Written by: Will Hoenike
After reaching the 1A Division 1 state title game last season, the Grace Grizzlies will be doing some re-tooling in 2023.
Gone is High Desert Conference Player of the Year Dallon Draper, along with all-conference performers Tytan Anderson, William Mikelson, Teigan Taggart, and five other seniors from 2022’s nine-win team.
Grace is one of the largest 1A Division 1 schools in Idaho, so the program generally has solid player turnout. With that in mind, depth isn’t the same concern as it can be for other 8-man programs in the Gem State. Newby and his staff had a roster of over 30 players last fall so competition for open jobs should be plentiful.
The Grizzlies return talented, two-way lineman Kai and Joe Clegg, each of whom were voted onto the High Desert’s All-Conference team last fall. Versatile senior Koby Rindlisbaker also returns to the field for Grace.
Newby’s team faces a challenging non-conference schedule in 2023, including 1A Division 1 playoff teams Carey and Notus along with two-time defending 1A Division 2 state champion Kendrick in a neutral-site game on October 13. In a classification that uses a mathematical formula to determine potential at-large playoff teams, the Grizzlies will need to find success early to create some insurance before conference play.
Grace is part of a three-team conference. The High Desert does receive one automatic bid to the 1A Division 1 state playoffs so a strong finish to the season would keep the Grizzlies in the playoff picture.