BURLEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Burley Bobcats are preparing for a new season and are ready to rebound from last year’s record of 4-6.

With a renewed focus on emphasizing the high-intensity, “forge fast” mentality, this team is determined to prove they can compete at the highest level.

Practice began on the 12th, and the Bobcats practiced at 12:01 p.m. to get ready for the new year, and it’s safe to say they were eager to get back on the field.

“I love football. It’s been a long time between our last game and our first practice at 12:01 p.m. and it feels great to be back with the team and coaches and out here on the field playing football,” said senior left tackle Michael Martinez.

Martinez was selected to the Great Basin All-Conference first team on the offensive line.

“We move fast, we get in shape, we work hard and do our best on every single rep, every single play,” added senior linebacker Kaleb Strunk.

Strunk was a second-team all-conference linebacker for Great Basin.

Both Martinez and Strunk mentioned the individual goal of becoming All-State players in their respective positions.

The Bobcats enter the new season with a chip on their shoulder. After a challenging four-win season (3-2 in conference), the team is more determined than ever to turn things around.

Burley has a “forge fast” attitude and knows that this season brings new opportunities.

Cameron Andersen, Burley’s head coach for the past three years, told KMVT how his team will get better every day by sticking to that credo.

“In the forge, we take metal and make it strong enough to do things that we need to rely on. If we build a building and we have a weak metal, the building will collapse. That’s why we call it a forge, because that’s where we make the strongest, hardest metal that’s hardened in the right way,” Andersen said. “We’re quick to say forge because we want everything we do to be concrete.”

All good things start on defense. Burley returns four players with conference honors. Senior Talyn Guzman (2nd Team All-Conference DB), senior Body Bowen (honorable mention All-Conference LB), senior Mark Loveland (honorable mention All-Conference DB) and Strunk will look to lead the defense.

“It’s a different defense. We’re faster, more aggressive and do things that a lot of teams don’t do,” Strunk said. “We’re going to pressure, blitz and be super aggressive.”

Burley lost several key seniors, including wide receiver Gatlin Bair to Oregon.

The Bobcats also lost WR/CB Braxtyn Bowen, a leader on the field.

“We can’t replace these guys,” Andersen said. “We’re going to continue to develop our players and fit them perfectly into our scheme.”

However, Burley has retooled and will build the offense around quarterback Mack Jensen, who is back for his final season. He earned honorable mention all-conference quarterback honors his junior season.

“The work he (Jensen) does with me in the classroom at quarterback school is incredible. He takes notes by watching film and he can run the offense at a high level,” Andersen said. “He’s a big, strong, physical kid and his development has been really good.”

The Bobcats’ first game is just around the corner, and they are focused and ready, taking on the challenges ahead with the toughness and determination that characterizes this team.

Burley will open the season away against Century on August 30th.

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