The Priest River football team will see a lot of changes in 2022.

Those changes include a drop down to the 2A classification and a new head coach in Brad Martin.

Martin’s move to head coach will be more of a seamless transition, since he was on the coaching staff in 2021 as the defensive coordinator.

He was also the headman the last time the Spartans reached the state tournament in 2017.

"I'm really excited for the season," Martin said. "I feel like I'm more prepared after going through the state tournament. We're looking forward to improving the team."

Last year, Priest River finished 1-7 overall and 0-3 in 3A Intermountain League play.

"It's been a rough few years," Martin said. "We really started seeing improvement towards the end of the year last year."

Priest River will play in the 2A Central Idaho League with Grangeville, Kellogg, Orofino, and St. Maries.

Martin admitted at times last year it felt like Priest River was playing above its weight class.

"We were playing schools twice our size," Martin said. "Timberline and Bonners Ferry were much bigger than us, and now we're going up against Newport, Reardan and Medical Lake, which are closer to our size. We're close and improving as fast as possible."

The Spartans are still trying to recruit players to come out and play for the 2022 season.

"I want to encourage all the kids to come out," Martin said. "We're recruiting really hard as a coaching staff. When I was at Priest River before we had around 500 students, and last year I think it was around 275. We don't have the numbers at the school."

One player that will be suited up for the Spartans in 2022 is University of Idaho commit Matyus McLain.

"I met (Matyus) at the end of his sophomore year and he really impressed me," Martin said. "He's a very good athlete on both sides of the ball."

McLain is a two-way player for the Spartans, playing tight end and defensive end.

McLain is one of three Priest River track athletes who will be offensive weapons for the Spartans offense.

Grant Schofield and Ethan Korff will join McLain as pass catching options for Priest River in 2022.

"Last year we ran a hybrid offense. This year we're running more of an air raid with a power package," Martin said. "We're looking to do what we can to get (Matyus) or any of our outside guys the ball in space."

As for who's going to throw the ball, it's still an open competition between three players.

Gavin Giesemer, Lucas Matthews, and Kai Poi will battle to be Priest River's signal caller.

Matthews is more of a scrambler, being more effective outside the pocket. According to Martin, he's also been going to some camps over the summer to improve his craft.

Giesmer has also spent some time at camps, but has more experience at the running back and tight end positions. Heading into this season, however, he wanted to transition to quarterback.

Poi, a junior who hasn't played football for Priest River before, has also thrown his hat into the ring. However, what he lacks in experience he makes up for in pedigree.

"His dad was the best quarterback in school history, '' Martin said. "He was the quarterback over here in the 1990s, so he has the pedigree."

Whoever is taking snaps for the Spartans will have an experienced and sizable offensive line in front of them.

Hayden Strange and John Soy are both over 260 pounds, with Garrett Reynolds being lineman at 200 pounds.

"We'll have some decent size up front," Martin said. "They're the key to everything that we do offensively."

The depth on the line transfers to the defense as well, with Reynolds and McLain both earning all league honors in 2021.

Priest River will open up its season at Medical Lake on Friday, September 2.