Photo By Wes Turner - #16 Kohl Profit
Written by Brandon Hill
A four-game losing skid kept Mountain Home from reaching the postseason, as a tough conference slate got the best of the Tigers late last year.
During the first half of 2019, the Tigers posted valuable wins against Kimberly, Pocatello and Wood River, scoring above 20 in each contest. But an offensive drought spelled doom for Mountain Home’s playoff hopes, encapsulated by a pair of 50-6 losses to Twin Falls and eventual 3A State Champion Sugar-Salem.
But sixth-year Head Coach Jim Clark hopes to turn the tides of the Tigers’ recent performance.
“Honestly, our team has shown tremendous growth as a whole,” Clark said. “We have added a lot of athletism and speed.”
The Tigers return a host of talent that helped them notch those three valuable wins last season. Senior quarterback Jaden Abrego looks to lead an offense through an improved 2020 campaign. The Tigers averaged just 17 points per game last year, a trend Abrego and senior running back Kolh Profit look to reverse.
Abrego will step in for since graduated quarterback Mykal Castillo, last year’s signal-caller. Clark said Abgrego has fit in nicely to the starting lineup this offseason after seeing limited action in 2019.
On defense, increasing the team’s overall speed has been a focal point this summer, Clark said. The Tigers struggled on that end of the ball, allowing an average of 32 points per game, second-worst in the 4A Great Basin West Pod.
Abrego, while not attending to his quarterback duties, will help lock down the secondary at cornerback. Linebacker Louis Castillo, a first-team all-conference selection from a year ago.
Mountain Home opens against Burley Aug. 28 and closes the regular season once again against Sugar-Salem Oct. 23. Check back with IdahoSports.com for updated scores and schedules throughout the season.