Written by: Keller Sherman
Snake River made winning a conference title look easy in 2022 as the Panthers defeated Marsh Valley and American Falls by a combined 63 points. However, they fell to Fruitland in their first game of the state playoffs and now, the competition in-conference will likely take a step up. The Eagles and Beavers are both expected to be improved and could give the Panthers a run for their money.
Payton Williams, Danny Molina, Tyler Matthews, Andy Sernia, Johnny Jones, Justin Wray, and Johnny Walker are key returning starters for the Panthers. Of these players, Matthews, Sernia, and Wray received all-conference honors.
Numerous all-conference selections from 2022 are gone, but head coach Jeff Dalley points to the loss of four offensive lineman as the departures that will hurt the most. Basketball standout Marcus Coombs comes in at wide receiver and is expected to make an immediate impact.
The Panthers utilize a balanced offense that sees the number of rushing and passing yards put up each game equal a majority of the time. Consistency is where the offense will look to improve.
The linebacker and defensive back positions are the strength of the Panther defense with Dalley giving praise to how those positions are fast and all over the field making plays. Getting the defense off the field on 3rd down will be an area the team looks to improve as Dalley wants to see more three and outs.
Dalley is excited to see how his players grow as the season progresses and how their contributions on the field evolve as well. Scoring is what Dalley tabs as the x-factor to Snake River’s success.
Snake River opens the 2023 campaign on the road at Richfield, Utah before returning home for back to back home tilts against Kimberly and Filer. The Panthers then hit the road for four straight games traveling to Soda Springs, South Fremont, Teton, and Marsh Valley. A two game homestead concludes the regular season with visits from American Falls and Preston.
The Panthers last won a state title in 2014 during Halley’s first stint as Snake River head coach. The veteran has his work cut out for him to end that drought. Can Snake River step up and challenge the likes of Sugar-Salem and Homedale to make that goal a reality in 2023? Getting past Marsh Valley and American Falls unscathed to win another conference title will be crucial as the Panthers seek a deep playoff run.