Written by: Brandon Baney
A year ago, the Cole Valley Christian Chargers boasted talented playmakers up and down the roster. Unfortunately for them, so did Melba and Nampa Christian in what turned out to be an incredible competitive Western Idaho Conference.
All three of those WIC contenders are in the same boat heading into 2022. They all lost players to graduation, but they also return a good nucleus to work with.
So the question becomes: who had the best offseason? According to Chargers head coach Mark Moreno, it’s hard to beat the summer his team had. “This is the biggest senior class we have had in a long while and they provide solid leadership. They are guys who have been committed to the weight room this offseason,” Moreno said. “I am excited about the overall buy-in into the program. As I head into my third year (as head coach), this is by far the biggest buy-in I’ve had and the most physically aggressive team we’ve had.”
The foundation for Cole Valley’s success starts on the offensive and defensive lines. Seniors Sam Sherman, Christian Metzger and Ian Hamby all earned All-WIC honors a year ago, and fellow senior Stanton Austin is a multi-year starter as well.
Those four will lead the way on offense for the player Moreno calls “the most dynamic player in the WIC,” senior running back Lincoln Gee. “We will be run heavy,” Moreno said. “I think this offensive line has the potential to take over games in the trenches, which will mesh well with our new style of offense.”
Cole Valley’s offensive identity is changing from the wide open aerial attack of the past three years to a power run game. The biggest reason for the change is the loss of three-year starting quarterback Carter Fortin, who routinely showcased his big arm with long passes down the field. While new QB Dalton Kranz gets used to the varsity game, the Chargers run game will take center stage. Junior Ben Beglinger will be the main target when Cole Valley does decide to pass.
The Cole Valley defense welcomes back eight starters from a year ago, including 1st team All-WIC linebacker Sherman. Gee also returns at linebacker, while the defensive line and secondary each welcome back three starters. Metzger and Hamby will play defensive tackle, while Ryan Golenor is back to start at defensive end.
“Our greatest strength is our experience throughout the entire defense, but especially our D-line, where I think we will be strongest,” Moreno said. “We are going to play a very aggressive, yet disciplined style of defense. However, last year we gave up too many big plays. I feel like there were some big swings in the game for the opposition because of a breakdown and we need to do better in that area if we want to compete for a league title.”
Consistency will be the key for Cole Valley this year. There are no easy games in the WIC, as New Plymouth brings back a ton of experienced players and Marsing will be led by former Cole Valley defensive coordinator Shea McClellin in his first year as head coach. The Chargers will begin league play on September 23rd with a road trip to defending WIC champ Nampa Christian. That game will set the tone for what Moreno hopes is a championship-worthy season.