Eastern Idaho The current 5A South East Idaho Conference was won by a team other than the Pocatello Thunder for the first time since 2020. Carter Perry, a junior slinger who finished fourth in the state in passing yards, surpassed Preston to win the title.
However, Perry, Pocatello’s all-around quarterback Hunter May, and Century quarterback Deagan Crabtree, who captained his team, are no longer with him.
There will likely be some whole different looks around the conference in addition to the three new quarterbacks.
While a youthful Century team is a year older and more experienced, Preston’s new head coach, according to him, was hired as late as possible. Dave Spillett, the Thunder’s head coach for more than ten years, is the only consistency in the conference.
CENTURY DIAMONDBACKS
Ryan Fleischmann, head coach, fourth season
Record for 2024: 0–8, 0–2
Tito Villano, RB; Xenophon Fleischmann, TE; and Justus Mangum, quarterback, are the players to watch.
Notes: The Diamondbacks’ bad news from the previous season was that they failed to win a single game. The good news is that they were a very youthful squad. The main contributors for Century were all juniors or sophomores, with the exception of quarterback Deagan Crabtree.
Tito Villano, who led the team in rush attempts (156), yards (639), and touchdowns (4) as a sophomore last season, is expected to outperform those stats this year.
The tight end Last season, both quarterback Justus Mangum and Xenophon Fleischmann were sophomores, with Fleischmann getting greater playing time. Century appears to have some hope for 2025 after completing another year of expansion and improvement.
On August 22, the Diamondbacks play Nampa at home to start the season.
POCATELLO THUNDER
Dave Spillett, head coach, 11th season
Record for 2024: 5-4, 1-1
Players to keep an eye on include Houston Himmerich, LB/WR; Isaac Allen, QB; and Hunter Cordell, WR/DE.
Notes: The majority of Pocatello’s best contributors from the previous season graduated and moved on, in contrast to their crosstown counterparts at Century. Hunter May, a safety and quarterback, led the team in interceptions, rushing, and throwing.
According to head coach Dave Spillett, a player like Hunter is not going to be replaced. Isaac Allen, a junior, will try, though.
Spillett stated, “It will be a different look than what Hunter gave us.” So far, I’ve really liked Isaac’s strategy. He will continue to improve every week, and I am so happy for him to have the chance to succeed.
Hunter Cordell, a 6-foot-5 receiver, is one of the top performers from 2024 who makes a comeback in 2025. According to Spillett, Cordell gives a receiving corps that is speedier than any Pocatellos in recent memory size and athleticism. Since the previous season, Cordell has also developed significantly intellectually, according to Spillett, and he has become a superb leader for this youthful Thunder squad.
Spillett stated that his team is prepared for retribution after witnessing Preston thrash both them and Century on their way to a conference title.
“I’ll tell you that we’re not okay with it,” he stated. We fully anticipate that this will be our conference, but Preston simply stole it from us last year, and we have been left with a bad taste in our mouths ever since.
The Thunder play Skyview at home on August 29 to start their season, which Spillett anticipates to be another one as his team aims to win a state championship.
PRESTON
First-season head coach: Brandt Reese
Record for 2024: 4-6, 2-0
Players to keep an eye on: Jojo Lumpkin, DB; Khai Phillips, LT; and Conner Iverson, RB
Notes: Last year, Preston shocked several by defeating Pocatello 48-28 to win the conference title. Their best player, Perry, has transferred to Green Canyon High in North Logan, Utah, despite the fact that they accomplished this with a team that was primarily young.
Brandt Reese, the new head coach, is another change at the top.
Reese, who was hired in June and has almost ten years of coaching experience, told EastIdahoSports.com that his coaching staff was not fully assembled until August. He is optimistic that the club can build on and replicate its achievements from a year ago, though.
“I think our team is great,” he stated. Many of the kids who played varsity ball a lot last year are returning. Sincerely, I believe we ought to be able to build upon and, ideally, surpass what they accomplished last year.
Despite Perry’s exit, Preston has Conner Iverson, its 2024 leader in running yards (922) and rushing scores (7), as well as most of the starting offensive line from the previous season. Reese stated that all of the children in the line are large, powerful children.
Miles Henrie is another tight end who made an impact as a blocker and a receiver.
On August 22, Preston travels to Shelley to play the Russets, starting their title defense.
Since there are only three teams in the District 5 s 5A level, the most important results will all happen in the last few weeks of the season.
On October 10, Preston will host Century, and on October 17, they will travel to Pocatello. On October 24, the Thunder and Diamondbacks will play at Century High School. A guaranteed spot in the state tournament will be decided throughout those three weeks.
