3A District 5: Perennial power Pirates retooled and ready to go; Marsh Valley back in action

EASTERN IDAHO — After two one-sided losses and a forfeit, Marsh Valley canceled the remainder of its 2025 varsity football season. Now, the program is back and looking to show opponents, once again, what Eagle football is all about.

“Our kids are just jacked. They’re ready to play varsity football again,” head coach Jared Michaelson told EastIdahoSports.com.

Michaelson explained what led to last season’s cancellation, saying the Eagles began the season with an especially small roster. And after suffering a few injuries early in the season, Marsh Valley met for its Monday meeting after a 44-8 loss to North Fremont with just 12 players, and a few of them were injured. Michaelson said that the coaches and players discussed options and decided canceling the remainder of the season was “the best option for everybody.”

This year, with the entire senior class has returned and been rejuvenated by 11 freshmen, the Eagles are back to a full convocation.

“We’re looking pretty good,” Michaelson said. “We started our camp with 41 kids — we’ve lost a couple, but we have 36 or 37 kids, so enough for two full teams. … We’re back to playing football, and trying to put last year behind us.”

As for the expectations coming into the season, Michaelson said that the program has not changed its goal — Marsh Valley still expects to win.

“We didn’t limit our expectations just because we had a down year,” the coach said. “I don’t think our expectations have changed at all. We’ve got a strong senior class. … The nice thing about last year is, they got a whole year to develop without any pressure.”

Michaelson went on to add: “If you think about, we’ve had a year to practice. Last year, we had, basically, eight scrimmages.”

For the 11 seniors on the roster specifically, this season presents a special opportunity

“They feel like they need to prove that last season was a fluke, that that’s not what Marsh Valley football is,” Michaelson said.

And those seniors, because they played in just two varsity games last year, are an overall unknown to most teams and fans around the state. But, as Michaelson put it, “we’ve got talent everywhere.”

Senior running back Luke Schroeder recently set the state squat record for his weight class and is a very powerful runner. Senior Carter Goodworth will spell Schroeder while also taking snaps at tight end. And wide receiver Kash Fullmer gives the Eagles some explosiveness on the outside. Defensively, Marsh Valley will be led by senior linebacker Preston Guthrie and sophomore safety Marcus Evans.

The revamped Eagles open their season Friday, when they host the Bear Lake Bears.

Aberdeen Tigers

Coach: Derek Jolley, third season

Last season: 7-4 overall, 2-2 conference

Impact players: Aksel Ortiz, sr., OL/DL; Jake Harris, sr., OL/DL; Adan Valdez, sr., RB/LB; Isaac Driscoll, sr., QB/DB

NOTES: Aberdeen qualified for the state tournament last year and beat Priest River in the first round before being eliminated by Ririe in the semifinals. … Will be without statistical and emotional leader, quarterback Lupe Ortiz, who graduated last season after leading the Tigers in rushing the last three seasons. Replacing Ortiz this season will be senior Isaac Driscoll, who averaged nearly 45 yards per game last season. … Will return two All-State offensive linemen, Aksel Ortiz and Jake Harris, both of whom were also All-Conference defensive players. … The Tigers will start their season at home on Friday with a game against D6 opponent Salmon.

Malad Dragons

Coach: Brady Price, third season

Last season: 3-6, 1-3

Impact players: Easton Green, sr., QB/DB; Drake Morrison, sr., RB/LB; Braxden Kaufman, sr., TE/LB

NOTES: Qualified for playoffs, were eliminated in the first round by West Jefferson. … Malad will return the leading passer, Easton Green, from last year, along with his top two targets, Parker Price and Kyson Willie. But the running game will take a hit, with the graduation of leading rusher Holdan Tubbs, who also led the team with seven total touchdowns. Second-leading rusher from a year ago, Drake Morrison, will take over the primary ball-carrier role. … In addition to his duties as quarterback, Green was named a First-Team All-Conference defensive back last year. Morrison, at running back, and linebacker Braxden Kaufman were each selected as Second-Team All-Conference players last year. The Dragons will open their season at home against American Falls on Friday.

Marsh Valley Eagles

Coach: Jared Michaelson, third season

Last season: 0-3 (canceled season after three games due to lack of players)

Impact players: Luke Schroeder, sr., RB/LB; Carter Goodworth, sr., TE/RB/DB; Marcus Evans, so., S/RB; Kash Fullmer, sr., WR/DB

NOTES: Played just two varsity games last season, finished 2024 season with a 5-4 record. … Do not have a returning player who has scored a varsity touchdown. … The Eagles will start their season Friday night against Bear Lake.

Soda Springs Cardinals

Coach: James Poole, first season

Last season: 1-7, 0-4

Impact players: Zayden Garbett, sr., WR/DB; Carson Cook, jr., OL; Blake Maughan, jr., WR/LB

NOTES: Soda Springs finished the 2025 season with an interim head coach following the resignation of first-year coach Colby Fangman. This will be the program’s first year under new head coach James Poole, who was previously the head coach at Canyon Ridge and assistant coach at Sugar-Salem. … Senior Zayden Garbett led the team last year in receiving yards and total touchdowns last year and was named a First-Team All-Conference wide receiver. Offensive lineman Carson Cook was an All-Conference Second-Teamer a year ago, while Blake Maughan was an All-Conference Honorable Mention linebacker. … The Cardinals will open their season on the road Friday against American Falls.

West Side Pirates

Coach: Tyson Moser, 18th season

Last season: 8-2, 4-0

Impact players: Drake Sage, sr., RB/LB; Will Hurren, sr., RB/LB; Ezra Benavidez, sr., TE/DL

NOTES: One of the winningest programs in the state since the promotion of head coach Tyson Moser from assistant coach. The Pirates won state championships in 2010, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 under Moser’s leadership. … Will be led by two-way star senior Drake Sage, who was a First-Team All-State (and All-Conference) selection at running back and Second-Team All-State (First-Team All-Conference) selection at linebacker. He averaged 142.2 rush yards per game and scored 11 touchdowns last year. … Defense will also be anchored by All-Conference Honorable Mention linebacker Will Hurren and defensive lineman Ezra Benavidez. … West Side will open its season at home Friday against Snake River.