As we ramp up towards the start of a new year, IdahoSports.com is once again providing wall-to-wall preview coverage of every conference and league around the state.

Additionally, we will be providing complimentary preview pieces outside of strict conference previews, like this article here:

Today, we go “Inside The Numbers” and bring you the most interesting numerical tidbits ahead of the 2025 campaign.  Think of this as a light appetizer before the heavy meal.

Enjoy!

5 – Fruitland offensive tackle Kelvin Obot is Idaho’s top-ranked recruit for the Class of 2025, and was recently upgraded to 5-Star recruit status.  The 6-foot-5, 265 pounder has committed to the University of Utah.

8 – Carey resumed its’ usual perch among the giants of eight-man football, claiming the Class 1A state championship, while Kendrick continued its’ run of dominance, claiming its fourth championship in a row, and first at the Class 2A level.

11 – Rigby carries Idaho’s longest winning streak into 2025, as no team went undefeated in 2024.  The Trojans dropped their season opener to Coeur d’Alene a year ago, 24-14, and then snapped off 11 wins in a row en route to their fourth championship in the past six years.

13 – Highland still leads the pack among Idaho programs with 13 state championships in its’ history.  12 of the 13 titles are “officially recognized” championships by the IHSAA, as the state of Idaho did not hold statewide playoffs until the late 70s.  Highland’s 1973 title came by virtue of finishing the season ranked first in the statewide media poll, and is thus “unofficial.”

20 – North Gem attempted 20 passes the entire year in 2024.  The run-heavy option attack, conversely, attempted 484 rushes.  The Cowboys figure to once again feature the triple option in 2025.

20 – Carey has qualified for 20 consecutive postseasons, the longest active streak in Idaho.  The last year the Panthers missed out on the playoffs was 2004.

25 – Skyline slotback Zyan Crockett leads all returnees in total touchdowns a year ago with 25.  Crockett rushed for 13 scores and hauled in 10 touchdown passes.

27 – Kimberly’s MaCraye Bruning tied Skyline’s CarMyne Garcia for the statewide lead in touchdown passes a year ago.  Each signal-caller tossed 27 TDs, and while Garcia has graduated, Bruning leads a hungry Kimberly team into battle in 2025.  The Bulldogs’ season concluded with a 27-0 loss to Sugar-Salem in the Class 4A semifinals.

32 – 32 teams changed head coaches during the offseason.  Some were due to retirement, some were due to resignation, and in some cases, some school boards went against public sentiment and decided to fire their coach.  It’s becoming tougher and tougher to be a head coach in today’s landscape, and we will highlight all of the coaching changes in a separate feature next week.

141 – American Falls linebacker Ty Smith headlines a strong group of defensive players this year.  The 5-foot-11, 215-pound senior is Idaho’s leading returning tackler with 141 stops a season ago.  Among the 141 tackles were 8 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.

313 – Weiser coach Tom Harrison enters his 41st season as a varsity head coach with 313 career wins, according to our research.  Since embarking on his first job at Ririe as a 23-year-old in 1982, his career has been unmatched.  See for yourself:

Ririe (1982 to 1984): 10-17 (.370)

Raft River (1985 to 1987): 20-9 (.690) with 1 championship (1986)

Snake River (1988 to 2002): 146-22 (.869) with 8 championships (1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)

Pocatello (2003 to 2014): 79-41 (.658) with 1 championship (2006)

Weiser (2018 to Present): 58-19 (.753) with 1 championship (2021)

TOTAL (1982 to Present): 313-108 (.743) with 11 championships at 4 different schools

613.5 – Sandpoint will travel 613.5 miles south to face Twin Falls in its’ season opener.  Last year, the Bulldogs hosted Twin Falls in a similarly long trip for the Bruins.  That’s a bus ride north of 10 hours one way.

680 – Kendrick scored 680 total points last year, for an average of 56.7 points per contest, as they rolled to their fourth consecutive state title.  The Tigers welcome back starting quarterback Maddox Kirkland in 2025, as well as his top three receivers: Ralli Roetcisoender, Cade Silflow, and Nathan Tweit (who missed all of 2024 with an injury).

1,087 – Butte County’s football team will travel approximately 1,087 total miles to complete its’ regular season schedule in 2025.  The slate includes six road contests and only three home dates.  The Pirates will face true road games at Valley, Raft River and Grace, and well as neutral-site, meet-in-the-middle contests against Kendrick and Logos (both in Homedale) and Tri-Valley (in Greenleaf).  Remember how much one of Idaho’s smaller school districts in Arco has to travel the next time you hear a school from a large metro area complaining about hitting the road for a long trip.

1,420 – Vallivue’s Onix Carson is Idaho’s top returning rusher this year.  The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder rushed for 1,420 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago.  He averaged 7.7 yards per carry, and 142 yards per game.

(Class of) 2026 – Idaho’s Class of 2026 features 12 Division I signees, with more surely coming as the season moves along.  Here’s the full list:

Jack Brant, QB, Timberline (UC Davis)

Ryan Brekke, WR/TE, Owyhee (Boise State)

Drew Byrd, TE, Rocky Mountain (Washington State)

Sam Haener, DE, Timberline (UC Davis)

Rasean Jones, WR, Rocky Mountain (Boise State)***

Hudson Lewis, WR, Timberline (Washington State)

Preston McDaniel, WR/TE, Thunder Ridge (Utah State)

LaGary Mitchell, LB, Meridian (Utah)

Kelvin Obot, OT, Fruitland (Utah)

Andrew Price, OT, Timberline (Hawaii)

Rowan Rupp, DE/DT, Rocky Mountain (Boise State)

Jax Tanner, OT, Rocky Mountain (BYU)

***Rasean Jones is transferring to Rocky Mountain from Baker High School in Baker City, Oregon.