Team Preview:
Written by: Will Hoenike
When the Grangeville Bulldogs came up just short in the 2A state semifinals against eventual state champion West Side, head coach Jeff Lindsley and his staff knew the 2015 version of the Bulldogs was going to look different.
Moving on would be first-team All-State performer (on both sides of the football) Michael Wilson along with most of the offensive and defensive fronts, including All-Central Idaho League performers Cody Frei, Jacob Layman and Eric Kaschmitter.
So the team heads in to 2015 needing to re-tool quickly.
Fortunately for Grangeville, there are still some valuable pieces for Coach Lindsley to work with. Heading the list is senior Austin Parks, a second-team All-State defensive back as a junior. He’ll be part of a defense that held five opponents to two touchdowns or less in 2014. Also back on the defensive side of the ball is senior linebacker Cole Lindsley, a second-team All-Central Idaho League performer last fall.
The Bulldogs have some size coming back. How the pieces fit together is one of the big questions facing the team over the summer and leading up to the season opener in Moscow on August 28.
Ben Lothspeich (6’1”, 220, Sr), Creikor Paris (5’10”, 220, Sr) and Tyrel Cullin (6’1”, 175, Sr) are among the candidates to fill roles along the offensive and defensive front. Tristan Roberts (6’0”, 160, Jr) and Bobby Remington (5’10”, 200, Jr) also have the frame to grow into a spot for the Bulldogs.
On offense, those players will be in charge of protecting senior quarterback Layton Harris. Harris was second-team All-Central Idaho League as a junior and, though he doesn’t have Wilson, he has Parks – an all-conference selection at receiver – as a target.
Who takes the place of Wilson is also a big question for Grangeville. Does Lindsley, who has the size (6’1”, 205) to be a bruising ball carrier in the CIL, take a more-active role in the offense? Is it Jack Lawrence (5’9”, 160, Sr)? Jake Kaschmitter (5’11, 195, Sr)? Someone else?
Whoever it is, he’s going to be asked to produce against a difficult schedule that includes book-ending contests against 4A opponents.
After opening at Moscow, the Bulldogs will end the regular season at home against a good Sandpoint team on October 24. In between, Grangeville will face Clarkston (WA) during its non-conference schedule before tackling its two CIL games.
With just three teams currently in the CIL, there’s a lot of pressure on a two-week stretch in October when Grangeville goes to St. Maries before returning home to host rival Orofino. With those two games coming later in the season, Lindsley and his staff have six weeks (including the bye week) to fill in those blanks before conference play in preparation for the state playoffs.
If the Bulldogs can stay healthy, take care of the ball on offense and create turnovers on defense, they’ll have a good chance to reach the 2A state quarterfinals – at least – for the fifth consecutive season.
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