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Horseshoe Bend High School
School Info
Conference: 1AD1 Western Idaho Conference
Classification: 1A D1
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Head Coach: Craig Elliott
Years as Head Coach: 2nd Season
Previous Experience: 3 Years as Assistant at Horseshoe Bend
Record Last Year: 5-3
State Titles: None
Assistant Coaches:
Jesse Goff
Richard Byers
Rick Anderson
Returning Players:
Gavin Miller, QB/DE, 12
Quade Renfro, RB/DB, 11
Ethan Smith, OL/LB, 10
Ben Howerton, WR/CB, 10
Mike Farrar, OL/DL, 11
Colton Smith, WR/DB, 11
Austin Fry, RB/CB, 10
Calvin Drake, OL/DL, 10
Hunter McKee, RB/LB, 10
Returning Players with Honors:
Gavin Miller, Honorable Mention All-Conference QB
Key Players lost from last year:
Colter Elliott, RB/LB
Dalton Lowe, RB/LB
“We will miss Colter and Dalton’s hard work and leadership,” Coach Elliott
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Incoming impact players:
Ethan Smith, OL/LB, 10
“Ethan started on both sides of the ball as a freshman last year and we are expecting him to make a major contribution this year,” Coach Elliott.
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Team Preview:
Written by: Sven Alskog
Horseshoe Bend flashed some good potential on the gridiron in the first season for head coach Craig Elliott, hanging tough on a weekly basis and coming away with a 5-3 finish to the year.
In year number two for Elliott the Mustangs will have some key cogs to replace, namely running back and linebacker talents Colter Elliott and Dalton Lowe.
For a run heavy offense, that means it will be paramount to find some quality legs to fill the production void.
Junior Quade Renfro and sophomores Austin Fry and Hunter McKee are some of the options in the backfield, alongside of senior All-Conference Honorable Mention returner Gavin Miller at quarterback.
“We have a run heavy offense that is going to require our offensive line to make big improvement over last year,” said Elliott. “All three are returning starters from last season.”
The experience from a year ago should help the linemen to pave the way for the young Mustangs in the run game.
“We had a young offensive line last year that will all be returning this year and will need to help lead our young skill position players,” added Elliott.
Mike Farrar, Calvin Drake and Ethan Smith are the players expected to again man the front for Horseshoe Bend.
Defensively the strength for the unit comes against the passing game.
“We are returning a quality defensive back group led by junior Quade Renfro [who had] four interceptions last season,” said Elliott.
Fry and Ben Howerton will also see time in the secondary, while linebacker Ethan Smith and Miller at defensive end are a couple other playmakers to note.
Slowing the ground game will be essential.
“We need to do a better job of stopping the run and improve on our physical play,” said Elliott.
On each side of the ball the coaching staff knows that to maximize the success it all comes down to the line play.
“The success of our team this year will depend on the play of our young offensive and defensive lines. If they play to their potential we should be able to compete with most teams in our district.”
He’s excited to get the season started with such a youthful group in place.
“We are excited to have a young group of players and watch the improvement from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.”
In a conference where Notus is the preseason favorite, lots of competition will go on for playoff spot number two. Expect the battle to be between Idaho City, Wilder and the Mustangs this season.
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