EAGLE, Idaho — For the last decade, Eagle has dominated Treasure Valley high school football, with one exception – the Mustangs haven't won a state championship since 2009.
Still, any year could be the year. Eagle returns a highly-skilled roster, but the Mustangs look to flex their toughness even more than their talent this fall.
It was nearly a perfect 2023 season for the 5A Southern Idaho Conference champions, cut short by a one-point loss in the state semifinals
"It's a chip on our shoulder, you know, it didn't feel very good last year," senior wide receiver and defensive back Gavin Crawford said. "We had never lost that year besides that game, so I think coming into this year, we can't have that feeling again."
It's back to work for Eagle under second-year head coach James Cluphf. The Mustangs don't dwell on the past, they build for the future.
"I love the foundation that our seniors laid last year and I'm really proud of what our seniors this year have latched onto and taken it to the next level," Cluphf said.
"We had a lot of young players last year," Crawford said. "I think that helps because they've kind of got used to the winning mentality."
A long list of returning standouts features running back Noah Burnham, who was named a first team all-state selection as a sophomore last season.
"He's not only a great football player, he's a smart football player," Cluphf said. "He's able to take the thing to the end zone any time he touches the football. We really look to expand his role in the pass game and see where we go there with him and make him a true overall back."
When opponents aren't feeling the pressure of Eagle's run game, they will feel the boom of the defense, a unit known as "Gang Green."
"You don't wanna play against us because every time we take you off little by little, just start suffocating you and we're infectious man," senior free safety Chance Jones said. "You see that ball, someone gets tackled, you got 11 dudes at that ball. We're just Gang Green and suffocate it all."
No matter the side of the ball, physically is the pillar of what this Eagle squad is, and they have the roster to back it up.
"We have some big kids this year. We've had some of the biggest lines we've had in years and they're not guys that are just big, they fire off the football," Cluphf said. "Big piece for our offense is relentless physicality and how we fly off the ball and how we finish plays is a big piece that we hang our hat on."
The expectation is always a state title for the Mustangs. They might be one of the favorites of some in the polls, but that hasn't slowed down the grind inside Thunder Stadium.
Eagle enters 2024 hungry, ready to battle it out each week and ready to put on their town.
"We have eight guaranteed games left," Jones said. "Let's just go out there, last ride, ball out. Just play the most physical we can, leave everything on the field, have no regrets coming off."
The Mustangs open the season at Meridian in a rematch of last year's 5A SIC at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. Eagle then squares off with Oregon powerhouse West Linn on Sept. 7 as part of the Northwest Showcase, hosted by Rocky Mountain.
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