Sports Line High School Football Preview Series: Pocatello Thunder

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - The 2022 season couldn't have come fast enough for the Pocatello Thunder. For Head Coach Dave Spillett and his squad, they have been ready to get after it since their semifinal loss to Skyline last season.

"We've had our biggest attendance in the weight room ever since I've been here," Spillett said. "The off-season has been great."

Spillett said his team will be young, but they do return a number of starters, including all-state performer Krue Hales and one of the top running backs in the area, Ryken Echohawk. 

Both players added this offseason was a learning experience.

"Trying to get that relationship with the quarterback just so he knows he can throw it up and I'll be able to go get it," Hales said. "I have been working a lot on footwork, just trying to get off the line, getting stronger to keep those DB's off me in press."

"Being a leader is what I improved on the most and what I can continue to improve on," Echohawk said.

For the Thunder players, they have had to play anywhere and everywhere, with their home games at Iron Horse Stadium in 2020 and Holt Arena in 2021.

"We're probably one of the few schools in the country that doesn't have their own place and never has," Spillett said. "A school that's over 125 years old has never had its own field. So, we've been practicing out here at a dog park and our guys just make do with what we have."

But starting this season, they will have a new place to call home, Lookout Credit Union Field at Pocatello High School Stadium.

"I cannot wait for that to be a great place to play," Hales said. "It's going to have a nice atmosphere on a Friday night.

"I'm extremely psyched to have a state of the art facility, the best in town that our team can use and play on and have for the future," Echohawk said.

The Thunder will open their season at the Rocky Mountain Rumble against the Morgan (UT) Trojans Sat. Aug, 27th.

The Sports Line High School Football Preview Series continues Tuesday with the Blackfoot Broncos.