Team Preview:
Written by: Matt Harris

Last season, Teton featured plenty of the ‘E’ word – experience.

This season, they will feature a lot of the ‘Y’ word – youth.

The 2017 Teton Redskins featured a plethora of seniors that had large impacts on the program. In 2018, a new albeit smaller group of seniors will try to build on what was accomplished last year.

Head coach Brody Birch, now in his 15th season leading Teton, will be challenged with the task of filling the positions left open by graduating seniors while finding a way to build on the small amount of momentum they found towards the end of the season.

Last year, the team fought for their playoff lives on the final day of the regular season against South Fremont. They ended up victorious in a major way, defeating the Cougars 56-26 and clinching the state’s wild-card berth. A spirited loss to eventual state champion Fruitland ended their season, but also gave them a little something moving forward to this year.

Dusty Hess will lead the way from under center, with Jeremiah Otto at his side in the running back position. Look for Carson Reilly to be a factor a wide receiver. Ethan Berry will anchor the offensive line.

“We will be a lot quicker than last year, but not as big,” said Birch. “We believe we’ll be improved in the passing game.”

Defensively, Reilly and Hess will man the secondary while Otto and Berry anchor the linebacking corps. Birch said he anticipates their speed to be a strong point of the unit and that there should be improvement in defending the inside run.

“We are excited about our team chemistry, coachable kids, and a lot of young eager players,” he said. “Our young players need to mature fast and stay healthy.”

Teton will face an 8-game schedule in 2018, kicking off Week 1 against cross-mountain rival Jackson Hole of Wyoming. They then travel to Ashton to take on North Fremont on Aug. 31 in what has developed into a fun rivalry between the two schools.

September features three consecutive home games for Teton, beginning on Sept. 7 when they host West Jefferson. Last year’s matchup against the Panthers featured 110 points scored between the two teams. The Redskins will then host Salmon on Sept. 14 before welcoming defending 2A state champion Declo to Driggs on Sept. 21. That contest will be senior night for Teton.

The conclusion of the regular season will see Teton on the road for their final three games. They play at Snake River on Sept. 28 before opening conference play at Sugar-Salem on Oct. 5. Following a bye week, the Redskins will play in St. Anthony against South Fremont in what is sure to be a very important, live-or-die, conference game.