Written by: Lucas Gebhart
For the last two seasons, the Meridian “T-Offense” has been led by running back combo, Rylie Byington and Marco Del Rio. With both backs now graduated and playing college football, Meridian is going to have to pivot. Enter senior quarterback and three-year starter Zeke Martinez.
Martinez first took over the offense as a sophomore and completed Meridian’s run-heavy offense. Coupled with the state’s best defense at the time, the three-headed running machine pounded its way to the state title game in 2022 and again to the state semifinals last year.
Now, with an offer from the University of Memphis in hand, Martinez enters the fall without Idaho’s best running back combo behind him, but with have a new group of “dependable wide receivers.”
Head coach John Zamberlin, now in his sixth season, says receiver Daysen Boltz will be one that makes an early impact, but adds that Meridian will continue to stick to its running ways.
“We aim to continue a run game that we hang our hats on as an offense,” Zamberlin said. “We have some young dependable wide receivers that will look to make their presence in the run game. We will look to keep aspects of the T offense as we continue to work a spread offense as well.”
Meridian has been a contender in the Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) since bursting onto the scene two years ago. Despite losing its first two last season, the Warriors rallied to win six straight and were a couple plays away from overtaking Eagle for the SIC crowd in 2023. Zamberlin says his group, once again expects to be competing for championships.
“This group is looking to make an identity for itself unique to any of the prior years,” he said. “We are excited to compete this year and will be in a very competitive SIC conference.”