Team Preview:
Written By: Matt Harris

While the 2017 football campaign ended unusually early for the Blackfoot Broncos, the 2018 season looks promising.

Despite graduating numerous seniors from last year’s squad, including nine starters on offense along with eight on defense, the Broncos have no plans of missing out on the playoffs despite their youth. Several opposing coaches within the conference have said that they believe Blackfoot is a team that could surprise this season with a very talented incoming junior class.

Blackfoot will look to improve on a 3-6 record from a year ago, a season which was marred by injuries according to head coach Stan Buck. Health, as always, will play a big role in the direction of the season.

The Broncos plan to use multiple offensive set as they have for many years under Buck, now in his 27th season as head coach at Blackfoot. He added their goal is to achieve a good run/pass balance within the offense.

The schedule for the green-and-black shapes up a little differently than in years past. For the first time since 2010, Blackfoot will play in the Rocky Mountain Rumble, a six-game football kickoff event held at Holt Arena. The Broncos will face Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, a team from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada in the fourth game of the event on Aug. 25.

The Broncos then hit the road for a trip to western Wyoming and a date with the Star Valley Braves, a perennial power in the Cowboy State on Aug. 31. They then return home for two straight games, first against Thunder Ridge on Sept. 7 and then against two time defending 4A state champion Skyline on Sept. 14.

“Our first three games are all non-conference, which will help us get our team figured out,” Buck said.

Blackfoot will then gear up for the annual “Buck Bowl” against Stan’s brother, Mitch, and the Madison Bobcats, a game which Buck said his team needs to perform better than in previous seasons.

“Madison has beat us bad the last three seasons and we have to get tougher,” he said.

Following the Buck Bowl, Blackfoot will host Idaho Falls on Sept. 28 before hitting the road to take on Bonneville on Oct. 5. The Broncos conclude the season with senior night against Hillcrest on Oct. 12 and then an all-Bingham County matchup on the road in Shelley on Oct. 19.

Blackfoot, which enters an all-District 6 conference this season, has the talent to excel but will face tough opponents each week.

“I don’t think there will be any surprises in our league,” said Buck. “Our league will be tough. All teams have a great shot at this point.”