Team Preview:
Written By: Matt Harris

A year ago, two fledgling football teams decided that it was better to do a little driving than not get to play football at all.

Clark County and Watersprings teamed up just prior to the start of the season last year in order to be able to allow their kids to participate in a sport they loved. If the two schools had not formed a co-op, both school would have likely had to forfeit some or all of their games.

But together last season, the team which came to be known as the ‘Clark-Watersprings WarCats’ posted a 7-3 record and reached the 1A Division-II state quarterfinals, before bowing out to eventual champion Carey.

This year, the co-op remains but there is a new lead man patrolling the sidelines. Chris Strahm takes the reigns of the program following the departure of Aaron Booth. He says that there is a lot of learning and growing opportunities on this year’s squad.

“We have a young team. Everyone has a chance to be an impact player. Some of our freshman from last year will be asked to do a lot this year,” said Strahm. “I love this young team, they have so much upside. The sky is the limit.”

Strahm said that summer workouts have certainly helped his program, giving them a bit of a jump start and allowing Strahm to start building relationships within his team.

Offensively, the WarCats have plenty of speed and plan on moving around into all sorts of different formations, according to Strahm. The coach said he wants improvement in finishing drives and hanging on to the football this season.

Defensively, that speed will play a factor in their success along with an intangible that the coach says just can’t be measured – heart.

“A lot of our kids play with tons of heart and that’s what you need on defense,” he said, adding the defense has to be able to get off the field and not give up long drives.

Clark-Watersprings, as of this writing, will play a five-game regular season schedule. Sho-Ban announced they would not field a team in mid-August, causing the WarCats to lose a game on their schedule. They will open up play at home in Idaho Falls on Aug. 31 when they face defending conference champion and former league member Butte County.

“They are always a tough team,” said Strahm of the Pirates. “They are very well coached and we have never beat them in football, so that’s something we would like to accomplish.”

The next date on the schedule is a contest in Idaho Falls against Lighthouse Christian on Sept. 14. That will be followed by another home game, this time in Dubois at Clark County High School, against the North Gem Cowboys on Sept. 21.

The WarCats will then make their only regular season road trip of the year on Sept. 28 when they visit Mackay. Then, following two straight bye weeks, the team completes the regular season schedule at home in Idaho Falls against Rockland on Oct. 19.