Written by: Will Hoenike
The Cascade Ramblers are coming off of a five-win season that included impressive Long Pin Conference wins over Horseshoe Bend and Salmon River late in the regular season and now fourth-year head coach Keala Hoe and his program have their sights set higher – a return to the 1A (formerly 1A Division 2) playoffs.
“We have a lot of young players, I’m excited to see the growth of these players and how they will fit in our program,” said Hoe. “This is a team sport and we are excited to see the team come together.”
The team had a run of success in the early 2000s, including a state championship in 2003, under current assistant coach Pal Sartori. But the team hasn’t played postseason football since 2009 and the 2003 championship victory, a 40-8 victory over Long Pin rival Council, is the team’s last postseason victory.
The Ramblers will have to replace the athleticism and leadership of departed senior QB/DB Tyler Thurston. Junior Finn Wilkins is next in line to take the snaps but won’t be asked to shoulder the load himself. Second team All-Conference running back Stuart Derrick returns after rushing for nine scores last season, along with senior linemen Hayden Hull and Reece Talbot. Senior receiver Cole Olson also returns, adding a weapon on the outside when Cascade puts the ball in the air. He led the team with 700 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
That same core of players, as is common at the 8-man level, will also fill crucial roles on defense. Hull, Olson, and Derrick were all selected as second team All-Conference defenders last season, Hull and Olson along the defensive front and Derrick at defensive end. The team’s defense performed well in a season-opening, three-game winning streak, allowing just over 12 points per game. Hoe will look to Hull and Derrick to lead the group as difference-makers this fall.
Three teams from the Long Pin qualified for the playoffs last fall but a shift in playoff format means the league will not be guaranteed three spots this fall. The conference champion will go and then the other teams will vie for an at-large selection based on a mathematical formula provided by MaxPreps. Another fast start would boost Cascade’s resume but, to end the postseason drought, the Ramblers will most likely need to secure at least one win against one of the conference’s three playoff teams from a year ago – Council, Garden Valley, or Tri-Valley.
The good news for Ramblers fans is all three are coming to Valley County this year. And two of them, Council on October 18 and Garden Valley on October 25, represent the final two games of the regular season. Continuing to develop the program’s younger players and staying healthy will be critical to continuing last season’s success and being in position to earn a playoff berth in 2024.