Written by: Brandon Baney
Burley High School has been playing football for a long time, but these days the Bobcats have the feeling of a new squad.
A year ago, Cameron Andersen took the head coaching job at Burley after a long and successful career at Gooding. Along with his hiring came a fresh coat of paint for everything related to the Bobcats' program, down to a revised team logo.
The results have Burley fans brimming with excitement, and for good reason. In his first year on the Bobcat sidelines, Andersen helped deliver Burley's first winning season since 2013.
The Bobcats went 6-4 and qualified for the Class 4A postseason a year ago behind a high-octane offense. Burley averaged a state-best 48.6 points per game behind quarterback Caleb Loveland. Loveland led all of Idaho in passing yards, throwing for 3,113 yards and 34 touchdowns.
It didn't hurt that Loveland had talented wide receiver Gatlin Bair to throw to. Bair had over 1,000 yards himself, and is one of Idaho's most heralded football recruits in recent memory. Bair recently committed to playing for Boise State.
Alas, only one half of that dynamic duo is back, as Loveland departed via graduation. Also gone are leading rusher Ramsey Trevino, along with Loveland's second- and third-leading receivers, Jacob Williams and Kalil Schroeder.
With so many toys missing from the toy box this year, opposing teams will do everything they can to contain Bair. "We will always get a unique look based on how opponents want to cover Gatin," Andersen said. "In Year 2 of our offense, we want to open up the rest of the playbook, including more from the tight end position and more running with the QB."
Despite the new wrinkles on offense, Andersen reminds us, "We will always play with fast pace and tempo and use every inch of the field from sideline to sideline, and vertically."
Three offensive lineman return in seniors Parker Hanks, Korbin Story and Parker Wilson. Juniors Micheal Martinez, Sager Lynch and Damien Ulloa will all compete for playing time up front as well.
They'll open holes for senior Benjamin Clapier and junior Bodee Coombes at running back. In addition to Bair, top receiving threats include seniors Braxtyn Bowen and Sawyer Kondel, and juniors Kendrix Kobbe and Miguel Martinez. Senior Andrei Herrera and junior Caleb Strunk will line up at tight end.
All of those players have a great opportunity to shine with defenses so focused on stopping Bair. "We need to be more consistent running the ball in a light box and challenging defensive schemes that double- and triple-team Gatlin by winning our other one-on-one matchups," Andersen said.
The new field general tasked with leading the Burley offense is junior Mack Jensen. Jensen has been working tirelessly throughout the summer to hone his craft, and expectations are high.
For as explosive as Burley's offense was in 2022, oftentimes every last point was needed. The Bobcats' defense allowed 41.7 points per contest, and Andersen said that can't happen again.
"We need improvement everywhere, all of the places," he said. "We need to be consistent in our alignment and assignment, positionally aware of situations, tackle more consistently in one-on-one and group situations, take the ball away more consistently, and have better pursuit to the ball."
Bair will lend a hand on defense at safety. He'll be joined in the secondary by Kondel, Clapier, Braxtyn Bowen, Troy Fukuji, Mark Loveland and Talyn Guzman.
Herrera will factor in at linebacker, along with seniors Bryce Peterson and Jay HOlt, and junior Bodey Bowen.
The defensive line features Hanks, Story, Wilson, Brock Terry and Zach Hobbs.
There is a slight opening in this year's Great Basin Conference, as Minico, the league champ the past two seasons, graduated one of its largest senior classes in school history. Twin Falls, Burley and Canyon Ridge are all lining up to take their best shot.
Traditionally, whoever plays the best defense has won this conference. But with an all-time great like Gatlin Bair, Burley is proving you can win with offense, too.