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On the other side of the field, Sobotta will see another tall target in Darek Whitman, who's roughly the same height as Leighton and "pretty quick."

Those are just a few of the offensive pieces the Wildcats bring back as they shoot for their fourth straight Idaho Class 1A Division I state playoff berth this season.

Also back for Lapwai?

The heartbeat of the team's defense, linebacker Tui Moliga.

"He had 93 tackles on the year, second best stats in the state of Idaho," Leighton said. "Should have been a first-team linebacker, but statistically, when every coach is voting, he got outvoted and was second team. Which was a bummer, to me."

The Wildcats have several other hard-hitters who follow Moliga's lead.

Defensive end Pox Young similarly "loves contact" and linebacker Dom Williamson also isn't afraid to "stick his nose in."

Which partly explains how Williamson ended up as Lapwai's second-leading tackler last year.

There is no shortage of experience in the trenches, with center and nose guard JJ Reuben, guard Nakia Williamson and defensive end Anthony Spencer all coming back.