Written by: Will Hoenike
After scoring over 400 points during the regular season, the Council Lumberjacks walked off their home field following a quarterfinal playoff matchup against Castleford with an unfamiliar feeling.
The final score – Castleford 6, Council 0.
A cold, wet, sloppy night on November 4, 2022, in Council, led to difficult playing conditions and, in the end, the visitors from District 4 made one more play than the Lumberjacks did.
Head coach Andy Glenn brings back plenty of talent from that team with the goal of repeating as the Long Pin Conference championship and, hopefully, advance deeper into the 1A Division 2 state playoffs than it did last season.
“We are veterans with a good base,” Glenn said. “I’m looking for this group to gel and make some noise.”
For Council, it starts upfront. The team returns all three starting offensive linemen, led by second team All-State honoree Nate Jordan. He’ll be joined upfront by senior Jaxon Thomas and junior Wade Vining. That bodes well for All-Conference running back Dahlton Bingham and fellow senior Mason Roberts, the team’s two running backs.
For the first time in four years, the team will break in a new quarterback. Gone is Josh Gipe, who had been the team’s starter the previous four seasons. Sophomore Owen Hatfield will look to fill that role and he’ll benefit from the veteran offensive line and running backs. His strong arm and athleticism can be used to exploit matchups, rather than carry the team, which should help him develop as the season progresses. Junior Decker McClin and sophomore Garrison Zeilinski will fill pass-catching roles when Council looks to attack down the field.
Defensively, the Lumberjacks will need to replace All-State star Wyatt Vining, who is now on the football roster at The College of Idaho. Despite being limited by injury as a senior, Vining had nine sacks in just six games.
Part of the solution may be younger brother Wade Vining. The younger Vining was an All-Conference selection along the offensive line but will see an expanded role on defense in 2023 at defensive end and linebacker. It’s part of what should be another stout defensive front as he’ll team with Jordan and Thomas along the defensive line in front of Roberts at linebacker.
“This group of young men will have to lead us,” Glenn said. “We have a good mesh of size, strength, and speed.”
Glenn is hoping to see his team continue to improve at closing out drives and getting opposing offenses off the field. It will be a challenge in what should be a talented Long Pin Conference. Garden Valley, Horseshoe Bend, and Tri-Valley all return ample explosive playmakers that could push any defense. Cascade and Salmon River are both developing programs that also have playmakers that need to be accounted for.
On top of that, the Lumberjacks have a daunting non-conference schedule. The team opens on August 25 against two-time defending 1A Division 2 state champion Kendrick. After facing Horseshoe Bend in a marquee Long Pin clash on September 8, the Lumberjacks will also play 1A Division 1 playoff participants Kamiah and Butte County.
They have their work cut out for them but, if they can stay healthy and continue to grow and develop as a team, they will have a good chance to charge down the stretch in October toward the 1A Division 2 state playoffs.