Asotin Panthers back on the football prowl

Coming off its best season in recent memory, the Asotin football team is looking to navigate a league shake-up and some turnover among its leadership to carry over its positive momentum this fall.

The Panthers open their 2024 season at home with a nonleague catfight against the Tri-Cities Prep Jaguars of Pasco, Wash., this Saturday at 6 p.m.

“We’ve had a good couple weeks of practice,” Asotin coach Jim Holman said. “It’s always a long three weeks before that first game, but our guys have been pretty focused and I’m pretty happy with where we’re at going into our first game.”

Rivals old and new

Having been a losing program in recent years, Asotin enjoyed a renaissance last season to go 5-1 in Northeast 2B League competition and reach the state playoffs.

The Panthers’ only conference loss came against eventual champion Northwest Christian of Colbert, and they won their next half-dozen games — including a big 21-13 postseason victory against the Manson Trojans — before falling to 47-20 to River View of Kennewick in playoff action to conclude their season.

This year, they will follow up their opener against Tri-Cities — a team they have beaten the last two seasons — with a road rematch against River View before heading into a league landscape that looks different and potentially more challenging.

“Freeman (Rockford, Wash.) is in our league now,” Holman noted. “They’ve been a perennial powerhouse in Class 1A for several years, so them moving down toughens up our league schedule. I would say they’re definitely a favorite to win the league, as well as Northwest Christian. Those are probably the two teams that stick out — and then Newport, also a 1A team that moved down to 2B.”

Returners carrying the torch

Asotin returns eight starters from last year’s team, including four seniors.

Junior quarterback Cody Ells, a dual threat especially strong in the passing game, stands out as a key figure among the Panthers’ returners — though they will be missing the other half of the dynamic duo he once formed with his older brother Gavin, an all-state receiver who has now graduated.

“(Cody’s) got a lot of experience under his belt,” Holman said. “Looking for him to do big things.”

Sophomore Wyatt Caldwell, who lettered as a wide receiver in his freshman season, is stepping into Gavin Ells’ shoes this year.

“We’re going to look for big things from (Caldwell),” Holman said.

Asotin’s big man, the 6-foot 7 and 235-pound AJ Olerich, is back for a senior campaign in which he looks to be an imposing force on the offensive and defensive lines.

“He’ll kind of run things in the trenches for us,” Holman said.

Running back and linebacker Peter Eggleston, who gained all-league recognition on both sides of the ball last year, also figures among the team’s senior leadership.

Don’t let the injury bugs bite

With a roster of 22 players, Asotin’s overall turnout is somewhat down this year, meaning that Holman is placing extra emphasis on “avoiding the injury bug” for a group of players who will see a lot of time on the field. If they can do that, he feels “the skill is there” for more Panther glory.

“I think we’re capable of being in a similar place, if not hopefully winning a couple more playoff games, provided we can stay healthy,” he said. “Our numbers are lower, so we’re not real deep, but if we can stay healthy, I think we can definitely make a run of similar success.”

3 things to watch

• Asotin quarterback Cody Ells piled up around 1,500 passing yards last year. Can he maintain or improve on those numbers without his older brother Gavin as a receiver?
• How will the Panthers cope with formerly larger-division teams Freeman and Newport joining their conference?
• With turnout slightly down this year, can Asotin keep its starters healthy?

ASOTIN

COACH — Jim Holman (11th year)

LAST YEAR’S RECORD — 8-3 overall, 5-1 Northeast 2B League.

KEY RETURNERS — Wyatt Caldwell, soph., WR/DB; Noah Saltz, jr., WR/DB; Peter Eggleston, sr., RB/LB; Cody Ells, jr., QB/DB; Carson Reedy, jr., RB/LB; Morgan Bunch, soph., WR/DB; Colt Kelley, soph., RB/LB; Dylan Finney, jr., TE/LB; Riley Cook, soph., OL/DL; Chase Engle, jr., OL/DL; Tegan Isley, sr., OL/DL; Carter Bowman, jr., OL/DL; Kaden Amend, sr., OL/DL; AJ Olerich, sr., OL/DL; Austin Stein, jr., OL/DL.

SCHEDULE

9/7 — vs. Tri-Cities Prep, 6 p.m.

9/13 — at River View, 6 p.m.

9/20 — at Colfax, 7 p.m.

9/27 — vs. Freeman, 7 p.m.

10/4 — at Newport, 7 p.m.

10/11 — vs. Reardan, 7 p.m.

10/18 — at Chewelah, 7 p.m.

10/25 — vs. Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, 7 p.m.

11/2 — at Northwest Christian, 5 p.m.

Wendt may be contacted at (208) 848-2268, or cwendt@lmtribune.com.