Written by: Will Hoenike
Coming off a seven-win season and an appearance in the 1A Division 1 (now 2A) state playoffs, the Murtaugh Red Devils welcome in new head coach Chad Young and a re-tooled Snake River Conference for the 2024 season.
Young replaces Todd Jensen, who accepted a new job in the offseason. The new staff will have to replace a pair of All-State performers in running back Jr. Benites (first team) and defensive lineman Oscar Aburto (second team) but there is talent returning for the Red Devils.
Murtaugh returns starting quarterback Soyer Young for his senior season. As a junior, Young ran for double-digit touchdowns and also completed over 50 percent of his passes to help the team average more than 50 points per game, including a season-high 72 in a win over Raft River in early October. Despite losing Benites and fellow running back Eli Merrick, Young proved dynamic in the ground game and will have a capable running back alongside in the backfield, senior Brody Funk. The staff will need to rebuild its offensive line a bit but does return big senior Teague Gunnell to lead the way.
Defensively, defensive end Will Nebeker is one of the team’s top returning tacklers, along with Young, and is primed to step into a bigger role along the Murtaugh defensive front. The Red Devils held three opponents to one score or less last fall but will be looking for players to step into the big shoes left by Benites, Aburto, and Hudson Giles on the defensive side of the ball.
Murtaugh’s conference, the District 4 Snake River Conference, will have a new feel to it as Carey has dropped down to the 1A Sawtooth Conference while Hagerman steps up from the Sawtooth to the Snake River Conference. Also, Lighthouse Christian will not field a varsity team this fall.
However, perennial power Oakley (three titles in four years) remains, as does an up-and-coming Valley team. Murtaugh will host both of those teams on its home field, welcoming in Valley on September 27 while Oakley comes to town on October 11.
The Red Devils will keep the Wagon Wheel trophy as long-time rival Hansen is not on the schedule this year. The two small communities are less than ten miles apart just to the east of Twin Falls but will not meet on the football field this fall. Instead, the Red Devils face a tough non-conference schedule that includes Carey, Butte County, and Grace before opening conference play on the road at Raft River on September 20.