Written by: Brandon Baney

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. That’s how the Firth football team has been feeling lately, as the Cougars have played in the last three Class 2A state championship teams. Every time, Firth enters as a hopeful romantic, convinced that this is the year that they find true love. But every year, their fate is cruelly the same.

In our results-oriented world, it’s easy to dwell on the three championship losses and feel somewhat unfulfilled. But what about the journey? Consider: Firth has gone 25-10 the past three years, and a sparkling 8-3 in the postseason. The three losses, well…that shouldn’t define what this Firth program has done.

All of this buildup is to illustrate how motivated the Cougars are to not only return to the final game of the year, but to finish the job.

Second-year head coach Rigo Vasquez has a good nucleus to work with. Junior Darrell Vasquez is expected to replace three-year starter Gage Vasquez at quarterback. His top target will be junior Fisher Arnold, who started down the stretch as a sophomore a year ago. Junior Chase Shook is another talented weapon at tight end.

The offensive and defensive lines will be paced by Garrett Nelson and Tom Larsen. Shook will chip in at linebacker, and Vasquez and Arnold will provide help in the secondary.

Firth’s schedule starts with a bang, as the Cougars will travel to arch-nemesis West Side. The Pirates have defeated Firth in two of the three aforementioned championship matchups. After a second road game at Soda Springs, the Cougars’ revenge tour continues with a home game with Bear Lake, the defending 2A champs and the latest team to turn away Firth in the title match. A final non-conference matchup with perennial District 4 power Declo then gives way to Nuclear Conference play.

Firth’s stiffest challenge figures to be from North Fremont. The Cougars will travel to Ashton to face the Huskies on October 13th in a game that could decide the regular season conference title, and a potential first round bye in the postseason.

As Firth gears up for another season, don’t be surprised if the Cougars are playing for the 2A championship yet again. And if they should get there, Firth can change three years of frustration with one breakthrough. Either way, the Cougars will be a fun team to watch in 2023.