator
John Hartz, Co-Offensive Coordinator
Eric Fillmore, Offensive Line
Johnny Lloyd, Wide Receivers
Rob Rathbun, Defensive Coordinator
Nathan White, Defensive Backs
Steve Diffey, Linebackers
Q Buckley, Defensive Line
Returning Players:
Devan Bridgewater, QB, 12
Rylan Wood, DB, 12
Austin Riggs, DL, 12
Nick Williams, WR, 12
Returning Players with Honors:
Devan Bridgewater, First Team All-Conference QB
Key Players lost from last year:
Alex Kuzmack, OL, playing at Washington State
Maxim Moore, OL, playing at University of Idaho
Ryan Swanson, Safety, playing at Portland State
Todd Durham, LB, First Team All-State/three year starter playing at Rocky Mountain College
Del Rude, Safety, playing at Rocky Mountain College
Cole Christensen, WR, First Team All-Conference
Kaden Snooks, TE, First Team All-Conference
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Photo By: Loren Orr - #1 Devan Bridgewater
Incoming impact players:
Preston Vandergriff, RB, 12
Nelson Russell, H-Back, 11
Brennan Hull, DB, 12
Cameron Flaner, DB, 12
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Team Preview:
Written by: Sven Alskog
Paul Peterson’s Eagle Mustangs came as close as anybody during the playoffs of knocking off eventual state champion Mountain View, falling 25-15 in the semifinals.
While the Mustangs had as good of a roster as anybody last year, the immense losses from that senior class will be incredibly difficult to replace.
Fortunately for Peterson, third year quarterback Devan Bridgewater returns for his senior season, giving optimism that the offense can continue on with the success of seasons past.
The go-to receiving option for Bridgewater looks to be Nick Williams, a fellow senior who could be in for a big 2017.
In the backfield the Mustangs are led by senior running back Preston Vandergriff, who will have a heavy workload ahead of him this year.
For the 13th year head coach the hope is to become more diverse on offense, mixing in a good balance of run and pass.
On the other end of the ball Eagle has a good defensive backfield that will make things difficult for opposing quarterbacks on a weekly basis. Senior returner Rylan Wood, along with Brennan Hull and Cameron Flaner, figure to be some of the members of the secondary group.
On the line, senior Austin Riggs looks to wreak havoc in the offensive backfield.
Whenever a coach has an opportunity to kind of reload things so to speak following such a successful season, the most exciting aspect of it is simple.
“The challenge that it’s going to take to be relevant with a young, inexperienced team,” said Peterson.
Of all the games on the schedule, it is not difficult for Peterson to find which one needs to be circled.
“Game one vs. Mountain View. It was the only loss from a year ago.”
In the season opener back in 2016 Peterson’s bunch came out on top of the Mavericks, but Mountain View got Eagle back when it mattered most, pulling the trigger on the Mustangs season on their own home field in the semifinals.
This time around you better bet Eagle will be shooting for some revenge, as both teams look to replace great senior classes from a year ago in the new campaign.
Behind the First Team All-Conference talent and experience of Bridgewater at quarterback, the Mustangs could very well remain competitive in the upper portion of the 5A SIC, although the road to hoe will be a difficult one to say the least.
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