Written by: Brandon Baney
In 2022, a young Preston squad showcased an offense with plenty of pop, averaging nearly 21 points per game.
The problem, though, was Preston’s defense, which allowed an average of 40 points per contest.
Second-year head coach Craig Cunningham is seeking a little more balance in 2023. “Last year, we were very inexperience,” he said. “This year, we have a lot of players returning.”
Highlighting the list of returns is Preston’s entire offensive line, a group of five seniors that will lead the way. Micah Perry, Brenten Hough, Brandon Lindhardt, Parker Bodrero and Zabian Mendoza will be tasked with paving the way for All-Conference running back Karson Winder.
Preston said goodbye to the exciting passing duo of quarterback Owen Judd and wide receiver Kade Lords. “They both committed to play at the College of Idaho following their LDS missions,” Cunningham said. “It’s going to be hard to replace that level on talent.”
On that note, Cunningham said that although Winder made his bones at running back last year, he could also play quarterback and wide receiver this year due to his tremendous athletic ability.
There’s no question where Winder will line up on defense, though. He and senior Brackin Ward will form the nucleus of the Indians’ linebackers; both picked up All-Conference honors on defense a year ago.
Cunningham has worked tirelessly in the offseason, hitting the hallways at Preston High to shake loose any athletes that could help his squad. Mission accomplished, as a number of athletes from Preston’s top-notch basketball program are coming out to play football. “We have several players returning to play football after not playing last year,” Cunningham said.
Junior quarterback Reggie Larsen, senior receiver/defensive back Klayton Hobbs and junior receiver/defensive end Cruz Harris are among the new recruits. Cunningham is hopeful that by having more athletes available, some of Preston’s defensive woes can be solved. “We need to improve on everything defensively,” he said. “We gave up big plays and a lot of points per game last year.”
Preston plays in the three-team Southern Idaho Conference. Century is in a similar position to Preston, working with lower numbers and inexperienced players. Pocatello, meanwhile, lost a lot to graduation and will have to reload, making the opportunity to move up in the standings ripe for the picking.
Cunningham thinks his team can get there, but “staying health is always the key.”