Pump-up music roared from the small weight room at Clark Fork High School as nearly the entire 2026 football team prepared for their pre-practice workout.  

The workout was one of the first things that Wampus Cats' new head coach Andre Johansen implemented when he took the job in the spring. Now with the season drawing closer, he's pleasantly surprised to see the complete buy-in from his team, which has grown by 10 players since last year. 

"The younger kids, they bought right in. When we just opened up the gym in April and said, 'Hey, we're going to start lifting,' I don't have to worry about those guys," Johansen said. "The older guys, it's been a little slower, but they are slowly but surely coming around... I think they're realizing, 'Okay, this is going to be alright.'" 

Johansen is far from an unknown as a head coach, with 25 years under his belt in Northern California, and his leaning on that experience to build up a Wampus Cat program that went 2-6 a year ago. While he's never coached an 8-man football team before, Johansen said he plans to implement a similar mindset to what he's done in the past. 

The Wampus Cats have been watching old film from Johansen's teams when he was at Christian Brothers, a high school in Sacramento, CA, he said. 

"They're watching [Christian Brothers] fly around and get all these hats to the ball. It's very intense, and I said the only difference between them and you is they've had seven years of offseason," Johansen said. 

Johansen said that he builds teams based on relationships, and he's using those to get his team to believe in themselves. Based on his experience, Johansen said that belief can be a true game-changer in high school sports, regardless of strength, speed, or ability. 

"You're going to get those kids that are much stronger and faster, but the majority of kids, it's the ones who are mentally tough and physically tough that create opportunities and do well in high school," Johansen said. "You can be a 150-pound lineman and be super successful if you're just tough enough and you go after it." 

Clark Fork will be led by returning quarterback and defensive end Mateo Cruz, who led the team in rushing yards, tackles per game and total touchdowns a year ago. Cruz will have his leading pass catcher, wide receiver and defensive back, Peyton Chapman, back to command Johansen's team. 

A massive addition for Clark Fork will be Charlie Becker, a state-qualified wrestler, who returns to Bonner County after a brief stop in Portland. Becker will join a class of talented newcomers, Johansen said. 

The Wampus Cats will also have Jason Mayora returning to play tight end and defensive line. 

"Mayorga is a junior, has really stepped up this year," Johansen said. 

As the Wampus Cats continue to build on their football culture, Johansen said he wants them to be competitive in their season back at the 1A level. He said he wants them to focus on playing a complete game of football and closing out in the second half. 

"I'm going to judge success as if we're competitive for four quarters in all those games," Johansen said. " That's how we're going to build on it." 

FUN FACT: While Clark Fork head coach Andre Johansen is in his first year, his wife, Valerie Johansen, is leading the Sandpoint High School girls wrestling team and won the Idaho Girls Head Coach of the Year in 2025.  

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mateo Cruz, sr.; Charlie Becker, sr.; Jason Mayora, jr. 

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME: Coeur du Christ Academy, 8/29 and 10/23. They are the lone other team in the 1A North Star League, and the matchup in October between the Saints and Wampus Cats will determine who wins the state title, Johansen said. 

SCHEDULE: 

- 8/29 @ Coeur du Christ, 7 p.m.  

- 9/5 @ Lewis County, 2 p.m. 

- 9/11 vs Wallace, 7 p.m. 

- 10/9 @ Wallace, 7 p.m. 

- 10/16 vs Lakeside, 7 p.m. 

- 10/23 vs Coeur du Christ, 7 p.m. 

*Schedule as of 8/20, subject to change