The Snake River Valley enters 2026 as strong as it's been in years, with Emmett dropping back from 5A and Payette moving out to the 3A ranks. Here's how all six teams stack up, from a loaded Fruitland squad down to a rebuilding McCall-Donnelly under a new coach.
The SRV enters 2026 as strong as it's been in years. Emmett drops back down from the 5A ranks to rejoin its old conference, while Payette moves out to the 3A Western Idaho Conference. What's left is a league where the top four teams could all make deep playoff runs.
Here's how the six teams stack up heading into the fall.
1. Fruitland (2025: 10-1, 5-0 SRV)
The Grizzlies rolled through 10 straight before a 28-21 semifinal loss to Kimberly ended their title hopes. Jordan Gross left to coach the offensive line at Utah, and Fruitland promoted offensive coordinator Mark Vidlak to keep the loaded senior class intact. Quarterback Titus Vidlak, the reigning 4A player of the year and a Montana State commit, is back for his fourth year as a starter, headlining a group that returns a dozen starters. Receiver Joel Philpot, two-way lineman Rocky Weatherspoon, and Kysen Mackenzie give Vidlak plenty of proven talent around him. The offensive line is the question mark, but until someone knocks them off, the SRV runs through Fruitland.
2. Homedale (2025: 11-1, 4-1 SRV)
The defending 4A champs broke a long title drought last season and now have to reload. Only around 10 starters return from the championship squad, and the Trojans break in a new quarterback in junior Kreece Powell. Senior Tyce Fisher shifts to a lead running back role, and receiver/defensive back Alec Campos, coming off a big state-title-game performance, anchors the veteran core alongside tight end Boston Garrett. Homedale's system continuity from the youth levels up is the reason they keep reloading instead of rebuilding.
3. Emmett (2025: 4-6, 2-4 5A SIC)
Back in the SRV for the first time in years, Emmett arrives young. Quarterback Eli Brennan and running back Ryder Leonard both flashed as sophomores and now lead the offense as juniors. Receiver Jax Banuelos, an Idaho State commit, returns after a broken ankle wiped out his junior year. But the Huskies are thin on experience elsewhere, with one returning starter on the offensive line in senior Gavin Hardy and largely new faces across the defense, where defensive back Layden Korell is the lone returner. How fast the young group grows up will define the season.
4. Weiser (2025: 6-5, 3-2 SRV)
Three of Weiser's five losses came inside this brutal league. The Wolverines return the most experience in the SRV, with running back Ty Cobb and edge/receiver Garrett Walker leading a deep group of veterans. Cobb is a threat on both sides of the ball, and the front is anchored by lineman Keegan Willett. The secondary is where Weiser has to replace production, and in a league full of dangerous passers, that's the swing factor for their season.
5. Cole Valley Christian (2025: 3-5, 1-4 SRV)
Year two under Jordan Henslin brings continuity, the first time these players have run the same system two seasons in a row. The Chargers return a solid group led by do-everything senior Ethan Minegar, who holds multiple Division I offers and lines up all over the field. Junior quarterback Braydon Van Boven gives them a returning arm. The question is the same one every SRV underdog faces: can they match the league's powers in the trenches?
6. McCall-Donnelly (2025: 5-5, 2-3 SRV)
The Vandals bring in Greg Rouse, their newest head coach in a stretch of frequent turnover, and he'll install a new double-wing offense. Linemen Nolan Wadlow and Keagan Kober give McCall-Donnelly a pair of anchors up front, and senior Max Stoddard returns as the top receiver and a two-way playmaker. Junior Beau Caple takes over at quarterback. The story of their season is how quickly the group absorbs the new system.
This marks FLOWW Network's fourth year covering the Snake River Valley Conference, and we're more than excited to continue bringing you everything the league has to offer this fall.
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