Multi-sport Lapwai coach Josh Leighton Jr. considers football one of his favorite sports to coach.

“I just like the concept of football, where you get ready for one game a week,” Leighton said, “and see if you’re good enough on that night. That’s the fun thing about football for me.”

Leighton has previously coached the Lapwai boys basketball team and currently coaches the Wildcats’ girls basketball squad.

Few would know the Lapwai sports scene better than Leighton, and in his eyes there is plenty of room for Wildcat football to thrive.

A balance of experience

Junior quarterback Jereese McCormack will lead the Wildcat offense for the third straight year.

Leighton said that McCormack has progressed over his high school career and grown into a 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame.

McCormack had the chance to attend the Washington State QB camp last year and get feedback from college coaches and players.

Lapwai senior Joseph Whitefoot returns as the Wildcats’ primary runner. Whitefoot will be an every down guy for the Wildcats, with the ability to catch passes, run with authority and play outside linebacker.

“Physical kid, quick on the edge, can guard (the) run game outside and then defend the pass as a (defensive back) because of the way the 8-man game is designed,” Leighton said.

After some time away from Lapwai football, Doug Pappan is back with the Wildcats and figures to play wide receiver and defensive back.

Junior Jared Marek will also slide in at receiver and as a DB after playing as a backup last year.

Lapwai’s entire offensive line graduated last year, providing an exciting opportunity for younger players to step up.

Leighton said that with so many younger players on the roster, his older athletes have to help their younger teammates, who will be playing larger roles this year.

“They don’t achieve, we’re not gonna achieve,” Leighton said. “So they have to be willing to teach and help and make them better.”

So far, the elder Wildcats have done exactly that, stepping up to lead specific drills and taking an interest in their teammates’ progress.

Lapwai’s approach

Leighton said his Lapwai offenses are focused on stretching the field and utilizing the 8-man rules to provide the QB with as many eligible receivers as possible.

“You’ll notice our center is even eligible,” Leighton said. “We find formations that make defenses try to stretch.”

Leighton said he is big on watching film and that Lapwai’s exact offensive approach changes from week to week to take advantage of an opposing defense’s weakness.

Defensively, the Wildcats are focused on stopping the run in a league as explosive as the 2A Whitepine League.

Facing a deep Whitepine League

Especially following the addition of the Kendrick Tigers, who won the 2A state title in their first year in the classification, the 2A Whitepine League is a challenge every year.

That’s why Leighton is not as concerned with winning the league as he is with placing within the top four or five.As tough as our league is, with the MaxPrep rankings, we seem to be hitting four or five teams in the playoffs,” Leighton said. “So even though being fifth place isn’t a great goal for everybody, if you get fifth place (you can) go travel on the road, get a playoff game, sneak one out. Nothing wrong with that.”

Leighton said his goals are consistent from year to year: He wants his team to “learn, have fun and compete.”

“Go out and give it your all. And sometimes you win or lose on a scoreboard, but that’s life, and you can’t win everything,” Leighton said. “I don’t think I know anybody that’s won every game of their lifetime. Even the greatest of all athletes have lost somewhere.”

The Wildcats dropped their season opener to Genesee 48-18 on Aug. 22 and play at Kamiah in a nonleague game at 7 p.m. Friday.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2268, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

3 things to watch

With Jereese McCormack in his third year as a starter, watch for the Wildcat offense to reach new heights.

Lapwai has two fresh faces at wide receiver with Doug Pappan and Jared Marek stepping into larger roles.

The Wildcats face a tough league schedule, headlined by Kendrick and Logos. While those games may be washes for most 2A teams this year, how the Wildcats stack up against the center of the league — with two games versus Kamiah and contests versus Potlatch, Prairie and Troy — will define Lapwai’s season.

LAPWAI

COACH — Josh Leighton Jr. (eighth season)

LAST YEAR’S RECORD — 2-7 (1-6 in 2A Whitepine League)

KEY RETURNERS — Joseph Whitefoot, sr. RB/DB; Jereese McCormack, jr., QB; Keenan Henry, sr., RB/LB; Doug Pappan, jr., WR/DB; Jared Marek, jr., WR/DB; Julian Barrows, sr., WR/DB; Darwin Littlefish, sr., OL/DL; Jacob Arthur, jr., OL/DL; LaRicci George-Smith, jr., DE/TE; Dante Davis, jr., OL/DL.

SCHEDULE

8/22 — Genesee 48, Lapwai 18

8/29 — at Kamiah, 7 p.m.

9/5 — at Logos, 7 p.m.

9/12 — Prairie, 7 p.m.

9/19 — at Potlatch, 7 p.m.

9/26 — Kendrick, 7 p.m.

10/10 — Troy, 7 p.m.

10/17 — Clearwater Valley, 7 p.m.

10/24 — Kamiah, 7 p.m.