GRANGEVILLE - Despite having made it to the state semifinals for four straight seasons, the Grangeville Bulldogs hardly feel satisfied with their string of success.
"We're not just content making the semifinals every year," said Grangeville coach Jeff Lindsley, who led the team to a title in 2011 and a third-place finish in each of the ensuing years.
Last season, the Bulldogs led eventual state champion West Side in the semifinals for much of the first half before five turnovers foiled their best efforts. And "we need to get to that championship game this year," Lindsley said.
While they graduated a bulk of their offense in the form of Michael Wilson, the Bulldogs return senior quarterback Layton Harris and his top target, Austin Parks, also a senior.
Setting a school record, Harris threw for 2,243 yards last season. He also tossed 28 touchdowns and often makes his throws on the run. Parks caught eight TDs last season and reeled in 527 yards of real estate.
Squaring off with Moscow this Friday at 8 p.m., Grangeville opens its season in the Kibbie Dome, the site where it ended last season.
The Bulldogs will embark on a grueling nonconference slate that also includes contests against Clarkston (Sept. 11), Asotin (Sept. 25) and Sandpoint (Oct. 24). Grangeville will kick off Central Idaho League action Oct. 9 at St. Maries, which made the state quarterfinals last year.
"We do (have high expectations)," Lindsley said, when asked about his hopes to get to the title game. "I don't know if they're unrealistically high, but we want to give these kids the best experience they can while they're still playing, because once football's over, it's over."
Heading up the Bulldogs' backfield, senior tailback Jake Kaschmitter often seeks contact - sometimes to the detriment of his yardage gains. He provides one of the CIL's better "downhill runners," in Lindsley's opinion.
And Cole Lindsley, the coach's son, will see time at halfback - though his role as a defensive end will leave the greatest ripples, his coach said.
"Last year, we played him at outside linebacker, we'd played him there the last two years, and then at camp, because of lack of kids, we moved him to defensive end ... and I think he'll be good there.
"He'll certainly give us a pass-rush threat. Since I've been around, we've always had pretty good defensive ends and he'll step in and assume that role."
Another impact player, Jakob Layman, will play on the offensive and defensive lines for the Bulldogs this year.
During Grangeville's quarterfinal win against North Fremont, the Bulldogs trailed by two touchdowns entering the fourth quarter when they made a defensive shift, inserting Layman at nose guard.
"And just had him make life miserable for the center and the outcome was some fumbled snaps, the center stepping back on the QB's foot," Lindsley said. "... He was a huge part of that turnaround. He made impactful plays at critical times that swung the momentum to our side."
Another impact player for Grangeville, senior slotback Jack Lawrence, runs faster than any other Bulldog, Lindsley said, and will provide a vertical threat for the Bulldogs while senior Shayden Wassmuth will reprise his role as the team's nose guard and center. A state-caliber wrestler, Wassmuth epitomizes the "blue-collar" work ethic Lindsley looks for in his players and "I wish I had a whole handful of Shayden Wassmuths," Lindsley said. "That's for sure."
With a small sophomore class, the Bulldogs may sprinkle in some freshmen to add depth once the postseason arrives.
On the line, the Bulldogs also return Ben Lothsteich, but will need to "rebuild" that unit, in Lindsley's words, as the season progresses.
Asked for what's been the key to his program's sustained level of excellence since he took over six years ago, Lindsley pointed to one constant: his assistants.
"We've had a core group of four volunteer coaches that put in the time and do all this teaching with us on their own. I don't think at the 2A level, two coaches at the varsity level are enough. But because of our supporting group of coaches, I think that's given us the biggest advantage."
