Chalich earns Gatorade Idaho football honor

Coeur d'Alene High senior quarterback Chad Chalich has been named Gatorade Idaho Football Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Chalich led the Vikings to a 12-0 record and their second straight state 5A championship this season. Chalich passed for 3,636 yards and 42 touchdowns, completing 242 of 331 passes with just two interceptions. Chalich, who was the All-Idaho 5A Player of the Year as a junior, also rushed for 471 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"Chalich is a really good athlete," Mountain View coach Judd Benedick said in a press release. "He's a very accurate passer. He's got great feet, very mobile in the pocket and he makes all the throws he needs to make."

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.

Chalich has maintained a 3.52 GPA, and has volunteered locally on behalf of the homeless and the Elderhelp of North Idaho program.

Earlier this week, Chalich gave a verbal commitment to accept a full-ride scholarship to Idaho.