Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Salmon River
2. Council
3. Cascade
4. Horseshoe Bend
Written by: Sven Alskog
With state runner-up Tri-Valley and a tough Garden Valley team both making the move to 2A this year, the Long Pin Conference has shrunk to a four-team league.
Entering the new season, Council and Salmon River are the favorites, with both programs capable of making playoff runs.
COUNCIL
Several key pieces graduated for the Lumberjacks in Long Pin Player of the Year Owen Hatfield, First Team All-Conference receiver/defensive back Garrison Zielinski, Second Team All-Conference tight end Wyatt Tharp and Honorable Mention All-Conference defensive back Carson Roberts. Hatfield, an All-Idaho pick as well, is now on the roster at College of Idaho as a safety.
While the losses are significant, Council’s stout defense that allowed just 14.3 points per game in 2025 should once again be stingy. No team in 1A football allowed fewer points last season.
“We lost six very important seniors and will be very excited to see the younger players and how they well they develop as well as what production they can create,” said head coach JC Tucker.
Having Long Pin Defensive MVP Remington Crowell back for his senior year to pair with All-Conference defensive end Wyatt Hatfield, All-Conference defensive back Jim Tucker and Honorable Mention All-Conference lineman James Yoakum will help with continuity.
The defensive line in particular will be a nightmare for opponents to face.
Offensively, expect Tucker to once again stack up the rushing yards while Crowell and a talented line clear the way. Both Tucker and sophomore Thaine Bauer can play quarterback. JR Conaway is a junior running back and defensive back who should play an important role on the team.
“Our offensive line and running the ball should be a strength,” said Coach Tucker. “We need to execute better.”
Beyond the conference slate, Council has one of the toughest schedules in the state with road games lined up at Kendrick, Prairie and Kamiah plus a semifinal rematch with Carey at home.
SALMON RIVER
For the first time since 2019, the Savages earned a trip to the state playoffs with a 6-4 season that included a 2-2 mark in the Long Pin.
Salmon River now looks to make it back-to-back playoff appearances behind a quality group for Ty Medley, who enters his eighth year as the head coach.
Talented quarterback Blake Shepherd is back for his senior campaign and will rely on the receiving duo of Gage Crump and Noah Cereghino when the Savages go to the air. The explosive offensive attack put up 43.5 points per contest a year ago. First Team All-Conference guard Kingston Pyle also returns along with junior tight end Hayes Pratt.
The Savages took part in multiple shootouts last season and will be putting in the work defensively to try to slow down some of the higher echelon offenses on the schedule this time around.
The game everyone has circled will take place in Riggins toward the end of October when Council comes to town. You can watch that game on IdahoSports.com.
CASCADE
Following a 40-6 handling of Wilder to kick off 2025, the Ramblers did not get back on the winning side of the scoreboard again on the way to a 1-8 season.
In the postseason conference honors, running back/defensive end Owen Howlett and guard/defensive lineman Noah Bailey were each named Honorable Mention picks. Howlett will be a senior and Bailey a junior this season.
As Mike LaCroix enters year two on the sideline in Cascade, an increase in the win total seems likely with multiple winnable games scattered throughout the schedule.
HORSESHOE BEND
After a one-year hiatus from playing a conference schedule, the Mustangs are back in the Long Pin under the direction of Richard Beyers.
Last season, Horseshoe Bend played an independent schedule of five games, highlighted by picking up wins against Wilder and the Garden Valley JV.
Gage Kennedy and Cole Gorski are a couple of names to follow for the Mustangs, who will be as mysterious as any team in the state during the early portion of the fall.