Photo By Team Submitted - #2 Conner Maloney
Written by Meredith Spelbring
Skyline High School varsity football Head Coach Scott Berger has led the Grizzlies for more than 12 years and seen his fair share of success with the program.
Coming off a 6-4 season and finishing second in the conference behind Blackfoot High School in the 2019 season, the Grizzlies will look to maintain last year’s momentum.
While the program has plenty of returning players from the 2019 team, Skyline will be looking to fill a critical gap now open — the loss of starting quarterback Cruz Taylor.
“Cruz Taylor at (quarterback) will be missed,” Berger said. “He was a dynamic player.”
A key piece of the Grizzlies offense in the upcoming season will be protecting the team’s new quarterback and preventing as many player injuries and health issues as possible, Berger said.
Coming in for Skyline to help establish the offense will be Connor Maloney and Eli Ames at the slot positions, according to Berger.
“We try to get them the ball in both the run game and pass game,” Berger said.
Running a speedy offense for both the pass and the run game will be a cornerstone piece of the team’s plan.
“We will continue to incorporate the spread and take what the defense gives us,” he said.
While the offensive side of the team will be making adjustments this season to fill the gaps from graduating players, the defense will return a veteran group of athletes.
“We have nine of the 11 starters back so we are expecting big things from the defense,” Berger said.
Of those returning players, Berger expects defensive lineman Brixton Gilbert, linebacker Karsen Jensen, and Christean Thomas to play a key role in the program’s success this season.
“We have experience at the defensive back position which is very important in our conference,” he said. “The (defensive line and linebacker) positions have some impact players.”
Check back with IdahoSports.com throughout the season for updated Grizzly scores and schedules.