Written by: Brandon Baney
Through five games in 2021, the Idaho Falls Tigers appeared to be invincible.
Idaho Falls started hot, with a 5-0 overall record. But there were warning signs that the their formula wasn't sustainable.
The cracks really started to appear following a 42-19 loss to eventual 5A champion Rigby. The contest was marred by bad sportsmanship by both teams towards the end of the game.
After rallying to defeat eventual 4A champ Skyline the next week in a 38-34 Emotion Bowl thriller, the Tigers were 6-1. But that October 8th night at Ravsten Stadium was the last time that the Tigers would taste victory.
Back-to-back losses to Madison and Highland ultimately left Idaho Falls with a 6-3 overall record. Their MaxPreps ranking wasn't good enough to secure an at-large bid, and a promising season ultimately went unfulfilled.
The graduation losses were significant. Quarterback Skyler Olsen was the High Country Conference Offensive Player of the Year but graduated. Also leaving are running back Kyan Jesperson, top receiver Hunter Miller, two-way lineman Leon Nelson, and defensive starters Logan Westwood, Landon Gneiting, Hunter Herrera, Porter Tuttle, Beau Anderson and Daeson Hunter, among others.
As for this year's team, senior Brendan Rasmussen was an All-Conference selection on both the offensive and defensive lines a year ago.
After a two-year sojourn to Class 5A football, the Tigers have moved back down to the 4A ranks. That's not necessarily a good thing, as quality teams like Skyline and Blackfoot await.
With so many varsity newcomers, Idaho Falls' season could ultimately come down to how an accelerated learning curve is handled.