Written by: Keller Sherman

Caldwell’s decision to go independent did not see any wins in 2022 and only one of the Cougars’ defeats came by a single possession. In an effort to turn the tables and end the prolonged losing streak, Caldwell has hired Kip Crofts away from Payette to see if his rebuilding magic can yield any results. Caldwell enters the 2023 campaign on a 34 game losing streak with the last win coming in October 2018 against Mountain Home.

The Cougars’ decision to play an independent schedule in 2023 means that they will not be eligible for the state playoffs, but it does allow them to play any opponent that is willing to face them and not have to go through the gauntlet of a regular 4A Southern Idaho Conference schedule. That said, Caldwell will still play 4A SIC opponents Vallivue, Ridgevue, and Columbia in 2023.

The next two-year classification cycle begins in 2024. As things stand currently, Caldwell has 5A enrollment numbers which means a move to 5A will occur next season unless a petition to play down at the 4A classification is approved, which is expected as the IHSAA has allowed the Cougars to play at the 4A level with 5A enrollment figures since 2011. It still remains unknown whether Caldwell will continue playing as an independent in football beyond 2023.

Kip Crofts will face his old school in his debut with the Cougars as Payette travels to Caldwell in a “week zero” game. The Cougars play their next three on the road which features two trips to the Magic Valley to face Canyon Ridge and Buhl. In the middle of these is a quick trip just over the Oregon border to Ontario.

The Cougars follow that up with a four game homestand that features tilts against Ridgevue, Nyssa (Oregon), Vallivue, and Mountain Home. A road game at Columbia concludes the regular season.

Will Kip Crofts be able to make Caldwell competitive again? He rebuilt Payette from the ground up during his tenure there and faces perhaps an even more challenging rebuilding job in Caldwell. After four straight winless seasons, just one win would be a major step forward for this program.

While there is a long way to go for Caldwell to be competitive again, a roster that has not won a single football game would be greatly inspired by a win and create a sense of motivation and inspiration for the program not seen in years. This group of seniors will set the tone for the future of the program. Winning a game or two or even three would go a long way in Caldwell’s quest to be competitive for years to come.