Written by: Will Hoenike
Legendary folk singer John Denver sang a popular song whose chorus began, “hey, it’s good to be back home, yes it is.”
That’s where the 1A Carey Panthers find themselves this fall, back in the familiar surroundings of the Sawtooth Conference after two seasons as a member of the 2A (formerly 1A Division 1) Snake River Conference. Back to the familiar rivalries, the familiar road trips, and likely the familiar position of high expectations entering the campaign.
The Panthers will hitch their long-term goals of 2024 to the team’s defense, which returns senior Preston Wood, who was an all-state and all-conference performer in the secondary last fall. Eddie Gamino, a steady contributor along the defensive line also returns, as do fellow defensive linemen Luke Aquistapace and Matthew Young. Senior AJ Black returns at linebacker for a group that only allowed one team to score more than 40 points last season and held three opponents to 12 points or less.
“(Defensive coordinator) Coach (Lane) Durtschi’s defense is usually our shining light,” said second-year head coach John Saili. “Sometimes unconventional but seems to always get the job done.”
The core of returners will get a big boost from a strong junior class, which includes RB/DB Stockton Sears, WR/LB Gabe Saili, and WR/LB Will Parke.
“Our junior class is going to have a huge role in helping the seniors,” Saili noted. “This year’s team is bought in.”
The Panthers will need to perform more consistently on offense. In the team’s three wins in 2023, Carey scored 84 points. In the team’s six losses, the team scored a combined total of 80 points.
“Our consistency was lacking for sure,” Saili said. “We need to have a higher percentage of success on the small simple plays.”
That often starts with strong play along the offensive line. Aquistapace returns as the team’s center and will be joined along the front by senior Chris Ruiz. That group will be charged with opening holes for a host of running backs – Gamino, Young, and Sears should all see time in the backfield – and protecting Wood when he drops to throw. It feels like Wood has been starting for a decade for the Panthers but now, as a senior, it’s time for the group to tie it all together to make a run toward a potential state championship.
The Panthers have eight state championships in the trophy case, the most recent coming in 2018, and eight more championship-game appearances that resulted in a runner-up finish. The program knows how to get it done when the lights are the brightest.
There is one holdover from the 2023 non-conference schedule – Butte County – but the other non-conference foes are different in 2024. Murtaugh (2A) and Rockland (1A) will both host Carey this fall.
When it comes to Sawtooth Conference play, it’s old friends Dietrich, Camas County, Hansen, and Castleford waiting for the Panthers. The conference also welcomes back Richfield as a full member after the Tigers had played a junior-varsity schedule the past few years. Carey will face perennial conference toughie Dietrich (October 11) and defending conference champion Camas County (October 25) on the road in two of the final three weeks of the regular season before the playoffs begin.
It’s familiar territory with a familiar feeling for Carey and if the team can stay healthy and find consistency on offense, it’s a team that could be playing well into November this fall.