BOISE, Idaho — The last two seasons have been difficult for the Timberline High School football team, winning just one game.
"We had a rough last two years," senior middle linebacker Aidan Messerschmitt said.
"I think we kind of let off the gas at the end," junior quarterback Jack Brant said.
Eighth-year head coach Ian Smart is working to turn those lessons into action. During the offseason, Timberline has been getting after it both in the weight room and on the field.
"We've been lifting a lot harder, a lot more," Brant said. "We've been doing 7-on-7, throwing almost every, multiple times a week, and just locking in everything."
The Wolves started 11 sophomores in 2023.
Smart said the valuable reps last year's squad put in are starting to pay off, and the young players have matured.
"Those guys are back with invaluable experience," Smart said. "It wasn't always great, but you learn in those tough situations."
"A lot of those young guys from last year who were getting their first experience on varsity are making dramatic improvements in the weight room," Messerschmitt "We've got tons of dudes who got way bigger, way more, I guess, football intelligent."
Returning for Timberline this year is Messerschmitt, Brant, junior receiver Hudson Lewis, safety Austin Ingroff and Cole Hudson, who will play on both sides of the ball.
The Wolves are rolling with a new motto this season: Team 27.
"We're the 27th team football team in Timberline history, so we call it team 27," Messerschmitt said. "The whole point is to represent a new year, new team. Everything in the past doesn't matter."
"Team 27 – we're putting our past behind us," Lewis added.
"Even a kid that was in this program last year, they're a different human at year 27 than they were in year 26, and so for us, 27 is just that standalone number that this year is the only thing that matters," Smart said.
Smart said the Wolves' goal this fall is to finish games.
"We were close, now we've got to finish. We were right there in every game until like two or three plays late," Smart said. "So for them, it's getting over that hump and saying four quarters is what's necessary. It's three is not enough. We just continue to grow, and the wins and losses are something we talk about. It's not always there, but we have great kids, and they do things the right way, and at the end of the day, that's kind of what we measure success by."
"We've been working hard," Lewis said. "We're just ready to compete this year. You know, show everyone that we could do something."
"It's kind of a get-back year, getting revenge on everybody," Messerschmitt said. "I'm ready for it. I can't wait."
Timberline opens its season at 4:30 p.m. Friday against rival Borah at Homedale High School. The game was moved from Dona Larsen Park in downtown Boise due to poor air quality.
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