Written by: Brandon Baney
Ask any coach in the Central Idaho League, and they’ll tell you: Priest River is incredibly dangerous.
After enduring an overall school year filled with turmoil in 2023, the Spartans are ready to focus strictly on football in 2024.
Priest River’s season never really got off the ground a year ago. The entire West Bonner School District was embroiled in controversy after a politically motivated Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Branden Durst as Superintendent. Durst did not have the required four years of full-time certificated experience working with students while under contract with an accredited school, and the Idaho State Board of Education ruled that he was not qualified to be the district’s Superintendent.
What does all of this have to do with the high school football team? Well, in a nearly unified show of solidarity, 37 staff members of the West Bonner School District quit during the summer after Durst’s controversial hire. That included several administrators, the athletic director, and countless coaches.
Durst finally tendered his resignation in late September, but the damage had already been done. New football coach/athletic director Alex Zepeda did his best to bring a young team together, but he wasn’t hired until later in the summer, and the Spartans started the season significantly behind their CIL counterparts.
Priest River only played three varsity teams in 2023, going 2-1 against Medical Lake (WA), Orofino and Kellogg. A 14-8 win over the Maniacs was particularly thrilling, and established hope that the Spartans could compete in 2024.
Senior leader Kemper Dabrowski will have to be replaced, but otherwise, a fairly young group of sophomores and juniors are ready to take the next step forward. Keep an eye on Gavin Griesemer and Colton Kuprienko, in particular.
Priest River hits the ground running in 2024. Their first contest is a road game at reigning CIL champ Grangeville. That’s followed by four consecutive non-conference games against Washington schools (Newport, Kettle Falls, Medical Lake and Colfax). The Spartans wrap up with home games against Orofino and Kellogg sandwiched around a trip to St. Maries.