Written by: Brandon Baney
When Colter Evans turned in his resignation as Soda Springs head football coach this past winter, Cardinals officials began to brainstorm.
What do most people do when they’re looking for a spark? They go back to the greatest hits.
And so, two familiar names are Soda Springs’ co-head coaches in 2024. Rod Worthington and Scott Gambles were on staff at Soda Springs in the 1990s. Gamble came aboard in 1990, while Worthington joined the Cardinals in 1995. Worthington eventually became the head coach in the late 90s, but has been away from the game recently.
So when Worthington and Gambles were approached about returning to coach the Cardinals in 2024, they had one condition: they would share the duties as co-head coaches.
It’s led to renewed enthusiasm amongst the Cardinal faithful. But it’s not just the coaches that have Soda Springs fans excited.
Three All-Conference offensive linemen (seniors Matt Perkins and Dakoda Billman, and junior Eijah Dilworth) all return to the lineup. Billman was also an All-Conference defensive lineman.
Junior Cole Garbett earned All-Conference accolades at wide receiver a year ago, and could play out wide or in the backfield at running back this season.
The Cardinals’ defense also welcomes back a pair of All-Conference performers: senior defensive lineman Shad Stoor and senior linebacker Ryder Bendsten.
The Cardinals went winless a year ago in the always treacherous South East Idaho Conference. West Side and Aberdeen are both expected to be excellent again in 2024, and Declo and Wendell have officially joined the conference as well from District 4.
But if Soda Springs can recapture some of that old magic, the Cardinals could be primed for a breakout season.