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St. Maries High School
School Info
Conference: 2A Central Idaho League
Classification: 2A
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Head Coach: Craig Tefft
Years as Head Coach: 6th Season
Previous Experience: Head coach at Potlatch. Assistant coach at Kendrick and St. Maries.
Record Last Year: 6-4
State Titles: None
Assistant Coaches:
Chase Bennett
Tony Kraack
Tom Truscott
Scott Lounsbury
Greg Rouse
Returning Players:
Drake Lounsbury (Sr, WR/DB)
Warren Renfrew (Sr, OL)
Hayden Humphrey (Sr, WR/DB)
Chase Truscott (Sr, RB/LB)
Tim Epler (Sr, WR/LB)
Nate Masterson (Jr, TE/DE)
Bryant Asbury (Jr, RB/LB)
Dylan Edwards (Jr, RB/LB)
Dakota Wilson (Jr, DL)
Returning Players with Honors:
Chase Truscott, 2nd-Team All-State LB
Dylan Edwards, 2nd-Team All-Conference RB
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Photo By: Clayton Bunt - #9 Hayden Humphrey
“Key Players” lost from last year:
WR Josh Richmond (2nd-Team All-State)
OL Jordan McIntyre (2nd-Team All-State)
DL Logan Feasline (2nd-Team All-State)
OL Jesse Harvey
LB/TE Matt Smith
P Jacob Greer
Incoming “impact” players:
QB Keifer Gibson (Jr)
LB Zach Rouse (Jr)
WR/DB Jacob Sieler (WR/DB)
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Team Preview:
Written by: Will Hoenike (@willhoenike)
Head coach Craig Tefft has a simple way of looking at the 2015 season for the St. Maries Lumberjacks: Eight One-Game Seasons.
His squad is coming off a solid 5-3 season, returning key pieces of the puzzle and got a taste of state playoff experience last season (reaching the quarterfinals before falling to league rival Orofino).
Can the eight, one-game seasons result in a deeper playoff run in 2015? We think it’s possible.
The Lumberjacks return the core of what should be a solid defense, led by senior linebacker Chase Truscott. Last fall, Truscott earned 2nd-Team All-State honors though he may have to take on an even larger role this fall with the departure of Matt Smith, the team’s middle linebacker last season.
Truscott is part of a deep group of linebackers, which also includes returning letter-winners Tim Epler (senior), Bryant Asbury (junior) and Dylan Edwards (junior).
Junior Zach Rouse is also expected to play a larger role this season. They’ll form the heart of a defense that – if you take out two, one-sided losses during the regular season – allowed just under 15 points per game over the remaining eight games on its schedule.
“We feel like we have a chance to be very good on defense,” Tefft told IdahoSports.com. “We should have good speed and lots of playmakers on the field.”
Nate Masterson and Dakota Wilson return upfront along the defensive line while Drake Lounsbury and Hayden Humphrey return in starting roles in the defensive secondary. Junior Jacob Sieler is expected to compete for playing time in the Lumberjack secondary as well.
Offensively, Tefft and his staff will turn the reigns over to junior quarterback Keifer Gibson. Though the staff is excited about Gibson’s play-making ability, the team also features multiple quality running backs, headlined by 2nd-Team All-Central Idaho League performer Dylan Edwards. The junior will share duties with Truscott and Asbury while Lounsbury and Humphrey man the wide receiver spots. Epler and Masterson also figure in to the receiving rotation, giving Tefft a lot of options to utilize on offense.
The team’s offensive line will need to mature quickly, though, as the group lost two key starters in Jordan McIntyre and Jesse Harvey. Senior Warren Renfrew returns as one of the team’s tackles and will anchor the front group for the Lumberjacks.
The Central Idaho League, St. Maries’ league, is just a three-team league. However, a league that features Orofino (9-2 last season, reached 2A semifinals) and Grangeville (7-4 last season, also reached 2A semifinals) won’t be easy.
Experience and the potential for a solid defense put St. Maries firmly in the conversation of teams from the panhandle to keep an eye on.
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