Changes coming to Snake River Conference

Butte County is moving up to 1A Division 1 for football in 2018, is Mackay coming with them? (Photo Courtesy: Sharleece Lambson)

The inevitable IHSAA classification churn is coming, and it looks like it will have a big impact on the 1A Division 1 Snake River Conference in 2018.

The IHSAA keeps tabs on enrollments to classify its teams within Idaho and, every couple of years, the door opens for teams to change classifications. Schools can make a case to play "up" a classification or "down" a classification, based on a variety of circumstances such as geography or competition. Those requests are handled on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Here's what we know:

1) Butte County is moving up from 1A Division 2 to join the Snake River Conference.

What we don't know, however, is if the Pirates are making the journey by themselves. Sources have indicated to Idaho8Man that it is possible that Butte County and Mackay may form a co-operative team next fall, bolstering Butte County's already impressive roster while helping Mackay avoid potential issues due to a lack of players.

We're told it isn't a done deal, so to speak, but the Pirates already return 1A Division 2 Sawtooth East Player of the Year Keyan Cummins. A co-op between Butte County and Mackay could add all-conference running back Caleb Green to that offense.

If it happens, that would leave North Gem, Rockland, Sho-Ban and Clark Co.-Watersprings in the 1A Div. 2 Sawtooth East next fall.

Though Butte County gives the conference another team in the east, it remains an extremely expansive conference, ranging from Glenns Ferry to Grace. It's over 200 miles between those two schools.

2) Hagerman is dropping down to 1A Division 2 to play in the Sawtooth West Conference.

Mark Kress's team will have no returning seniors on the team next fall, so a drop to Division 2 could be well-timed from a competitive standpoint. The school's current enrollment numbers are right at the cutoff between Division 1 and Division 2 and, geographically, it makes a lot of sense for the Pirates to be paired with the likes of Lighthouse Christian (Twin Falls), Carey, Castleford, Hansen, Murtaugh, Dietrich, Richfield and Camas County.

3) Shoshone plans to play a JV-only schedule in 2018.

The Indians haven't posted a winning season since 2011, going 5-4, and haven't defeated a team currently in the Snake River Conference since a win over Raft River on October 19, 2012. The program's overall record since ending 2011 with a winning record is just eight wins and 42 losses, with seven of the eight wins coming over 1A Division 2 opponents.

Opposing coaches routinely mentioned last fall that Shoshone played hard and had some talent, but lacked numbers. Hopefully, pressing the re-set button in 2018 will allow the program to stay healthy, gain experience, improve and have some success.

The important thing to note here is that they're staying on the field. That's the best news. Ultimately, it could benefit the conference as a whole by giving teams more opportunity for JV-level games. That means more experience for younger players, something all coaches in the Snake River Conference would welcome.

That leaves the Snake River Conference for 2018 as: Valley, Raft River, Oakley, Glenns Ferry, Grace, Challis and Butte County.

The team stung by this, short-term, is Glenns Ferry. The nearest 1A Division 1 program, conference or non-conference, is 30 miles away at Rimrock. Rimrock is located just outside of Bruneau (near Mountain Home) and plays in the District 3 Western Idaho Conference. Valley (Hazelton) is 71 miles from Glenns Ferry, Oakley is 105 miles away, Raft River is 116, Arco (Butte County) is 129 ... and Challis and Grace are both over 200 miles away.

Shoshone is approximately 45 miles from Glenns Ferry so an eventual return to the varsity level by the Indians' program would lessen the travel burden for the Pilots.

#Idaho8Man