<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1X0KYX_1ELbj5DV00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1X0KYX_1ELbj5DV00" width="1200" height="600" >RUPERT, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Minico Spartans finished last season 6-4 before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Now, the team is focused on making a deeper run in 2026.Senior center Alexis Acosta said the early exit still stings.“Last year, losing in the first round just doesn’t sit right with us,” Acosta said.Fourth-year head coach Sherman Blaser said this senior class holds a special place in the program.“This senior class was the first one when I got there. They were freshmen. They showed up same day I got there, they got there. And hey, here’s how we’re going to do things. And they just jumped right in,” Blaser said.Blaser said the team’s identity is rooted in its community.“We’re going to play physical. I guess that’s just who we are. We are a blue collar working community, and we love it. And we embrace that. We care about working hard. And it’s not something we have to do a lot as coaches, about teaching how to do that. We just, this is what we do, and they jump in and they go. And I think that comes from our community, and that’s who we are in Rupert,” Blaser said.Senior quarterback Logan Wayment said this season brings a new level of responsibility.“Last year, I didn’t feel like I had the opportunity to lead a lot. I mean, I did, but not really. But this year, it’s kind of my team, my offense that I get to run. So between me and Alexis, we run the offense. So it’ll be fun,” Wayment said.Acosta said he is drawing on what past Minico teams accomplished as motivation for what this group wants to leave behind.“When I think about this season, I think about, of course, how I mentioned that two years ago season. Obviously, I still talk about it. And I think about it all the time. And those guys just impacted the way Preston ran the ball, the way Will tackled guys, the way we just kind of ran the state. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave. I want them to talk about how we didn’t allow a sack. We didn’t allow more than 10 points a game. I just want them to recognize this team,” Acosta said.Blaser said one matchup stands out above the rest.“Honestly, the one I’ve got circled is Twin Falls. My view, that’s going to determine who wins the Great Basin. And it has been traditionally for the last few years, too,” Blaser said.Wayment also pointed to two opponents he is looking forward to.“Obviously, Burley. That game is always so much fun. There’s always so much emotion behind it. Just fun to play, and there’s so many people there. Biggest crowd we’ve probably had. And then, probably Twin Falls,” Wayment said.Acosta said the team’s goals extend beyond the regular season.“Of course, we want to win conference. We want to make a deeper playoff run. I mean, occasionally, you’ll walk around, hear stuff about the last time they made it pretty far. But Minico’s never won state. So I feel like that just being posterized, that’d be pretty cool,” Acosta said.The Spartans open the 2026 season against Madison.</div></body>

Block Source: kmvt

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

RUPERT, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Minico Spartans finished last season 6-4 before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Now, the team is focused on making a deeper run in 2026. Senior center Alexis Acosta said the early exit still stings. “Last year, losing in the first...

Minico Spartans focused on deeper playoff run after first-round exit

NewsBreak

RUPERT, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Minico Spartans finished last season 6-4 before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Now, the team is focus

Minico Spartans focused on deeper playoff run after first-round exit

Comments