Written by: Will Hoenike
The North Gem Cowboys have a nice core of players returning to the field in 2023, led by reigning Rocky Mountain Conference Defensive Player of the Year Rusty Hatch.
However, the potential of some younger players on the roster has head coach Corry Hatch gushing.
First, there’s sophomore RB/LB Luke Rindlisbaker – “Ready to join his family tradition of great players, he will be a big part of what we accomplish this year.”
Then, there’s sophomore RB/LB Craig Yost – “He will put a mark on our league.”
And also sophomore OL/DL Hayden Frandsen – “A strong kid that will factor into our success wherever he plays.”
Hatch makes no effort to hide what his team will do on offense. They’ll run. A lot. And then they’ll run some more. Last year’s team was inconsistent on offense, averaging over 50 points per game in wins, but were also shut out three times. The coaching staff expects a steadier performance in 2023.
“It is our execution that will decide our fate,” Hatch explained. “We have tough ball carriers. We have tough kids at the offensive line. Our triple option requires speed and I think we have it.”
Senior Mayson Jenkins and junior Lukky Welker will compete for snaps at the quarterback position. Frandsen will join All-Conference performer Evan O’Brian and junior Ryver Hayden along the offensive line to open lanes for the Cowboy running attack. As for who will carry the ball on offense, the quarterbacks will make the read to keep the ball on the option sometimes. Other times, it’ll be Rusty Hatch at fullback. Or Yost. Or Rindlisbaker. You get the point – North Gem’s option offense has, well, options.
“We return 95 percent of all offensive production from last year,” Hatch said. “With marginal improvement, we can be as explosive as we were in the past.”
The Cowboy defense needs to find consistency for the team to succeed this fall as well. Like the offense, there were good outings (held Clark County to eight points on September 15, 2022) and not-as-good outings (surrendered 100 points in its two conference losses to end the regular season). Hatch and defensive coordinator Scott Hayden have a strong group of linebackers to lead the way in 2023. Junior Rusty Hatch averaged more than 15 tackles per game last season while Welker averaged over ten stops per contest. As a freshman, Yost made 13 tackles per game.
If that sounds like a lot, it is. And it’s by design.
“In our 3-3 defense, we ask our linebackers to make all the tackles,” Hatch said. “With a year of experience, they should be better against both the run and in pass coverage. We have to hit hard and play with a chip on our shoulder.”
The District V/VI Rocky Mountain Conference looks like it’ll have a new feel in 2023. Last fall, the conference consisted of three teams: North Gem, Watersprings, and Rockland. A check of schedules this fall shows old friends returning to the schedule – Clark County (played as an independent in 2023), Mackay (co-op’ed with Challis on 2023), and Sho-Ban will all look to return to the RMC this fall. The Cowboys welcome the challenge of a larger, deeper conference.
“We never have the luxury of volume on our roster. If kids will come out, it makes all the difference,” Hatch concluded. “We will never back down. I will take whatever team we have out on that field Friday afternoon and bring our best. That is the Cowboy way.”