Written By: Sven Alskog
Last season was a disappointing one for Canyon Ridge, with the lone win coming in the final week of the year against Wood River.
The Riverhawks had to replace six All-Conference players prior to last season, which partially contributed to the struggles. Injuries also played a part, with the team hoping to stay healthier moving forward.
In his fifth season, head coach Sean Impomeni will have to replace quarterback Johnny Eastman, running back MJ Brooks and defensive back Jesse Mark.
Not having Eastman behind center will give the program a different look, meaning that some younger pieces will need to step up to fill the void.
Last season Canyon Ridge scored 24 or less points in each of their losses. In the win against Wood River, the offense put up 56 points, which was a higher total than five of their game outputs combined.
Running back Bam Kondracki and offensive lineman Nate Maxfield are two of the most notable returners. Kondracki could be relied upon even more heavily in the backfield with the graduation of Eastman, while Maxfield should be a steady presence up front to help lead the rest of the line.
After a one-year hiatus from the playoffs, the Riverhawks hope to get back on track in 2019, with some of the other programs in the pod experiencing significant roster turnover as well.
Canyon Ridge begins the new season on August 30 at Vallivue before then heading to Idaho Falls to take on Bonneville in week two.