Written by: Will Hoenike
The 2022 season started with some promise for the Shoshone Indians, including a tough, one-point loss in the season’s second game. And, while on paper, it faded quickly from there, a closer look may show it wasn’t quite as bad as the team’s winless record might suggest.
Yes, the Indians scored just six points over their last five games. But Camas County? Dietrich? Castleford? Head coach Michael Perry’s team was playing a who’s who of District 4 opponents featuring some of the state’s top players … and Shoshone was doing it with a roster that had just two seniors on it.
“We talked a lot last year that this was a three-year process and now that we are moving into year two we are expecting results on the field that will lead to wins this year,” said Perry, the program’s veteran head coach. “We have some players that are ready to step in and move the program forward.”
Part of the year-two formula is ten sophomores from last fall that are now juniors. A year of growth – both physical and mental – under their belt should lead to better results.
“We will have a more experienced QB and RB in Bud and Kevin,” Perry said. “We also bring back an offensive line that was continuing to improve last year that will be anchored by Jordan.”
Bud is junior QB/LB Bud Cortez, while Kevin is junior RB/LB Kevin Juarez. With a full year of varsity competition under their belt, Perry anticipates better decision-making and, thus, better ability to move the ball on offense. The team scored 44 points in its first two games but struggled after that against strong competition. Jordan is junior two-way lineman Jordan Regalado, whom Perry is counting on to lead an improved offensive front that will allow the team to have more success running the football. The large junior class is in its third year of varsity action and will look to replicate the program’s five-win total from 2021 when it played a hybrid varsity/junior varsity schedule.
There is still a touch of that for Shoshone – the Indians open the season on August 24 against Murtaugh’s junior varsity team – but it is primarily a varsity schedule and varsity team now.
The Indians will lean on its linebacking corps on defense to slow down opponents’ offenses. Cortez and Juarez will be joined by incoming freshman Hadley Hunt at the linebacker position for Shoshone.
But remember, Perry and his staff believe this is year two of a three-year process. Despite the large junior class that has been in the program for three seasons, it’s still a young team. So before planning the championship parade down Greenwood Street, there are still improvements to be made.
“Dedication to the process (will be a key factor) and showing our players that they can be successful on the field,” Perry said. “Along with consistency running the offense and create opportunities for more big plays.”
The Indians will host conference rival Castleford for its annual Homecoming game on September 22.