Written by: Brandon Baney
In 2022, the Lewiston Bengals went 6-4 and earned a share of the Inland Empire League regular-season crown.
Another step forward was expected in 2023, but progress isn’t always linear.
Instead, the Bengals went through a season of fits and starts, ultimately concluding the year with a 4-5 record and a third place finish in the IEL.
Now entering his 8th season, Lewiston head coach Matt Pancheri is facing the unknown in 2024. Due to the new IHSAA classification parameters, the Bengals will trade in 6A IEL league mates Coeur d’Alene, Lake City and Post Falls for 5A IEL members Lakeland and Sandpoint.
“With the addition of a 6A level in Idaho there is a lot of league changes in the IEL,” says Pancheri. “We will have to see what that looks like.”
But just because Lewiston is moving down a level, that doesn’t make the unknown any easier.
Each position group on offense is losing its leader, as quarterback Drew Hottinger, running back Jackson Lathan, wide receiver Tre Grittner and lineman John Mettling-Perry all graduted.
“Drew was a two-year starter and we will miss his leadership and experience,” says Pancheri. “Jackson as our leading rusher the last couple of years and he was a playmaker. We will miss Tre’s willingness to block and the example he set for his teammates. JMP was a great leader and an example for our younger guys to watch on how to work.”
But with those leaders gone, the competition to see who inherits those positions will be fierce.
Senior Jeremy Yoder and junior Mason Way will compete for the starting quarterback job.
Senior Noah Carpenter and junior Austin Topp will battle it out at running back.
Senior Nathan King and junior Gage Steiner will compete for looks at receiver.
And while seniors Weston Thompson, Kyler Schumacker and Fletcher Wadsworth will all start up front, which of the trio emerges as the new voice of leadership remains to be seen.
A pair of sophomores, Parker Bagley and Oliver Cardwell, also show promise up front.
“Once again, we want to be an up-tempo team that utilizes our speed to make plays,” says Pancheri. “We hope to be more dynamic in our passing game this year and be more consistent with our running game.”
On defense, Pancheri is looking for more overall consistency. Last year, the Bengals held opponents to 12 points or fewer three times, but also allowed 40 or more points three times.
“We need to be better against the run and improve our red zone defense,” says Pancheri.
Senior linebacker Brock Thompson will lead the way, and pretty much all of the offensive players we listed above will have a chance to contribute on defense as well.
The learning curve will be sharp at Lewiston this year, but the Bengals will have to acclimate quickly.
“This coming year, we play the toughest schedule we have ever faced,” says Pancheri. “Seven of our nine games are against teams that made the playoffs last year, and many of them went deep in the playoffs in Washington and Idaho. We will be tested by the time we get to our league games.”
Indeed, Lewiston kept all three of its former IEL opponents (Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lake City) on the schedule for this year. Coeur d’Alene was the state runner-up in 2023, while Post Falls also made the playoffs. New league members Lakeland and Sandpoint both made the postseason, the Clarkston (WA) Bantams went 8-3, and the Kennewick (WA) Lions finished 10-2.