3A WIC football preview: Ranking the top contenders in a merry-go-round league

Consistency is not a word anyone would use to describe football in the 3A Western Idaho Conference. No team has won back-to-back league championships in 14 years, and every school has taken its turn atop the heap in the past 12 seasons.

Nampa Christian and Melba traded the crown the past four years, with Nampa Christian winning it last season and edging the Mustangs in the preseason coaches’ poll. But New Plymouth looms as a dark horse. Marsing is no longer an automatic win. And Parma, the last team to repeat, returns to the league with the latest reclassification round.

So who will take the title this year? We broke down each team’s chances below.

1. NAMPA CHRISTIAN

Last season: 6-3, 4-0 2A WIC

Playoffs: Lost to Melba 37-21 in quarterfinals

Coach: Daniel Jenkins, fifth season

Career record: 22-22

Base offense (coordinator): West coast (Jenkins)

Base defense (coordinator): 3-4 (Chris Glenn)

Key players: Matthew Nevarez, sr., RB; Tyler Szilagyi, sr., WR; Mason McDaniel, sr., LB; Thomas Duerre, sr., S

Outlook: The reigning league champs saw a six-game winning streak snapped by rival Melba in the playoffs last year. But the Trojans are still reaping the benefits of a youth movement started two years ago with 15 returning starters (eight offense, seven defense) as they chase their first playoff win since 2015.

Nevarez (469 rushing yards, four TDs) headlines the offense as Nampa Christian’s leading rusher each of the past two seasons. Four of five offensive linemen return to clear the way for him, and the Trojans bring back several experienced receivers. But they enter camp looking for a quarterback after the graduation of Aiden Thompson, the conference player of the year .

McDaniel (106 tackles) highlights the defense after leading the team in tackles two years in a row. Jenkins said loads of experience on that side of the ball will allow Nampa Christian to attack opponents from all angles.

2. MELBA

Last season: 8-3, 3-1 2A WIC

Playoffs: Lost to Declo 38-16 in semifinals

Coach: Marc Caron, first season

Career record: 0-0

Base offense (coordinator): Gun-T (Caron/Lucas Mills)

Base defense (coordinator): 4-3 (Steve Mitchell)

Key players: Rylan Frank, sr., QB/DB; Brendan Svetich, sr., RB/LB; Korey Magdaleno, sr., TE/DE; Dylan Fahey, jr., FB/DE

Outlook: The Mustangs lost a loaded senior class, including two college-level players, after reaching the state semifinals for the second time in five years. Then they went through an offseason coaching change with Caron moving up from an assistant position, and only nine starters return (four offense, five defense). But Melba’s identity won’t change much.

A physical running game remains the Mustangs’ calling card. Franks steps under center, ensuring he’ll touch the ball on every play after serving a jack-of-all-trades role last year. He’ll pair with Svetich, a converted fullback, to form a potent one-two punch.

That physical mentality extends to the defense, where Fahey and Magdaleno lead a strong front seven after ranking first and second on the team in sacks a year ago. But a lot of new faces will need to replace a lot of multiyear starters on both sides of the ball.

3. NEW PLYMOUTH

Last season: 3-6, 0-4 2A WIC

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Tony Cade, second season

Career record: 16-32

Base offense (coordinator): Speed option (Cade)

Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Ben Renteria)

Key players: Payton Travis, sr., RB/LB; Kaden Hawker, sr., WR/DB; Payton Zigga, sr., OL/MLB; Troy Swain, jr., WR/DB

Outlook: After missing the playoffs four years in a row, the Pilgrims look to bounce back into contention with 11 returning starters (four offense, seven defense) in Cade’s second season at the helm.

Travis (899 rushing yards, seven TDs) remains the cornerstone in the backfield after an impressive junior season. Junior Cameron Mowder steps in as a first-year starter at quarterback, but Cade said New Plymouth’s passing game should hit another gear this year with a deep receiver group.

The Pilgrims install a new defense this year. But with Hawker, last year’s leading tackler, and Zigga, a second-team all-state linebacker , back on the field, New Plymouth ought to remain stout in the secondary and linebacker spots.

T-4. MARSING

Last season: 5-4, 2-2 2A WIC

Playoffs: Lost to Melba 34-14 in first round

Coach: Mike Foristiere, first season

Career record: 23-65

Base offense (coordinator): I-gun (shared)

Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (shared)

Key players: Luke Steinmeyer, sr., TE/LB; Jace Chadez, sr., QB/DB; Levi Puga, sr., WR/DB; Bridon McIntyre, jr., OL/DL

Outlook: The Huskies roared back to life last season, snapping a 42-game conference losing streak and making the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Former Marsing coach Shea McClellin left for Vallivue in the offseason, and reigning conference offensive player of the year Cache Hance followed him. But the Huskies hired Foristiere, a 40-year coaching veteran with a reputation for turning around programs, to take over the team.

The Huskies bring back 16 starters (eight offense, eight defense) looking to continue their climb. Steinmeyer (6-3, 205) leads the way on both sides of the ball as a two-time, two-way, first-team all-conference selection who racked up 99 tackles a year ago. He and Puga provide two weapons for Chadez, who returns at quarterback.

That experienced group will need to learn a new offense and a new defense, though. Foristiere said that could take time.

T-4. PARMA

Last season: 0-9, 0-5 3A SRV

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Jarome Bell, second season

Career record: 8-11

Base offense (coordinator): Air raid (Bell)

Base defense (coordinator): 4-2-5 (Jim Libengood)

Key players: Jacob Mikelson, sr., TE/DE; Ian Alvarez, jr., K; Omar Alvarez, so., P

Outlook: The Panthers left the WIC in 2010 as the two-time defending league and state champ . The SRV provided tougher sledding as Parma went 27-96 (.139) in 14 seasons at the old 3A level and 11-51 (.177) in the league. But Idaho’s new enrollment rules allowed Parma to move back to its old stomping grounds to rebuild a once-proud program.

The Panthers return an experienced squad, one built around their offensive and defensive lines. Bell said both groups are a year bigger and stronger, helping Parma contend in the trenches.

Sophomore quarterback Clayton Troyer leads a new air raid offense. Youth at that position may lead to some growing pains. But Mikelson, a 6-5 tight end, provides a college-size security blanket for him to find.