Wallace begins state title chase against Oakley

WALLACE — One year ago, the Wallace Miners' bid for a state championship ended in the class 1A semifinals. 

While the run was memorable, head coach Jared Young viewed it as another step in the program's progression. 

After another standout season, this year at the 2A level, Young and his squad find themselves back in contention, a year older, more experienced and ready for another postseason push. 

Tonight, in a state quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m. at Sather Field in Silverton, the fifth-seeded Miners will host the fourth-seeded Oakley Hornets (7-2), a team following a similar path and eager to make a playoff statement at Wallace's expense. 

Young is unfazed by any suggestion that his team enters the matchup as an underdog. In fact, he appears to embrace the role. 

"We don’t see it that way, but hey, everyone loves an underdog," Young said. "We think we have a contender in this team, and we want to show that Friday night." 

The Miners enter the postseason with an 8-1 record, their lone setback coming against undefeated Coeur du Christ a few weeks ago. 

Wallace also brings several advantages into Friday's game: experience, home-field advantage and, perhaps most importantly, the player lining up under center. 

Junior quarterback Cooper Miller has been the Miners' starting signal caller for three seasons, expanding his skill set each year while helping transform Wallace into one of the most dangerous offenses in Idaho's 8-man ranks. 

Miller is completing 67% of his passes and averaging 258 yards per game. He has thrown 33 touchdown passes against just five interceptions. He has also been Wallace's most productive runner, carrying the ball 113 times for 1,025 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

But it's not just Miller the Hornets will have to be worried about. Wallace has explosive athletes at every skill position, including Henry Larson, Lennox Radford and Reese Williams. 

"We have become more of a balanced offense, and we are healthy again, which was not the case a few weeks ago," Young said. "So having all our guys rested and moving well will be a nice change and we look to take advantage of that and use our playmakers effectively." 

While Miller and the offense attract much of the attention, Wallace's defense may be what separates this year's team from previous Miners squads. 

The Miners have forced 26 turnovers this season while allowing 27 points per game. 

That unit will face a significant challenge Friday. Oakley averages 47 points per game, and if Wallace hopes to avoid a track meet, the Miners' defense will need to continue playing at the level it has all season. 

Larson and Williams are major contributors on this side of the ball as well, but its talented senior and team tackle leader Marley Pearce who will be tasked with keeping the Hornets in check. 

Young is confident his team can compete on both sides of the ball, but acknowledged that Oakley presents plenty of challenges. 

"They are a solid team with playmakers, they have a good running back, and are well-coached, with balance on offense," Young said. "They play a 3-2-3 style defense which will give us opportunities in the run game. They mix up the run and pass game, but nothing we haven’t seen before." 

This marks the second consecutive season Wallace has hosted a playoff game. Unlike last year, however, the Miners are competing at the 2A level, and Young believes the opportunity provides the perfect launching point for a championship pursuit. 

"This is a great opportunity for Wallace, and our fan base which has been great all year," Young said. "It’s something special to give our fans a home game in the playoffs, we had the opportunity last year to do so and I think that was first one in a long time and played a big role in our run last year. Especially for our seniors getting to play at least one more time at home in a high-profile game is something those boys have earned and am very proud of them for."