Kimberly High School
School Info
Conference: 3A Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference
Classification: 3A
Head Coach: Rich Bishop
Years as Head Coach: 6th Season
Previous Experience: 15 Years as Assistant at Kimberly
Record Last Year: 7-3
State Titles: None
Assistant Coaches:
Simon Olsen
Kirby Young
Gary Hulsey
Brett Wright
Scott Plew
Henry Champlin
Zach Kelsey.
Returning Players:
Blake Phillips, Slot WR/CB, 12
McKade Huft, RB/FS, 11
Nathaniel Bybee, DL, 12
AJ Garrell, LB, 11
Braxton Hammond, QB, 12 (Broke collarbone in 3rd game last year)
Dawson Cummins, QB, 11 (Stepped in for Hammond last year)
Tristyn O’Donnell, WR, 12
Rex Ward, OL/DL, 12
Peyton Bair, DB, 11
Riley Hallett, WR/DB, 12
Returning Players with Honors:
Blake Phillips, 2nd Team All-State
McKade Huft, 1st Team All-State
AJ Garrell, All-Conference
Key Players lost from last year:
Collin Glass, OL/DL, up front leader
Noah Heath, OL/DL, 3 year starter up front
Jaylen Staker, OL, 2 year starter
Taylor Holcomb, DE, force at the end
Alan Palmer, LB, All-Conference selection
Carson Schvanaveldt, OLB, leader
 Photo By: Kelly Magee - #1 McKade Huft
Incoming impact players: Brett Bronson, WR, 10
Team Preview:
Written By: Sven Alskog
Not many players make major contributions in their freshman and sophomore seasons for the varsity football team. Kimberly’s McKade Huft is an exception to that rule. In two short years, Huft has already earned All-Conference accolades twice, with an All-State selection to add to that last season.
As the speedster enters his junior campaign, the Bulldogs once again look to be one of the teams right in the mix for a 3A state title run.
This probably comes as no surprise to anyone who has followed 3A football the last few years, but this team will have some burners on it.
“Our strength on offense will be our overall team speed and depth at the skill positions,” said head coach Rich Bishop.
Kimberly will welcome the return of starting quarterback Braxton Hammond from a broken collarbone. Following Hammond’s injury, Dawson Cummins filled in admirably in 2017. Bishop will now have both back in the fold, with All-Conference receiver Blake Phillips joined by Tristyn O’Donnell and Riley Hallett to comprise a formidable pass-catching unit.
Three starting offensive line departed to graduation, meaning returning senior Rex Ward will have an increased leadership role on a less experienced group.
On both sides of the ball Bishop is excited to see how the line units grow throughout the season to go along with talented athletes all around them.
“I’m excited about the young returning players in the skill positions that we have coming back. I’m also looking forward to the guys that are stepping in for the guys that we lost up front and seeing them progress as the season goes on.”
Nathaniel Bybee will join Ward as two of the guys up front in a 4-4 defensive look.
The clear strength of the unit is the linebacker core highlighted by AJ Garrell.
In terms of improvement, Bishop wants to see better performance against the passing game, something which will come into play in a big way when the Bulldogs play at Gooding to end the regular season on October 19.
Kimberly begins the new year with a playoff rematch from a season ago as the Bulldogs host the Snake River Panthers.
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