Written by: Will Hoenike
Give Lewis County head coach Monty Moddrell some credit here. He knows what lies ahead of him and the rest of the 1A Division 2 Whitepine League in 2023.
“I think everyone knows where we stand,” said Moddrell, entering his eighth season as the program’s head coach. “That it is a battle for that second playoff berth which make those games in October that much more meaningful.”
He’s referring to two-time defending state champion Kendrick which, as it has been well-documented, is still loaded, led by reigning 1A Division 2 Idaho Player of the Year Ty Koepp. It’s a team that most have locked in to the top seed coming out of District 2 for the state playoffs at the end of the season.
However, Moddrell’s Eagles (a football cooperative team between Nezperce and Highland of Craigmont) appear well-positioned to make some noise as well. Lewis County won six games last season despite losing do-everything superstar Ty Hambly to a knee injury in week three, earning the aforementioned second playoff berth.
“I am excited to see how this team approaches this season when it felt like for most of last year they were in shock that we had lost our star and had to play catch-up,” Moddrell explained. “I think this group realizes that they can be as good, if not better, than last year’s team.”
Lewis County features a strong offensive front, led by seniors Nic Kirkland and Ty Goeckner. Sophomore Clay Buchannan will step into a key role – center – to replace steady veteran Jasper McCorkle, who graduated last spring.
“We have what I consider to be one of our best offensive lines in a long time,” he said. “These guys will forge a path for our bowling ball made of butcher knives, Gage Crow. We also have some speed in the backfield with Marcus Langner and Jace Cronce to balance some of that between-the-lines, downhill running.”
Senior Noah Watson and junior Trevor Knowlton will also factor into the ground game as effective, run-blocking tight ends as well as pass-catching targets when junior quarterback Aiden McLeod drops back to throw.
The Eagles return the core of a good defense. As a group, Lewis County allowed 135 points over eight of its games last season, an average of less than 17 points per game. The other game on the schedule – close your eyes, Eagle fans – was a midseason home game against Kendrick, who dropped 80 points that day. That goes to demonstrate how good Kendrick was last season as the Tigers were able to do what virtually no one else could do: expose the Lewis County defense.
The defensive strength will start, like the offense, upfront. Specifically, nose guard Nic Kirkland.
“He may not have the stats to show for it, but he is a constant disrupter in the backfield,” Moddrell said. “Nic plays with passion and has an incredible motor.”
He’ll be flanked by Goeckner and Knowlton on the defensive line in front of Crow at linebacker, which should cause plenty of problems for the teams on Lewis County’s schedule.
The Eagles split their home games between the two communities – one in Nezperce and two in Craigmont – but it is the four road games that could ultimately define the team’s season. Lewis County will play five road games this season, including a game at District 3 champion Council and, of course, at Kendrick. It’ll also have to navigate tricky road contests at Cascade, at Tri-Valley, and a season-ending Whitepine contest in Weippe against Timberline.
It’s not difficult to foresee a scenario where that regular-season finale on October 20 is for the second playoff berth out of the Whitepine. Timberline, like Lewis County, returns strong performers in key spots. A potential X-factor, so to speak, will be the growth of each squad’s new faces.
“As a staff, we are excited to see a great class of Freshmen coming in this year,” Moddrell said of his fresh faces. “They all had a great Spring camp and showed a ton of potential. We will have to see how they acclimate to big-boy football.”