Written by: Will Hoenike
The 2022 story of the Garden Valley Wolverines was centered around a stifling defense which helped create an opportunistic offense that led to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the 1A Division 2 state semifinals.
The 2023 story could very well end deep into the state playoffs once again, but perhaps for a different reason.
Garden Valley won its first six games last season, allowing a total – TOTAL – of 42 points along the way. The group posted three shutouts in those first six games and then held two very good football teams, Lewis County (8) and Mullan/St. Regis (6), to 14 combined points in the first two rounds of the 1A Division 2 playoffs. It was a special group.
However, two-way All-State standout Jaiden Hunt has graduated. So has Aaron Nokes, so has Gavin Kelly, and so has Trayson Corn. It takes eight to play football at this level but make no mistake. Those four were the heart of that incredible Wolverine defense.
Look ahead to 2023. How do you start over when you lose that many key contributors on one side of the ball? Let’s start by looking at the other side.
Tacoma Kelly, the 2022 Long Pin Conference Offensive Player of the Year is back. He passed for over 900 yards and ten touchdowns last fall as a junior, while leading the team with 821 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. Kaden Zimmer is back. He caught a team-high 38 passes, including seven touchdowns, en route to being voted second team All-State by coaches across Idaho. Junior Trevor Corn, a man of many hats who had over 500 total yards and seven touchdowns on offense, is back. Max Yearsley is primed to step into a larger role after running for nearly 400 yards in a part-time role.
“We have speed and athleticism,” said longtime Garden Valley head coach Jason Yearsley. “Lead by Tacoma Kelly and Kaden Zimmer, we have a run/pass threat. We have some younger guys coming into their own that will make a big difference this season.”
The Wolverines have a stout defensive line in Tyler Easterday flanked by Trustin Brown and Trevor Corn but the firepower for this fall’s purple and yellow appears to lie on the offensive side of the ball.
That’s not to say the team’s offense was an anvil tied around the defense’s neck last year. Garden Valley was held below 45 points just three times all season, exceeding 60 points in each of its first four games. It was proficient. It was explosive.
But this year, it could be better. And it could take center stage in the Long Pin.
The defense will need some retooling. The front line looks sound, especially with depth pieces like Rex Fackrell and Kendrew Ward ready to jump in and contribute. But there are other areas with jobs to be earned.
“We have big shoes to fill in the middle,” Yearsley said. “We need guys to step up and take over where we left off last season.”
The Wolverines open the season by facing three consecutive teams that each reached at least the quarterfinals of the 1A Division 2 playoffs last season, starting with Dietrich, the state runner-up that toppled Garden Valley in the semifinals, 72-20. Knowing how strong Garden Valley’s defense was last season, that should really highlight how good the Blue Devils were in 2022.
The stretch drive in Long Pin play will be critical for Garden Valley. The team will host Horseshoe Bend and Council before traveling to Tri-Valley to conclude the regular season. Each game will likely have playoff implications so staying focused week to week in the Long Pin Conference will be a key to everyone’s survival, not just the Wolverines.
“We have a lot of guys who have played together and found success for a long time,” Yearsley concluded. “I am excited to see them jump to this level and learn to lead at this level.”