Written by: Lucas Gebhart
Despite losing one of Idaho’s top defenders, Borah Lions head coach JQ Kenyon says this year’s defense could be one of the best in the conference.
Former defensive lineman Trevor McKenna was a three-year starter for the Lions and led the state in sacks in 2024. His college offers started coming in the summer of 2023, and it only took McKenna a couple weeks to commit to his hometown Boise State Broncos when the DI offers started coming in.
It’s a big hole Borah has to fill, but is the only one the Lions have to fill in the defensive box and they’re simply replacing one McKenna for another – Mason McKenna for Trevor McKenna.
“We believe we have a chance to have an elite defense this year with nearly the entire defense returning with multiple 2 and 3 year starters,” Kenyon said. “It will be exciting to see how well they play together.”
Mason will join three-year starter Jon Ceron and sophomore and soon to be two-year starter Austin Flaherty on the Borah defensive front. Tyler Spencer and Jeijen Shearer are both back this year as well at linebacker and Ryan Lopez and Karden Halpin are back in the secondary as thee-year starters as well.
“Keijen started outside and will most likely end up being the mike this year.” Keyon said.
Offensively, Borah hopes it will replace one of the state’s best running backs with a breakout quarterback.
The Lions lose Jevon Nelson, a back Kenyon says was one of the best in the state, but is looking to quarterback Dylan Luekenga, now a senior, to lead the Lion’s air-raid assault.
“We hope to be a better passing team as we will be relying on the arm of Dylan Luekenga to get us down the field,” Kenyon said, “We have been working a lot on pass protection as we have been a run heavy offense.”
Hendrix Castro, Oscar Morales, and Mason Monteleone will get the main share of targets, Kenyon says as the Lions look to bounce back from a rough second half stretch.
Borah lost its last six in 2024, including a first-round playoff exit to Rocky Mountain.
“Situational football cost us a lot of football games last year,” Kenyon said. “We have been trying to instill into the seniors how important each situation is and how to be more prepared in the little situations that determine the outcomes of football teams.”