Prep football preview: Butte County looks to build off of first state title

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is nan 2nd communicative successful a bid featuring cardinal storylines for nan upcoming precocious schoolhouse shot season.

ARCO – How bully was Butte County’s play a twelvemonth ago? If nan municipality throws a parade successful your honor, past it was astir apt a bully season.

The Pirates won their first authorities title past play successful what was genuinely a memorable journey. Coach Sam Thorngren said he was still getting congratulatory calls 2 months aft Butte County defeated three-time defending authorities champion Oakley 58-44 successful a melodramatic back-and-forth game.

“We mislaid immoderate bully guys,” Thorngren said arsenic nan squad prepares for 2024. “But nan expectations are nan same.”

One of nan “good guys” is 1AD1 authorities subordinate of nan twelvemonth Brody Westergard, who was a do-everything subordinate for nan Pirates.

Westergard and a fistful of seniors person graduated, but Thorngren said location are a slew of younger players fresh to measurement in. Even so, nan main storyline could create connected nan violative and protect lines.

Most linemen successful nan 8-man ranks play some ways, truthful having dependable and knowledgeable players successful nan trenches is crucial. The Pirates person conscionable 1 returner who saw plentifulness of time.

“We sewage talent, conscionable not a batch of experience,” Thorngren said.

There’s besides a different vibe to nan programme entering nan caller season.

“We’re excited to get to started,” Thorngren said. “It’s astir apt been nan longest offseason ever arsenic acold arsenic we’re concerned. It’s specified a different feeling. We’re utilized to nan heartbreak mounting successful (after losing successful nan playoffs) and past getting remotivated. We didn’t person that past twelvemonth … They’re motivated.”