Written by: Will Hoenike
There are two impressive streaks alive and well involving the Dietrich Blue Devils football team. Neither gets talked about much, and both look likely to continue this season.
First, the last time the Blue Devils missed the 1A Division 2 state playoffs was 2008. That’s 14 years ago. And secondly, Dietrich has won at least one postseason game in each of the past six seasons, compiling an overall postseason record of 10-5 in that stretch, which includes the 2020 state championship.
Don’t be even a little surprised if each of those streaks is extended this fall.
The Blue Devils, coming off of a 7-4 season and an appearance in the 1A Division 2 state semifinals last season, must replace two-way All-State performer Jett Shaw but veteran head coach Rick Astle has plenty of talent to work with.
Leading the way is quarterback and defensive back Cody Power. The versatile senior can hurt opponents in multiple ways, as evidenced in Dietrich’s playoff win over Camas County last November. Powers ran for 169 yards and three scores while also passing for 145 yards and three more scores. Teamed with fellow senior Payten Sneddon, each of whom was an all-conference performer last fall, Dietrich can rely on a potent 1-2 punch when it has the ball.
But that’s not the end of the story. The team brings back Hayden Astle for his senior season and welcomes Shoshone transfer Hudson Lucero, a senior running back and defensive end, to add even more skill and depth to the roster.
Dason Pizano leads the team’s offensive line and will get help from senior Case Robertson. As a team, the Blue Devils put up 442 points last season, good for over 40 points per game, while the team’s defense allowed less than 25 points per contest. The team’s defense held five opponents to two scores or less along the way.
Astle likes his team speed and feels that his group is solid across the board. One of the team’s defensive strengths is the ability to swarm to the ball and gang-tackle, which should make it hard for teams to break big plays against the Blue Devils’ defense.
The Sawtooth Conference will feel a little bit different in 2022. Gone is perennial state power Carey, who moved up to the 1A Division 1 classification this fall. Meanwhile, Shoshone joins the Sawtooth as a full member in football after playing recent seasons at a varsity/junior-varsity hybrid.
There will still be plenty of challenges in the conference this fall. Along with Dietrich, Castleford returns several players from its playoff team from a year ago and should be a strong team. Camas County also figures to be a difficult foe after finishing last season strong.
Staying healthy is always vital in the 8-man game. One twisted ankle can change a team’s fortune. Dietrich faces Rimrock, Glenns Ferry, and Rockland in non-conference play before opening up its conference schedule on September 23 at Hansen. A lot of eyes will be on Dietrich two weeks later, on October 7, when the Blue Devils host Castleford. The winner of that game should be in great position to claim the conference championship and top seed from the district in the 1A Division 2 state playoffs, which begin three weeks later.
Whether it’s as the top seed or the second seed, expect Dietrich to be in the playoffs again this fall. And, when they get there, they have the pieces to make a run deep into November.