2025 in review:

• 6-5, 2-0 in 4A South East Idaho Conference
• Lost 55-6 to Sugar-Salem in Class 4A state quarterfinals

Coach’s resume:

• Head coach: Jeff Dalley, 5th season (second stint)
• Overall record: 82-44
• Assistant coaches: Ben Mathews, Damond Dance, Rich Dunn, Chris Hons, Tyler Porter, Shay Barron

Returning starters:

• 5 offense
• 5 defense

Three straight seasons. Three straight 6-5 records. Three straight quarterfinal exits.

For most programs, that kind of consistency would be a badge of honor. At Snake River, with 10 state titles hanging in the rafters — including two won by head coach Jeff Dalley himself (2011, ‘14) — it’s still not enough.

“I think we’re close. I think we’re getting close to getting over that hump,” Dalley said. “Those last couple years were good building years — getting kids the confidence to see that they could play with those upper teams.”

It didn’t always turn out that way. Sugar-Salem, which has won six of the last eight state championships, beat them by 30 and 49 points last season. Reigning state champion Homedale got the better of them by 25 points.

“We just got to be more consistent in games,” Dalley said. “A penalty at a certain spot kills a drive, a drop pass — we’ve got to do a better job of the little things. You can’t hurt yourself, and we do that too often.”

Snake River will have to do so with a younger roster this season, too. The Panthers graduated nine combined all-league players, leaving Dalley to replace much of last year’s production.

“We graduated a great group of kids, but we’ve got a good group coming back,” Dalley said. “We’ll have more mistakes than we’d want early on, but it’s a group that’s eager, and they’ve had success at different levels. When you have kids like that, you can see them putting in the time.”

Headlining that group is senior Owen Jones, a first-team all-league selection at both wide receiver/tight end and defensive line a year ago.

“Owen will be the face of the team this year,” Dalley said. “He’s a big kid, he’s ready to take on the leadership role, and we’re ready to use him in every possible way we can. He’s a matchup problem.”

Dalley plans to move Jones around the formation — tight end, receiver, even wingback — to get him the ball in space, while anchoring the defensive line on the other side.

Senior linebacker Jonas Bishop, also a first-team all-league pick, returns to anchor the middle of the defense and will see time at wingback on offense as well.

“He’s a big kid and likes to get in there and mix it up and be physical,” Dalley said.

At quarterback, junior Colt Baron steps in for graduated senior Bryden Mortensen.

“He’s excited to get his chance,” Dalley said. “He’s got good skills throwing the ball and running the offense, and he’s one of those kids who’s a football junkie and wants to be good at it.”

Baron will have some experienced hands around him. Junior Colt Thompson (running back/defensive back) and senior Kash Hendriks (tight end/defensive back) will both see expanded roles on offense this fall. Senior Gabe Young returns as the lone returning offensive lineman, joined by three juniors developing in the weight room, with one spot still up for grabs.

“We only go as far as those five take us,” Dalley said. “You can’t run the ball without them, and you can’t throw the ball without them.”

Whether that translates into the Panthers reclaiming their throne remains to be seen. Snake River hasn’t played for a state championship since 2017.

“We want to go into every game and compete and have a chance to win,” Dalley said. “I think we can be one step better than last year. We always want to win all our conference games, and hopefully we can steal a couple of the tough ones early. Then you get to the end of October and into November, and it’s anybody’s game — we just want a shot to go out there and see what we can do.”