MERIDIAN, Idaho — As the youngest 6A high school football program in the Treasure Valley, the Owyhee Storm have quickly become a contender in the competitive Southern Idaho Conference.
"It's pretty crazy. We started off our first year not too good, only won one game," senior wide receiver and safety Aiding Joy said. "Second year, did a little better, and then last year we won our first playoff game. We've grown a lot."
Owyhee's first five games of the 2023 season featured wins over Madison, Mountain View and Centennial, with a pair of losses by a combined seven points.
A four-game winning streak sent the Storm to the postseason, where they avenged an early loss to Boise by beating the Brave in overtime for the first playoff win in school history.
"Kind of build that physicality, you gotta build that culture to be successful," senior defensive end Caden Signer said. "It's only been getting better every year, so hopefully we can sustain that trend and make an impact and make a run at the playoffs this year."
The program's fourth year marks the final season for the Storm's seniors, who have been at Owyhee since the beginning.
"It's been pretty special," senior middle linebacker Gage Haws said. "Something that I'm very thankful to have been apart of and I'm excited to see how it'll grow once I'm gone too."
Owyhee enters its second season under the leadership of Jason Burton – equal parts head football coach and hype man. He leads with a unique philosophy, letting the players determine what the culture and tradition will become.
"It's our program as coaches, but it's their team," Burton said. "We put them in that leadership role to be successful, you know, to teach them qualities on the field and off the field."
The Storm are taking shape, finding more success each season.
"This is Owyhee football. We have our brand, we're established, being a very physical team," Burton said.
While it's all about the big "O," the other side of the ball might be the most impressive entering 2024.
"I think that our defense is – we've really come together as a unit – and I feel like every time there's a run, there's a pass, there's always four guys rallying to the ball," senior linebacker and running back Cade Walker said. "It's never just one guy making the tackle, it's the whole team flying downhill to get the tackle."
"They bring it every day and they've proven it," senior tight end and defensive end Cody Freed said. "We just had a jamboree and I think they proved it there too. I just think they work their butts off, so I'll give that one to the defense."
Owyhee clearly is not an underdog, but a contender in Idaho's top classification.
"We've made statements throughout last year and this summer to show, 'hey, we're not anyone's little brother,'" Burton said.
The Storm are not done making statements just yet.
"We're still wanting and striving to go make history and I think that's our biggest plan," Haws said. "We're excited to see what we can bring to the table as team four and do something that no team's done before."
Owyhee opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday against Centennial.
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