Written by: Will Hoenike
The Dietrich Blue Devils are coming off of an 11-win season and a berth in the 1A Division 2 state championship game, an entertaining affair where the Blue Devils fell by one score to the powerhouse Kendrick Tigers. An amazing season, by any measure, but now Dietrich will be looking to duplicate that success with a new cast of characters.
First of all, 29-year-old Brody Astle takes over as the full-time head coach this fall after sharing duties with Rick Astle, his uncle, last season.
“We are excited to welcome in a new wave of kids,” Astle said. “We graduated a very good group of kids last season that have been a part of the best four-year run Dietrich football has ever experienced. The door is now open for an excited group of younger kids to step up and come together.”
All-State quarterback and defensive back Cody Power, one of the state’s best players, leaves a big pair of shoes to fill on both sides of the ball for Dietrich. Fortunately for Blue Devil fans, junior Connor Perkins is waiting and ready to move into the role.
“Connor Perkins is a dynamic player. He played receiver for us as a sophomore last year, but will move into the quarterback role in 2023,” Astle said. “He has the ability to create something out of nothing and turn a routine play into a home run.”
Power isn’t the only all-stater being replaced in Dietrich. Payton Sneddon, Case Robertson, and Dason Pizano also earned All-State accolades following last season’s run to the championship game and have graduated and moved on. But the Blue Devils do return some talent. Versatile junior Brody Torgerson will play in front of Perkins on both offense (OL/TE) and defense (LB), as will senior Emmet Zimmers (OL/TE/DE). Junior Angel Alvarado and Wyett Sneddon will also compete for a role on the field this fall while senior Stryder Shaw should see increased responsibilities as well.
“We are coming off of a great run last year, and have to replace a lot of guys that played both ways,” Astle continued. “We need to understand that things are not going to come easy but they will come if we work hard and put in the time. We will have a target on our backs just about every week and we need to focus on the things we can control.”
Dietrich held its first 11 opponents to 26 points or fewer, including three shutouts, which is a very good number in the 8-man game. Only Kendrick (42) surpassed that total. The return of Torgerson and Zimmers near the line of scrimmage and the additions of Alvarado and Sneddon should make Dietrich tough to move the ball against once again in 2023.
“We like to create pressure up front and make teams make quick decisions, hoping we can force them into a poor choice,” Astle said of his defense. “We were able to make great plays defensively and hold many offenses in check, but we have to be better about pass coverage assignments and covering screens/misdirection plays.”
The 1A Division 2 Sawtooth Conference was strong in 2022, with Dietrich having to outlast Castleford and Camas County to win the conference title. The scene has shifted somewhat this fall with both Hagerman and Hansen looking to get into the mix for that top spot as well. Dietrich has the talent and the experience to once again rise to the top of the conference in 2023 but the team will need good health and continued development from its younger players to have a chance to return to the classification’s state championship game.