PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: American Falls appears ready to finally take the next step after years of struggles

The high school football season in Idaho begins on Aug. 23. So to get you ready, we’re counting down with at least one local team preview every day until kickoff.

Up next: The American Falls Beavers

2023 IN REVIEW:

3-7 (last place in Class 3A South East Idaho Conference)Lost 69-27 to Timberlake in first round of Class 3A state playoffs

COACH’S RESUME:

Head Coach: Tim Hoppe, third seasonOverall record: 3-15Assistant coaches: Jason Brower, Nate Gugelman, Austin Williams, Lucas Sprague, Luis Cervantes

RETURNING STARTERS

9 on offense10 on defense

A 3-7 season would have been a disappointment to most programs.

But for American Falls, it was finally a step in the right direction. It snapped a 13-game losing streak − the worst in the state at the time − was above .500 at some point in a season for the first time in seven years and made the postseason for the first time since 2020.

“It was a big turnaround, one that kind of dusted off the old way of doing things in American Falls that hadn’t really been working around here,” American Falls head coach Tim Hoppe said. “There was a lot of negativity in the program, which is understandable when you never win games.”

The record was actually a bit misleading.

The Beavers had a shot to really win all but two games. They lost three games by just nine points or less. If you throw out losses to Teton, which played for a state championship, and the playoff games against Timberlake, where American Falls had to sit on a bus for nearly nine hours, its point differential was just 9.8. It was a far cry from losing every game but two by double digits and by an average of more than 28 points per game a year ago.

“We had some ups and some downs, but the downs weren’t bottom of the barrel like they were previously,” Hoppe said. “We had to fight to change the culture of the program to get more positive kids and a more positive attitude in.”

Hoppe and company still have their work cut out for them, though. This is still a program that’s finished dead last in the league five times over the last seven years, hasn’t won a playoff game in 28 years and is in the midst of 11 consecutive losing seasons.

But there’s reason to believe that the Beavers may be ending one or all of those unfortunate streaks this season. Especially since they’re essentially bringing everyone back, including quarterback Dax Brower. The senior completed 54% of his passes for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns to just three interceptions a year after tearing the ACL in his right knee for the second time. He’ll be a captain for the second straight year.

“He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, which was the biggest difference from two years ago to last year was cutting down on the turnovers. Dax was a big reason for that,” Hoppe said. “The kids love him and they have a lot of respect in the locker room for him.

“We’ll definitely put a lot more on his shoulders this year because we’re a little thin at running back this year. But we got plenty of receivers to throw the ball to.”

This includes Austin Adair. The 6-foot-1-inch, 175-pounder was Brower’s favorite target with 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. He was a playmaker on defense, as well. Adair, who will play both linebacker and strong safety, was the team’s leading tackler (61).

But his speed and athleticism isn't just limited to the gridiron.

With only two weeks left in the season, Adair went out for track. He ended up not only making state in both the 400-meter run and the high jump, but making the podium in the 400 with a sixth-place finish.

“Austin’s definitely the big-play threat,” Hoppe said. “He’s always around the ball, offense or defense. So he’ll be a big part of the season for sure.”

So will Zak Grigg.

The junior was primarily a running back last year with nearly 600 yards and four touchdowns. But he’s going to move over to wide receiver. Grigg racked up 281 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 catches at the position. However, he’ll return to free safety where Grigg logged 51 tackles and three interceptions.

“He’s a hybrid type guy,” Hoppe said. “He’s a kid we can move around anywhere. He’s also played quarterback at the JV level, So he could throw the ball a little bit.”

Michael Torres will take over the ball-carrying duties after handling most of the blocking responsibilities at wingback before his season-ending injury in 2023. Hoppe said he was the team’s biggest loss. Torres missed the final five games of the season after separating his shoulder on a hit following a late whistle.

American Falls lost all five of those games.

Torres will run behind an offensive line that returns all five of its starters. They include seniors Benson Taylor, Cash Williams and Adrian Carvajal, who Hoppe also called his “best defensive lineman” last season. But Carvajal will be moving over to linebacker on that side of the ball after developing some speed with the track team in the spring. He’s 205 pounds, but can still run the 100-meter dash in under 12 seconds.

Junior Ty Smith, who was the second-leading tackler (56) will be playing alongside him at linebacker. Rounding out the defense are junior corners Gavin Adamson and Kahlen Hernandez, who both started last year.

So will it all lead to the Beavers, who have only posted four winning seasons since 2004, taking another much-needed step?

“I think we’re a lot better than we were last year. I definitely expect us to compete for the district title this year,” said Hoppe whose team hasn’t won one in at least 21 years. “There’s two less playoff spots to fight for this year, but I think we’ll be in pretty handedly.”