2025 in review:

• 2-8 (fourth place in 5A High Country Conference)
• Lost 49-15 to Hillcrest in first round of Class 5A playoffs

Coach’s resume:

• Head coach: Mike Messick, 1st season
• Overall record: 0-0
• Assistant coaches: Garrett Whitehead, Karl Bowcutt, Aaron Winder, Seth Pascoe, Randy Searle, Mike Balmforth, Braxton Balmforth, Taylor Lund, Jeff Austin, Treyce Jensen, CJ Eaton, Spencer Dye, Devan Dye, Adam Balmforth

Returning starters:

• 4 offense
• 4 defense

For the fourth time in as many years, Shelley football has a new head coach. Mike Messick, who has been with the program for nearly three non-consecutive decades, is taking the reins in 2026.

Messick is taking the job on a one-year basis and hopes to set a foundation for this new generation of Russets, who have not finished above .500 since 2021.

“That’s the goal is to work with a group of young coaches, or coaches maybe that don’t have quite as much experience and work with kids and players that maybe have had multiple people involved in their coaching career ... leave it better than when I showed up,” Messick told the Post Register.

“I think that just trying to establish who we are as a physical football team and that we don’t back down from anybody type of approach,” he added.

The physicality starts in the trenches with offensive and defensive lineman Alex Fackrell, a senior who will look to lead on both sides of the ball.

Behind him stands senior Alex Beck, who is back at quarterback after throwing for over 1,000 yards and gaining another 231 with his legs, accounting for 10 total touchdowns.

While the Russets did graduate their three leading rushers, Beck showed strong connections with junior wide receiver/linebacker Ryker Balmforth (13 catches, 156 yards in 2025) and senior Kyrev Hawker (17 catches, 150 yards in 2025).

Messick also knows that with a schedule this grueling, it is crucial to run the ball and control time of possession.

“I think that we’re playing in one of the best leagues — if not the best — league in the state,” Messick said. “... You’ve got to be up and get after it every single week and be on your top game to be competitive in this league.”

“I don’t think, in our league, any of those coaches are going to overlook anybody. I’ve worked with almost all of the coaches at [Blackfoot, Skyline and Hillcrest] ... I mean, those are great, great coaches. So, yes, maybe that’s something you could play on as the underdog,” he said.

More seniors in Jason Blakely and Aiden Carlson should have big roles at running back and linebacker and could exemplify to the younger players what it takes to play for Shelley.

Balmforth will have to have a particularly strong performance on defense, but a team-leading 45 total tackles bodes well for his junior-year progression.

Shallow numbers have been a problem for Messick and his staff, further adding to the weight upon Blakely, Carlson and Balmforth’s shoulders.

However, there is still a clear plan ahead.

“We need to really go out and try and recruit kids and try to get them to come out and be a part of what we’re doing,” Messick said. “I think that’s the first step, and then just really trying to simplify some things and get kids out and talk about being tough, hard-nosed football players,” he said.

Another tough schedule approaches for the Russets, but they will have a chance to earn some early East Idaho momentum with showdowns against Blackfoot, Idaho Falls and Sugar-Salem.