Written by: Will Hoenike
The Murtaugh Red Devils have made the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, the last two at the 1A Division 1 level after bumping up from 1A Division 2 following the 2019 season, but they’re still searching for a playoff victory.
Last fall, the Red Devils earned an at-large berth into the 1A Division 1 bracket and were seeded no. 8, but were defeated by the ninth-seeded Genesee Bulldogs in a high-scoring affair, 62-36. It marked the program’s fifth consecutive one-and-done in the playoffs. Murtaugh returns some of its most explosive playmakers but will need to fill some holes along the offensive and defensive line to continue its upward climb.
Junior running back and linebacker Junior Benites, who earned second team All- Snake River Conference accolades on both sides of the football as a sophomore, returns for head coach Todd Jensen. Benites had some huge games last season – 205 yards rushing and a pair of scores against Glenns Ferry, 237 yards rushing and four scores in the Wagon Wheel game against Hansen, another 237-yard, four-score game against Challis – and should shoulder a big load of the Murtaugh offense in 2022.
The team lost talented backfield-mate Cesar Aburto and big lineman Malaki Brune to graduation, which will both be tough holes to fill. Senior Raegan Fitzpatrick will be a key figure upfront for Murtaugh while senior quarterback Ashton Andersen and senior receiver Chandler Jones return to add additional firepower to an offense which averaged a whisker under 40 points per game last season.
The 1A Division 1 Snake River Conference will be even more challenging this season with the addition of traditional 1A Division 2 powerhouse Carey as well a longtime conference member Valley returning after two years in the 2A Canyon Conference. The Red Devils will host two-time defending state champion Oakley, Glenns Ferry, and Carey in conference play.
The 1A Division 1 state playoffs feature five automatic qualifiers (conference champions) and seven at-large berths. Murtaugh has earned one of those at-large berths the past two seasons. With the returning weapons on offense that the team has, it should be in position to challenge for another at-large berth this season if it can stay healthy and continue to improve along the offensive and defensive lines over the course of the season.