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Written By: Sven Alskog

Declo returning senior, Boise State commit and reigning 2A State Player of the Year Keegan Duncan has absolutely dominated the Idaho high school football scene over the last three years. His 2017 campaign was his best yet, rushing for 2,843 yards and 29 touchdowns. Add to that his special teams and receiving statistics and Duncan totaled 3,795 all-purpose yards and 42 touchdowns.

Those kind of talents don’t come around often at any size program, let alone at a school nestled in between Twin Falls and Pocatello with less than 300 students residing in it.

With all that said, it shouldn’t come as much surprise that the defending 2A state champions are once again favorites in their classification.

A tough offensive line should ensure that Duncan and the rest of the offense have time and space to make big plays.

“We run the football. Keegan Duncan will once again carry the load behind what I think will be our best offensive line we have put together led by Tyson Matthews, Oscar Cruzes and Jakeb Garrard,” said 23rd year head coach Kelly Kidd.

Behind the talents of returning quarterback McKay Breshears, the coach says to look for some added wrinkles to the offense this season.

“We will pass the ball better this year than we have. McKay has improved. Too many [defenders] in the box to stop Keegan will hurt our opponents,” added Kidd. “Developing the entire team is a goal. We will focus more on the pass than ever [and] we will become a team that has double threats. You will even see Keegan Duncan as a receiver this year.”

As if stopping Duncan out of the backfield and on returns was not already difficult enough for opponents, now they have to keep in mind the consideration of him in either the slot or on the outside in a receiver role at points.

For a Declo team that went undefeated a season ago and outscored opponents by an average of over 30 points per game, returning all but one starter from the linebacker and defensive line positions will again make the Hornets tough to move the ball against.

The graduations of Garrett Darrington and Kyle Hanson from the defensive backfield make that the part of the defense which will need to see contributions from newcomers more so than the other spots.

“We will need get better at the corner position,” added Kidd.

Nathan Duke, Sam Mallory and Traver Larson should all see heavy playing time in the secondary and will be relied on to slow down the passing attacks of some of the upper echelon teams on the Declo schedule.

It is a challenging slate which sees the Hornets host Sugar-Salem in the season opener, travel to Aberdeen in week two and Kimberly in week three. Declo also plays Fruitland at home on October 5. All of those games will be broadcast live and free on IdahoSports.com.